The Australian Men’s Shed Association has supported the health and wellbeing of older men for over 20 years, an act of kindness local, Ross Murray, has received firsthand.
Murray reflected on his experience as Men’s Shed Week drew to a close on October 4.
It has been over 15 years since the closure of the beloved business, Junkastic Park, at Kincumber, but it is still at the forefront of Murray’s mind.
“It was a place for people to come together and talk, it was a great place to work,” he said.
The recycling centre used to be located adjacent to the Kincumber tip and was a place where the community could purchase second hand recycled items.
Col Wingrave bought it in 1994 and sold it to Mr Murray in 1996, who owned it until it closed.
He remembers the park not just as a recycling centre, but as a place for the community to gather and mingle, with people from Sydney and abroad visiting often.
When the park was shut in the space of days, Mr Murray lost his business, spent $385,000 on the clean-up, and laid off six employees.
These events sent Mr Murray into a severe period of grief, which he only came out of 12 months later when he joined the Kincumber Men’s Shed.
His wife said she has never seen her husband so sad.
“After the closure, he got so down, and I was scared that nothing could bring him out of it,” she said.
“Joining the Men’s Shed was the turning point, and it was instrumental in making him happy”
Murray said finding peace and a community at the Kincumber Men’s Shed gave him something to hold onto through his darkest moments and he is still a member today.
Jacinta Counihan