#25 June 2015

The official newsletter of the Western Australian Men’s Shed Association

THE Grand Lodge of Western Australia and MASONIC Care WA have both donated $10,000 to WAMSA.

The money is being used to pay 100% of the cost of appropriate First Aid training for up to four members of Men’s Sheds that are members of WAMSA.

Please notify admin@wamsa.org.au of your shed’s interest in

FREEMASONS SPONSORSHIP

Mike Wiggin, WAMSA Chairman (left) receiving the cheque from Stephen Jancec, Grand Master, The Grand Lodge of Western Australia (right)

undertaking first aid training and advise the cost of training so that funds can be set aside for your shed. In addition, it is planned that a First Aid Kit, donated by the Freemasons will also be available to all Men’s Sheds that are financial members of WAMSA.

Both offers are subject to the funds being available.

#25 The official newsletter of the Western Australian Men’s Shed Association www.wamsa.org.au 2

Advertising

The Warbler has a very wide distribution list including:

• The 165 Men’s Sheds and committees planning a shed on our data base, with the distribution list containing 250 addresses.

• Approximately 175 supporters of Men’s Sheds, who have requested to receive the newsletter

• All WA members of parliament, plus the WA members of federal parliament

• All WA local government authorities

For the client providing the copy, the advertising rates are:• Full page $250• 1/2 page$140• 1/4 page $80• 1/8 page $50• Business Card $40

All enquiries and advertising material to be sent to:Gary BryantExecutive Officereo@wamsa.org.au 0414 950 902

The Warbler is professionally produced by Sage Media Group.

DisclaimerThis newsletter is for general information only. The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of WAMSA.

We have taken reasonable measures to ensure that the material contained in this newsletter is correct - however we accept no responsibility for the accuracy or the completeness of the material.

FRO

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The official newsletter of the Western Australian Men’s Shed Association

WAMSA has produced a brochure and bumper sticker.

The brochures can be used to promote your shed at community events and to inform people about Men’s Sheds and attract new members to your shed by making it available at Libraries, Senior Citizens Centres, doctor’s surgeries etc. There is a blank panel on the back where you can insert the contact details of your shed.

The bumper stickers are an ideal way for members to promote Men’s Sheds.

Both are free and can be viewed on the website. They may be ordered from admin@wamsa.org.au

Please provide a postal address when ordering.

brochures and bumper stickers

#25 The official newsletter of the Western Australian Men’s Shed Association www.wamsa.org.au 3

I have been privileged to be part of the formation of two new Sheds here in WA.

The first to get going is the Karnet Prison Men’s Shed (KPMS) – which is also 99th Shed to have joined WAMSA. The membership of this shed, as the name implies, is made up of inmates of the Karnet Prison. This is the first Men’s Shed in a prison, as far as I know, although there is a lot of interest in starting Sheds in prisons across the country.

The second is the MAC Community Shed (MACCS), our 100th Shed. MAC is a TLA (Three Letter Acronym… sorry, I couldn’t resist that one!) for Mining Area C, a BHP Billiton iron ore mine in the Pilbara. All the people working at MAC are FIFO workers on a two weeks on, one week off schedule. This is the first for the Pilbara, although the first in any mining camp is reported to be the one at the Argyle Diamond Mine.

The Karnet Shed is obviously an all male Shed, but the MAC Shed caters for men and women. Both Sheds are as much focussed on the health and wellbeing of their members as they are on producing stuff, and both Sheds present their members with some

sheds in odd placesBy Mike Wiggin Chairman, WAMSA

unusual challenges.Members of the Karnet Shed

have no real access to computers or mobile phones and all communications with the rest of the world must go through the prison staff. This is going to slow things down, but the Shedders don’t see it as a show stopper.

The MACC Shed will have a limited opening time; they expect to be open between 7pm and 9pm most nights. This will mean that the time for Shedders to socialise will be limited, but the plan is still to have everyone stop working and sit down for a cuppa and a chat for 15 minutes at 8pm each night. Given their Shed’s location, they also have some unique problems in getting their finished projects from the Shed to home!

