Tongala Memorial Continues an Australian Legacy

Tongala Memorial shares a unique connection with the origins of The Australian Men’s Shed Association, and our home was recently honoured to host a special event celebrating the 30th anniversary of Men’s Sheds – as part of their national ‘Tour de Shed’ festivities. 

Having grown in popularity across Australia, many will know Men’s Sheds by the service they offer Australian men, especially retirees, providing them with a place to connect amongst peers and continue to feel like productive and valuable members of the community. 

What many people don’t know is that the very first Men’s Shed began on the grounds of Tongala Memorial. Named in honour of Dick McGowan, a community leader who identified the need for somewhere local men could go and find someone to talk to and something to do, the Tongala Men’s Shed birthed a legacy that has truly blossomed into a national movement. 

To mark their 30th birthday, Tongala Memorial proudly hosted The Australian Men’s Shed Association, as well as the wider community, for a celebratory Big BBQ Brekkie event. Involving around 100 guests, the morning was a fantastic opportunity for our staff, residents and their families to engage with visiting members of the community and acknowledge the home’s own rich history and ongoing legacy. 

Our CEO Jason Binder had the pleasure of speaking at the event and used the opportunity to welcome guests from The Australian Men’s Shed Association as well as visitors from the broader community. 

As part of his speech, Jason said:  

“We are delighted to have had the opportunity to host the Australian Men’s Shed Association. Previously recognised as the Dick McGowan Men’s Shed, the Tongala Men’s Shed holds a special place in Australia’s history as one of the first of its kind. At Respect, we highly value and honour the histories of our communities, and we are honoured to play a part in preserving this rich legacy.” 

Across Respect, we are proud to recognise the unique histories of each of our homes and the connection they share with the communities they operate in – and we are committed to continuing this tradition today. 

Similarly, as a national aged care provider, we are also passionate about promoting health and wellbeing for people as they age. We acknowledge the tremendous impact that the Australian Men’s Shed Association has played for men across the country, particularly seniors, ever since the first shed opened its doors in Tongala three decades ago. And it continues to be a community partnership that we support today.  

To find out more about Men’s Sheds, go to mensshed.org.