Papakura Rotary Hosts Menzsheds and Neighbouring Clubs
Our meeting on Thursday, November 13th, 2025, was a truly memorable evening, celebrating the spirit of community service, fellowship, and a fantastic surprise for one of our long-standing members. We were delighted to welcome esteemed guests from the Menzshed Waiuku and Clarks Beach Waiau Pa Menzshed, alongside fellow Rotarians from the Rotary Clubs of Manurewa-Takanini, Waiuku and Drury.
The main focus of the evening was shedding light on a valuable community resource: the Menzshed movement.
What is a Menzshed?
Menzsheds are community-based, non-commercial workshops where men can meet, socialise, and work on practical projects. They provide a vital place for men to connect, share skills, and contribute to their local community, promoting well-being and reducing isolation. They often involve woodwork, metalwork, and other manual trades. (You can find out more by visiting https://menzshed.org.nz/auckland-region/)
We were privileged to hear from David Russell, the North Island Menzshed representative. David provided a talk about the origins and profound reasons why Menzsheds exist, emphasising their positive impact on men’s mental and physical health through purposeful activity and camaraderie.
A Touching Surprise for Barry Hobman
The highlight of the evening, beautifully woven into the theme of the night, was a surprise presentation to our own Barry Hobman.
Barry recently undertook a significant act of generosity, donating much of his accumulated 'shed' contents—a wide variety of tools and items collected over many years—to the Menzshed Waiuku. The "sheddies" were genuinely amazed and profoundly grateful for the sheer number and variety of the items donated, which will be put to great use in their projects.
To show their deep appreciation, Norman Rainger worked behind the scenes with the Waiuku 'sheddies' to create a special thank you. They managed to clean and polish up (as much as one can!) one of Barry's original, well-used hammers, turning it into a unique memento. Norman then presented the hammer to a clearly surprised and touched Barry, offering the heartfelt thanks of the entire Waiuku Menzshed community. It was a wonderful moment that truly encapsulated the Rotary value of Service Above Self, showing how a simple donation can have a huge positive impact on a neighbouring community organisation.
The evening was a powerful reminder of the strong connections between local community groups and the deep-seated spirit of giving within our club.