The other unusual thing about these two Sheds, and it’s something that has the capacity to affect all the other Sheds in WA, is that the members of these Sheds are now, or soon will be, potential members of your shed. The Karnet Prison Farm is a low security prison and a number of KPMS Shed members will be due for release in the near future. We at WAMSA see a great opportunity for these guys in joining with the

Shed nearest to their intended home upon release as both a support network and a path back into the community. This will help in eliminating the social isolation that can accompany release from prison. The support and inclusion that goes with belonging to a Shed will be a big positive for these guys.

FIFO workers are becoming more common as Shed members in their home towns and the formation of Sheds in mining camps will accelerate this trend. In my Shed for instance, we have a number of FIFO workers as members and I expect to see more in the future. The guys are keen to get involved in the full range of Shed activities while in Perth and they are a welcome addition to our Shed.

The WA Men’s Shed Association is a growing and maturing movement and I see these two new Sheds as one more sign of our growth and a chance for us all to demonstrate the inclusive and supportive nature of our movement. By welcoming the members of these Sheds into our Sheds around the State we will be once more demonstrating the values for which Men’s Sheds are becoming justifiably renowned.

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Registrations are now open for the Beyond Tools Men’s Shed Conference to be held at the Cannington Exhibition Centre on Monday 21 September 2015.

This year’s conference will be even better, with the trade exhibition now so big that it is being held in an adjoining hall.

Registration FeeWAMSA members $60.00 (including GST)Non-WAMSA members $120.00 (including GST)

The registration form is available at http://www.wamsa.org.au/conference-registration/

LOTTERYWEST has been approached to provide a travel and accommodation subsidy to assist representatives of country sheds to attend the conference. As soon as these funds have been approved notification will be provided on the registration page of the website http://www.wamsa.org.au/conference-registration/

It is proposed to offer sheds from the remote areas (i.e. Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne and Kalgoorlie/Esperance regions), a 75% subsidy for the

LOTTERYWEST subsidy for country sheds

ProgramThe program is available at: http://www.wamsa.org.au/conference-program/. It caters for committee members who are planning a shed plus provides challenges to long established sheds to become even more effective.

DisplaysYour shed will have the opportunity to display small products, photographs, PowerPoint presentations and videos of your shed’s activities. Details will be provided shortly.

Tuesday 22 SeptemberVisits to Beyond Tools at Malaga plus some metropolitan sheds are being arranged for Tuesday 22 September. Details will be provided closer to the conference.

travel and accommodation costs of delegates to attend this year’s conference. This would be paid on the production of invoices for these costs. It is expected that every effort is taken to keep these costs to a minimum (i.e. don’t use 5 star accommodation).

It is planned to offer the sheds from other country areas $300.00 per shed.

The subsidy will be paid, following the conference, to sheds and not individuals.

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What to do next Collect the materials listed below and send them to Steven Doig at steve@doig.com.auIf you have any queries, please email Steve directly.

What you will need • A word document containing

text and photos for each page you want included in your website.

• A word document containing navigation breakdown. For example:

Home PageAbout UsServices

Shed Website & Email AddressService 1Service 2Contact Us

• A header image approximately 1000 pixels wide and 300 pixels tall to use in the header of all web pages.

• Possibly your logo or a photo of the shed.

• The name and email address of a volunteer who will administer the website.

What does it cost?It’s free!

Training and support will be provided to sheds who choose to take advantage of this service.

WAMSA is pleased to offer Men’s Sheds that are financial members a fantastic new service. Your own website can be provided with its own WAMSA sub domain:

http://shedname.wamsa.org.au

We can also offer an email address of shedname@wamsa.org.au.

The website will run Wordpress content management system.

This system allows you to administer your web pages straight from your browser, by logging into the password protected section at http://shedname.wamsa.org.au/admin

LINDI Dunn is a Masters student from Macquarie University who is currently undertaking a research study on Subjective Masculinity. The aim of the study is to understand how individual men express masculinity in their lives and the stress related to maintaining their masculine self.

Lindi is looking for men who are over 18, proficient in English,

Men wanted for survey on subjective masculinity

and Australian residents to take part in this study. Participation is completely voluntary and you can stop the survey at any time.

Participants also have the option to enter their name and email address into a draw to win 1 of 3 $50 Rebel gifs cards. All personal details in relation to the survey will be de-identified. Email addresses will be contained on a separate form

and will only be use to contact the winner.

