Lower Kaimai residents are trying to rally members for their very own Menz Shed in their corner of the community.

Motor mechanic Graeme Klitscher, who has lived in the Lower Kaimai area for three years, put the call out to the community in August for a Menz Shed – believing it's the very thing the area needs.

'I believe there's a need for the retired folk to have somewhere to go – providing a safe and well-equipped workshop for males and females with an environment to do what they want for personal growth, wellbeing, companionship, and a place to participate in creative and productive activities,” says Graeme.

Inclusive

The new Menz Shed won't just be for retirees however. 'I and the other members want it to be inclusive as possible,” says treasurer Carol Parsons. 'There are a few young mums up here who stay home and look after their kids…they don't actually have a lot of local opportunity to meet other people.

'Even if all people did was come down for a coffee and a chat that's fine – you don't have to come and build something or fix something.”

Graeme says the Menz Shed will benefit everyone in the Lower Kaimai area. 'If there's an old person we can go along and do things for them. We won't charge them, as such it'll just be a donation to the club.

'I'm very handy at doing all sorts of jobs and building fences, fixing gates and hanging up picture frames and mirrors.”

Once started, Carol hopes to do things to help Kaimai School and Tauriko School.

Getting started

The committee has already been donated various equipment and tools for the shed, and have the shed's location in the works.

'We've potentially got a place to put the shed next to the Omanawa Hall – there's a block of land there that's leased…and the council is quite happy for us to have a shed here,” says Carol.

What the committee needs now is members to get their community vision off the ground. 'We want to make it an incorporated society but to do that we need 15 members,” says Carol.

Currently, the committee is made up of six members. 'We just need a few more people who want to help get it started and who are interested.”

The Lower Kaimai committee held a meeting at Omanawa Hall on Wednesday – but there's still time to get involved. Call Graeme on 022 4277 936 if you're interested.