Peter Davidson has taken over as president of the Yass Valley Men’s Shed following the completion of Allan McGrath’s two-year tenure.
Allan was the original instigator of the Men’s Shed when he was still on Yass Valley Council in 2008, and always had a connection to the Shed.
He became fully involved with the Men’s Shed when he was asked to become president two years ago.
“Two years ago, I had my arm twisted and had to get a little more deeply involved as President, and I’m very happy about it too,” he said.
Allan isn’t a woodworker or much of a handyman at all, so his pride and joy has been looking after the Bush Tucker Garden.
He is proud that the Men’s Shed continues to find more ways to get others involved and hopes moving forward, more people like him, who don’t have traditional Men’s Shed skillset, will join.
“One thing that we’ve always struggled with is getting across to people like me who never pick up a hammer or use a screwdriver or anything like that, that they can still get a lot out of Men’s Shed, you don’t have to physically do woodwork or anything like that.”
“You can do as much or as little as you like,” he said.
New President Peter Davidson wants to continue that legacy and recalled how inviting people were when he first arrived.
“Anybody’s welcome to wander in and say g’day.”
“I did one day maybe three years ago, I was coming back from a property on Black Range Road, and I thought ‘I’ve been meaning to drop in and find out about the Men’s Shed’.”
“I thought I’d come in and see what the go is. Well, I came in the door, and I think I was met by Wayne [Stuart], and he was very, very welcoming and showed me around, and I thought it looked like something I’d be interested in joining,” he said.
Whilst much of what the Men’s Shed does comes to them organically, when asked what he’d like to see happen throughout his next two years as President, Peter said he’d like the Shed to maintain its strong culture, and he’d also like to see the completion of the Bob Nash Terrace.
“Certainly, that the Shed is as inviting and welcoming as it is now, that the membership is still strong, and people’s involvement and interest in coming here is still strong.”
“The President before Allan, Bob Nash, had an idea that he’d like to see a terrace built overlooking the gardens and that would provide another area of social activity,” he said.
The Yass Valley Men’s Shed is welcoming of people of all abilities and skill sets; give Peter a call at 0439 931 579 or visit the Shed during one of the following times:
Tuesdays: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Thursdays: 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Saturdays: 1:30pm to 4:30pm
Max O’Driscoll