Anyone interested in taking part in this survey can find it at http://goo.gl/hU6Htg. It should take no longer than 30 minutes to complete.

If you would like further information on the survey, or have any questions, you can contact Lindi on 0417 669 324, or by email at lindi.dunn@students.mq.edu.au

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NEw ShEdS

Two new non-traditional sheds have been formed:• Karnet Prison Men’s ShedArea C • Community Shed at a BHP

Iron Ore mineThere are now 101 financial

members. The membership of those sheds

that have joined from April onwards will remain current

MEMBERShip FEE

The membership fee for 2015-16 will remain at $55.00.There are now 91 financial members.

NoTEBookS

The WAMSA notebooks are to be sold for $4.00 per book to Men’s Sheds that are financial members of WAMSA and $4.50 to others.

ShEd doNaTioN

The Board agreed to make a donation from an individual to the Green Head Men’s Shed.

BEyoNd ToolS

Beyond Tools was granted naming rights for the 2015 WA Men’s Shed conference.

aMSa 2017 NaTioNal CoNFERENCE

WAMSA will investigate the feasibility of making a bid to host the 2017 National Men’s Shed conference.

MEETiNG hEld 11 MaRCh 2015

MEETiNG hEld 8 apRil 2015 aT ThE CaNNiNG MEN’S ShEd

MEETiNG hEld 13 May 2015 aT ThE MoSMaN paRk MEN’S ShEd

until June 2016.

ShEd doNaTioN

The Board agreed to make a second donation from an individual to the Green Head Men’s Shed.

REGioNS

A draft plan to establish regions in WA was approved and comments from sheds will now be sought.

FREEMaSoNS doNaTioN

The Grand Lodge of Western Australia and MASONIC Care WA have both donated $10,000 to WAMSA.

The money is being used to pay 100% of the cost of appropriate First Aid training of up to four members of Men’s Sheds that are member of WAMSA.

In addition, it is planned that a First Aid Kit, donated by the Freemasons, will be donated to those Men’s Sheds that do not have a suitable kit and are financial members of WAMSA.

This offer of funding for First Aid training and kits is only available until the funds run out.

WAMSA BOARD MEETINGS

MEMBERShip

There are now 165 Men’s Sheds on the database, which includes committees planning a shed. There are 98 financial members.

paRTNERShipS

WAMSA has signed an MOU with Scouts WA and has an agreement with the Freemasons Grand Lodge of Western Australia.

A decision was taken to explore the potential for further partnerships with a range of other organisations.

waMSa ShiRT

WAMSA will purchase a shirt that can be used by Board members and staff.

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THE Kondinin Men’s Shed Country and Western night was held on Thursday 19th March 2015.

The event brought local men together for an evening of fun and entertainment, while delivering information on key men’s health issues including prostate cancer and suicide prevention. It also provided a friendly and supportive environment for men to discuss matters relating to mental health with friends, new acquaintances and representatives from Men’s Regional Health.

The event commenced with general socialising and networking for attendees and a BBQ dinner. This was followed by two guest speakers; Owen Catto from Men’s Regional Health, and

Ross Ditchburn, an ex-AFL football player, prostate cancer survivor and farmer.

Both speakers provided very informative and interesting addresses on matters relating to men’s health, including prostate cancer, and the topic of ‘looking after your mates’. This included advice on how men can effectively support their mates and community, in particular those who may be at risk and struggle with life events.

These informative sessions were followed by music and singing provided by local musicians, and an Elvis Presley impersonation and performance,

Kondinin Men’s Shed Country and Western night

all of which provided excellent entertainment enjoyed by all. Towards the end of the evening a joke competition was held which provided lots of laughs.

By all reports the evening provided a wonderful mix

of entertainment and useful information for rural men that they could take back to their everyday life and community. In the words of guest speaker, Ross Ditchburn it was a ‘truly awesome night’.

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Give people in developing countries tools to build their way out of poverty. don’t let the tools that helped build this great country go to waste. people in poor countries lack basic tools to raise their quality of life. let’s give them our surplus tools to help them survive. So many of our old tools clutter up our sheds until our heirs take them to the tip. Some farmers in other countries barely have a shovel. with tools people can build and maintain homes, service mechanical items and sustain a higher quality of life. So clean out your sheds, give yourself a reason to buy new tools for yourself.

