Local news for local people
Media release - Oberon Men's Shed
October 9, 2025
Author - Dave McMurray
Established in 2009 because of a council initiative, Oberon Men's Shed has been operating continuously for the benefit of all local men. In 2025 the Shed is celebrating servicing all local men's health needs for sixteen years.
Back in 2009, there was a recognition that many men in Oberon weren't at the peak of physical or mental health, were reluctant to talk about their emotions and often didn't ask for help. Because of this, many local men tended to drink more, take more risks, and suffer more from isolation, loneliness and depression.
This remains the case today.
The principal reason the Oberon Men's Shed Inc. was established was to address these issues and provide a neutral and relaxed atmosphere where local men could call in without obligation, begin to establish new friends and to start to improve their health and lifestyle.
Good health is based on many factors including feeling good about yourself, being productive, contributing to your community, connecting with friends, and maintaining an active body and mind.
In this regard Oberon Men's Shed has been spectacularly successful for the past sixteen years and continues to be so to this day. Becoming a member of Oberon Men's Shed provides a safe and busy environment where local men can find many of these things in an atmosphere of old-fashioned mateship, and importantly there is no pressure.
Local men can just come and have a yarn and a cuppa if that's all they're looking for. At Oberon Men's Shed Inc. you'll see teabags, coffee cups, biscuits and cake and a comfortable area where men can sit and talk. Our Shed members come from all walks of life - the bond that unites them is that they have time on their hands and are looking for something meaningful to do with that time.
Members' ages range from 19 to 93.
The Sheds management committee has developed a safe and happy environment where local men are welcome to work on community projects, specific shed projects or a project of their own choice in their own time where the only "must" is to observe safe working practices, all in the spirit of mateship.
But that's not all that happens at the Shed. We provide a nutritional lunch weekly at a small cost, regularly host guest speakers who discuss health issues relating to men or speak about technical issues that men can relate to or other subjects of interest.
We engage in physical activities such as cutting wood for the Shed's fireplace or as prizes in our wood raffles or to sell as a fund raiser. We also encourage anyone with a gardening bent to till the soil in our garden or maintain the area immediately surrounding the Shed or to take up tools in the workshop and learn new skills whether it be on the bench saw or woodturning at the lathe. Maybe a local has a mechanical background and we cater for that via our bicycle workshop that refurbishes bikes for sale as a fundraiser. The members regularly participate in sausage sizzles at major events or can be found in the main street selling raffle tickets weekly or spreading the Shed's credentials to anyone who cares to listen. There are always regular social gatherings, parties, and picnics, which include partners. The Shed regularly maintains contact with other men's sheds and either visits them or hosts a visit from them regularly. The Shed maintains a Facebook page updated weekly that keeps the community informed of our activities and that is designed to improve a member's computer skills and keep a mind active.
The Shed maintains an extensive list of interesting places to visit.
The Shed has achieved charitable status in the last twelve months.
Oberon Men's Shed Inc. is highly active, and membership is growing.
The Shed movement has now become one of the most powerful tools in this town in addressing health and wellbeing and helping local men to once again become valued and productive members of our community.
Every local bloke is welcome, so if you think this organization is for you, call over any Tuesday and check us out.
Here's a tip for all wives and partners; get your man out from under your feet by encouraging him to come over to the Shed. Many of our recent members have been in this position and have not regretted coming over one little bit.
We are in the Oberon Showground, our social day is Tuesday, and we are there from around 9.30 am until 2.00 pm.
Some photos of life at the Shed.
Photos supplied
Oberon Men's Shed can be found on Facebook.
