The Men’s Shed Movement: The Company of Men
Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 9:00AM 
With special guest:
- Prof Barry Golding
When we think of great Australian inventions we might be referring to the Black Box Flight Recorder, electronic pacemakers, cochlear implants or even the stump-jump plough. But today we talk about another Australian invention that has spread internationally and saved thousands of men’s lives.
Our guest today is Dr Barry Golding who is the honorary patron of the Australian Men’s Shed Association and he provides a fascinating insight into the development and growth of this iconic Australian success story. Barry Golding gives us the benefit of his fifteen years of research in his new book The Men’s Shed Movement: The Company of Men. In talking to us today Barry lets us discover what actually goes on inside the Men’s Sheds we see as we pass through so many country towns.
It is very timely in 2015 to look back for the first time to the Men’s Sheds starting to use that name in 1998. We also look forward just as there is an explosive growth in the movement in diverse countries on the opposite side of the world. Nothing is quite as expected. For example it is not just men and boys. Women have a role to play. It is not just woodwork. Sometimes the Men’s Shed may not even have any woodworking equipment. But the benefits to the community from providing social interaction to men and often times a new purpose in life are respected universally.
We learn in this program the significance of the sub-title “The Company of Men” which has its own history going back to Tongala Victoria. We learn the almost unlimited potential for what can be done under the name of “Men’s Sheds”.
If you understand the saying “every man needs a shed” you will love hearing what Barry Golding has to say about putting this into practice on the world stage. And just like in the sheds we have a few laughs along the way with our special guest. Don’t miss it!
Prof Barry Golding
Barry Golding is an adjunct professor of education in the Faculty of Education and Arts, Federation University Australia, Ballarat. Barry has extensive research experience in all adult learning sectors. His regular journeying in the past decade as an academic to all Australian states, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK has informed his knowledge of Men’s Sheds and led to his active contribution to the Shed Movement as a researcher, enthusiast and patron. Barry says that his late father and grandfather may have had different lives in their retirement if Men’s Sheds had been around then.
Barry’s book was published by Common Ground Publishing in 2015. If you would like to contact Barry directly go to his website where you can also purchase your own copy of the book.
Song selections by our guest: Since I’ve Been Around by The Waifs & Forever Young by Bob Dylan