The Rotary Club of Esperance Bay with the help of Esperance Men in Sheds commenced a project to establish tool lending libraries, much like Men in Sheds here in australia, but in developing countries. we started in the aftermath of Typhoon yolanda in the philippines, over 6300 people were killed and 11 million were directly affected, many of them became homeless. we collected a sea container full of tools and equipment, and sent it to an organisation in the philippines for use in a tool lending library.

we received an outpouring of support from our community and extensive free media, even recognition in Federal parliament. local hardware stores and other businesses got involved. we enhanced the image of our organisations in the community. all involved earned the great satisfaction of real accomplishment. we did good work without much effort.

Now we wish to expand the project to other communities in western australia and overseas. we are looking for champions to donate tools, organise collections and maybe visit the recipients to teach working with the tools.

HELPING HAND TOOLS

if this is something in which your and/or your organisation might wish to participate please contact:

Rob Simpson, President of the Rotary Club of Esperance BayPh: 0487 462 166 Email: Rob@redwoodrob.com

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THE theme for this year’s Men’s Health Week is Moments in Time, and it is about Australian individuals, families and communities reflecting on the state of male health and wellbeing in their own regions. One of the best ways to improve male health, is for local services and groups, such as our Sheds, to tackle the most important health issues relevant to local men.

Events are a great way to promote health and connect with men and their families in a positive and engaging way. Running an event can be as simple as a morning tea or a barbeque, a display or an expo. They often start conversations about health and wellbeing whose impact lasts far beyond the moment of the event. Running events creates opportunities for connecting with others, sharing stories, establishing connections to healthcare services and so many other benefits.

 We encourage Men’s Sheds to conduct an activity such as a guest speaker during Men’s Health Week to help support this fantastic initiative. Interested sheds can access further information by downloading the Useful Men›s Health Information Event Ideas And Contacts information pack.

You can also register your event with Men›s Health Week at www.menshealthweek.org.au/En/RegisterEvent.aspx

Men’s Health Week June 15-21 2015

THE Regional Men’s Health Initiative partnership with the West Australian Country Football League (WACFL) to sponsor a round of football is now entering its second year. This partnership brings us into contact with 25 football associations and 150 senior country football leagues and helps deliver our key message to a younger demographic of men (predominately aged 16-40) throughout regional WA.

The “Talk to a Mate” Men’s Wellbeing Round will be held over the weekend of 13th and 14th June 2015.

Why is this Important?It is important for us to talk about issues in our life and/or tell our story so we understand that we are not alone and that it is safe to chat. As blokes we quite often isolate ourselves and don’t talk to anyone about our stuff. One of the problems we have is we don’t identify who our true mates are in the good times, which can then lead to isolation and loneliness in bad times.

Who are our Mates?We say, as blokes, that we have three broad categories of mates who we can talk to about our personal stuff. These usually come under the categories of a mentor, a partner or a peer. These mates are more often than not different from the associates and mates that we play sport with and/or socialise with. How many

blokes do you know that have no one to talk to?

What is the benefit of talking to a Mate?It’s about sharing our story and realising the value of just talking, and in appreciating that there are other men out there experiencing similar things (we are not alone). I have never met a bloke yet who hasn’t wanted to tell his story. Sometimes we just need the right environment.

Men are hardwired to be “problem solvers” and we like to work alone. We often have an attitude that if we disclose that we have a few problems, someone will exploit our problem or weakness.

It is well known that problems shared are often problems halved. Helping men to overcome isolation (by disclosing issues) helps build resilience and can therefore lower the chances of us becoming completely overwhelmed when difficulties and disappointments head our way.

As men we need to encourage help seeking behaviour and be prepared to be the one to “Talk to a Mate” when we know he is down or experiencing difficulties. It isn’t rocket science and it does work.

So get down to the “Talk To a Mate” Men’s Wellbeing Round and support your local football team, become involved, and remember …before it all gets too much …Talk to a Mate!!

Talk To a MaTEMen’s wellbeing waCFl Round

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WHILE no-one particularly wants to think about the subject of death, it is the case that when we have no further need of our body, someone else may. At present there are about 1700 people on waiting lists for organs, some requiring dialysis every day for many hours. Without a viable donated organ,

there is a high probability those on the list will not survive.

