prostate cancer support group meeting

The Prostate Cancer North Shore Support group will meet on April 9 2013 at the Sunnynook Community centre cnr Sunnynook Rd & Sycamore Dr at 7pm.
Call Ann Smith 536 4512 for further details.
The Prostate Cancer Federation of New Zealand supports men with prostate or testicular cancer and their families, seeks to increase public awareness of these cancers, educates the public about them and funds research into improved methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Click HERE for the Prostate Cancer Foundation website

keep up with international shed news

Here's a handy IT tip for keeping up with breaking news from Men's Sheds all over the world:
- on your Google homepage click on <more>

- on the drop-down menu click on <even more>

- this will take you to the Google Products page:

- scroll down a little, until you see the listing below, and click on <alerts>

- type "men's shed" into the <search query> field, click <create alert>, and Google will automatically send you any posts containing the words "men's shed" to your email address

check your smoke-alarms

Daylight-saving is about to end  - turn your clocks BACK an hour early on Sunday 7 April, or on Saturday the 6th as you go to bed.
For advice on installing and maintaining smoke-alarms check the NZ Fire Service website:
HERE  and avoid this:

"Each year, the New Zealand Fire Service attends over 3,500 house fires.
In over 80% of those fires, smoke alarms were either not installed or not working. Most fire fatalities occur in homes, mainly while people are sleeping when they can’t smell smoke. Smoke alarms are the best possible defence you and your family have from dying in a fire."

sheds in australia

There are said to be over 600 Men's Sheds in Australia. I had a look on the website of the Australian Men's Shed Association www.mensshed.org for sheds within 200km of Melbourne (my old stamping ground) -

From a look through the websites of some of these sheds it is clear that many of them are backed by city councils and government entities whose activities are concerned with the well-being of people and their communities. Also quite a significant amount of research is being conducted by Australian tertiary students into the health and social benefits of Men's Sheds.
There is even a mobile Men's Shed! www.mobilememories.com.au 

Mobile Memories say:
Our Mobile Men’s Shed is a “passive” shed: 
•          Tools from the 1900’s – 1960’s era are on display
 •          Combination of fixed tool displays and tools to hold and handle
 •          Encourages reminiscing and discussion through touch, feel and smell
 •          Aid in the fostering of enhanced family relationships which is often lacking is later years
 •          Construction / assembly of simple models will be available
 •          A good old fashioned BBQ can be made available to round out the experience•          An outing that comes to them
In addition to the tools, the program also brings a variety of memorabilia from the early part of the century to engage and stimulate those residents who are “not in the mood” for tools on that day.  These includes include old coins, magazines, leather school satchels, storage tins etc – all items that stimulate memories and an array of interesting conversations
Aged Care facilities have a wide variety of Lifestyle & Leisure activities that service and address the needs of women, but there is a distinct shortage of male focussed initiatives. Our Mobile Men’s Shed helps to address this gap.
The Mobile Men’s Shed leverages the principals of the Community Men’s Shed program to create of sense of being, belonging, mateship and a place to be valued all in an environment where they feel familiar and comfortable.
Incorporating the Mobile Men’s Shed into Lifestyle and Leisure programs aides and assists the health, well being of these residents and provides mental and physical stimulation into their lives.