Leading group members Steve Harris, Ray Mason and Heather Watson outlined the shed’s role over the past 12 months as a safe place for people in the Rochester community to work on projects, learn new skills and build social connections.
Membership has held steady at around 18 people through the latter half of 2025, with a further six new members coming on board in 2026 — a sign the shed's appeal continues to grow.
Ms Watson said the shed provided benefits for both the mental and physical wellbeing of its members.
“It’s a safe place for members of the Rochester community, whether they’re working in the shed or just looking for social engagement,” she said.
Along the way, members have struck up new friendships, rekindled old ones and passed on skills to each other through a wide variety of individual and group projects.
Mondays are now designated as community days, with men and women working together on personal and joint projects, while Thursdays remain men-only days, and Fridays as ladies day.
The introduction of women to the shed has been particularly successful, with the community days proving popular among both male and female members.
A combined project saw members work together on a Christmas tree for the Christmas tree exhibition, including its construction and decoration.
The shed also held a successful Christmas market, selling chopping boards, Christmas items, decorations and other creations made by members.
The range of projects completed throughout the year was impressive — from chopping boards, trays and photo frames to bird feeders, a fairy house, planter boxes, a multi-bird nesting complex, a coffee table, stools, a bookcase, refurbished furniture and Christmas decorations, among many others.
Members also completed projects for local organisations and businesses, including trays for a local café, a kettle and teapot tipper for the Colbinabbin Hall Committee, a Christmas tree for the historical society, boards for historical plaques, a desk filing cabinet for Rochester and Elmore District Health Service, paper towel holders for Rotary and a toilet roll holder for the pony club.
Several furniture restoration projects were also undertaken.
The shed has also strengthened its links with local education and community organisations through the Rochester Community House school program.
Five four-week sessions were held with Rochester Primary School, with groups of four to six students making tool carriers or nesting boxes under the guidance of Mr Harris, Mr Mason and Ms Watson.
The students learned practical skills and worked together while developing confidence and self-worth in a supportive environment.
Six Rochester Secondary College Year 11 Vocational Major students also spent four Fridays at the shed alongside their REDHS buddies, working with Ms Watson to make chopping boards from hardwood and red gum.
The students worked with their buddies throughout the planning and production process.
A significant upgrade during the year saw older corded power tools replaced with modern battery-operated DeWalt tools, making the workspace safer and easier for all members to use.
The upgrade was made possible through a grant from Australia Post and a donation from the Rochester Golf Club.
The shed also acknowledged Rochester Community House manager Amanda and staff members Jodi and Jenna for their ongoing support in helping run the shed.
Ms Watson said the introduction of community days and the involvement of women had been a particularly positive development.
“The community day is very popular, with ladies and men working together,” she said.
With membership continuing to grow and more community projects under way, the shed is looking to build on its role as a place for practical work, social connection, mentoring and wellbeing in Rochester.
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