Others are unable to see, for the want of a corneal transplant; some may, without a bone donation, need to have limbs amputated; and young children may become very ill without a replacement human heart valve.

Since so few of us die in the right circumstances for organ donation (about 1%), we must

Men’s Sheds Can help organ donation Rates

encourage as many people as possible to consider becoming donors when the time comes. DonateLife, the government body for organ and tissue donation, is asking for Men’s Shed help in doing that.

Remember that age, health or where you live shouldn’t prevent donation. Let the hospital

medical team make the decisions – your job will be done! Most religious and cultural leaders in Australia have come out in favour of donation, as a very generous thing to do that helps the community, so please don’t let that prevent donation either.

DonateLife 2015 information packages will be sent to each Shed around Australia in May 2015. Members are asked to become involved in the promotion of donation, particularly during DonateLife Week – 2-9 August 2015. It goes without

saying that Men’s Shed members are encouraged to themselves register for organ and tissue donation and discuss their decision with family.

Should any Shed in WA be keen to do an individual promotion at your shed or in a shopping centre or school – please get in touch with DonateLife WA for advice or merchandise. You might like

to organise a small display of Men’s Shed wares along with DonateLife caps, pens or t-shirts and O&T registration forms.

If you have any creative ideas for promotion, please let us know and we’ll work with you. It could be anything from a simple stall at the local church fete, to an organ and tissue donation-themed party, with or without prizes for best costume.

Another suggestion is that members statewide could make an organ-shaped article (kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver), with the results displayed in a prominent place in each area – great photo opportunity for media coverage. They could be hung from a ‘tree’ manufactured by members in wire or wood or whatever. Let us know what you’re planning, then call the local newspaper! We’d love a photo, too.

Something in there seem do-able? Appealing? If so, please get in touch with DonateLife WA – donatelife@health.wa.gov.au or 9222 0222 and we’ll give you some tips and help. For metro area sheds, we may also be able to schedule some speakers for you. For regional Sheds, a presentation by videoconferencing may be possible at your local government office or hospital.

Let’s get that waiting list down!

This is how you can advise people to register for O&T donation:

Go online to donatelife.gov.au. Click ‘Decide’ and follow the prompts. Or call Medicare (Human Services) on 1800 777 203. Or pick up a registration form from the local Men’s Shed.

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TAXATION Ruling TR 2015/1, which was released by the Australian Taxation Office on 25 February 2015 considers two special conditions that income tax exempt entities must satisfy. These conditions are that:• the entity must

comply with all the substantive requirements in its governing rules (governing rules condition), and

• the entity must apply its income and assets solely for the purpose for which it is established (income and assets condition).

1. Governing Rules Condition

The governing rules of an entity are generally found in the written documents that established the entity. For example, in a constitution, trust deed or statement of purpose. However, the governing rules of an entity may also be found in other sources, for example, legislation and common law.

An entity is required to identify all of its governing rules before it can then consider what the ‘substantive’ requirements are in those rules and whether

they have complied with those substantive requirements.

‘Substantive’ requirements‘Substantive’ requirements in an entity’s governing rules are the rules that define the entity’s rights and duties. These requirements:give effect to the purpose of the entity, • set out the criteria for

admission as a member of the entity,

• set out the powers and duties of directors and officers of the entity, and

• require the preparation of financial statements.

The substantive requirements in an entity’s governing rules must be complied with to satisfy the governing rules condition.

Special Conditions Not-For-Profit Entities Must Satisfy For income Tax Exemption

2. Income and Assets ConditionThe Ruling provides that in determining whether an entity’s income and assets are applied solely for the purpose for which the entity is established the following questions must be considered.

What is the purpose for which the entity is established?

Has the entity applied its income and assets solely for the purpose for which the entity is

established?

Consequences of Breaching these Conditions

Both the governing rules condition and income and assets condition must be satisfied at all times during the income year for an entity’s ordinary and statutory income to be exempt income. A breach of either of the conditions can result in the entity losing its income tax exemption in that income year.

Not-for-profit entities, such as Men’s Sheds need to ensure they understand the basis on which they are exempt from income tax and continually review their activities and policies to ensure that they are consistent with their governing documents.

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