The Bishopdale Menzshed is 10 years old!

On 26 November 2024, 76 members and partners celebrated the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Bishopdale Menzshed with an event at the Shed catered by the Spitroast Company.

The Shed was started in 2014 by the Bishopdale Community Trust where they met in the garage at Sundbye House, a property owned by St Margaret’s next to the Church. The membership consisted of 8 – 12 men mostly bringing their own tools. Bill Greenwood and Lindsay Dell managed oversight of activities with support from Bishopdale Trust staff.

They outgrew the garage and moved to the Bishopdale Creche site. The building was yellow stickered post-earthquake, and they could only use the grounds and kept their tools in a container.

The creche site had to be vacated to make way for the new Bishopdale Library and for six months they used an open-air courtyard at the YMCA and two containers in the Bishopdale Mall carpark. It was remarkable that in that time they had only two wet days.

In 2016 the Menzshed moved into the current building which is the old Kendal Scout Den on the Kendal School grounds. The moves were facilitated by the Fendalton-Waimairi-Harewood Community Board staff with considerable input from Maryanne Lomax.

By 2017 they became an Incorporated Society and even though they are now in Burnside they retained the Bishopdale name as a nod to the Bishopdale Trust.

The main aim of the Menzshed movement is to give a purpose for men after retirement. In doing so the Shed has been involved in projects such as building planter boxes for Council community housing, agencies such as Kainga Ora and for individuals. Other projects include outdoor tables and cages of rat traps for Kiwicare. One of the biggest projects has been constructing a Gaga pit for Isleworth School. In addition, they do small woodwork jobs for individuals who bring items into the Shed and members work on their own projects. The Shed has supported Celebrate Bishopdale and has provided car park marshals for Culture Galore and erected the park signage for many years.

The Shed is now in the position of being financially independent with income received for projects and services and has supported the Canterbury Charity Hospital with donations for battery operated garden tools for the volunteer grounds staff and some hospital equipment.

The Kiwi Coffin Club is also based at the facility, and they assist people wanting affordable coffins. They supply all the materials and pay the Menzshed team to build the coffins. The also donate baby coffins to the neo natal ward of Christchurch hospital. The Coffin Club then do all the finishing (painting, material lining etc.).

The activities at the Shed are win-win for members and the community.