Major news accompanies celebrations of National Men's Shed Week

Running from September 28 to October 3 the week will definitely look different in 2020 but it will come with some exciting and major news for the organisation.

"There are several major developments in 'Shed world' at the moment and these reinforce the message that now more than ever, the Men's Shed is 'more than just a shed'," said Australian Men's Shed Association (AMSA) Executive Officer David Helmers.

"'Shedders' all over the nation will celebrate the enormous value of the movement and their own Shed - in spirit, if not in person."

Historic new legislation has been enacted by the Parliament of Australia granting Men's Sheds the opportunity to apply for Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status as of October 2020.

A new Community Service Announcement voiced by Michael Caton will be launched to celebrate the vital role played by Men's Sheds in preventing social isolation.

It comes almost a decade after the legendary Australian actor first proclaimed "If a man's home is his castle, then his Shed is his kingdom".

The Shed Online and The Shed Wireless podcast were developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.

The podcast audience continues to grow, reaching many thousands of older men and women in regular episodes.

The story of how The Shed Wireless was born (literally in a backyard shed) will likely go down in history as an innovative and useful response to the unprecedented social isolation and anxiety experienced by older Australians due to the pandemic.

Special guests to date include the Governor General of Australia Hon David Hurley (his first ever podcast), Minister for Health Greg Hunt, cricket legend Dennis Lillee and Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis.

Men's Shed Week is an annual event led by the AMSA to highlight the contributions of Men's Sheds to their members health and wellbeing, and to the wider community.

For more information or to find your local Men's Shed visit mensshed.org.