In lieu of Men's Shed week from August 30 to September 5, the Lithgow Mercury reached out to Lithgow Men's Shed to see how they were coping in a world where they can't be together.
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For the 40 members at the Lithgow shed, it's all about connection and having something to do.
Although it's currently closed due to lockdown, president Terry Tonkin has made it his mission to keep in contact with his Men's Shed mates, ensuring they're all doing okay during these trying times.
"We're keeping our social connection because we are not allowed into the shed together," he said.
"In a way we are suffering not being able to go to the shed to see each other but a lot of the blokes that go to the shed now have their own shed in the backyard.
"So we're pretty right in that respect it's just that we can't be face-to-face, so a phone call will have to do," he said.
Mr Tonkin said the community was also missing the Shed and its role in offering a helping-hand with small jobs around the area.
"We often make things for community groups but the problem is everything is locked down so we can't do it at the moment," he said.
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"We'd usually be having our Christmas raffle and that's where our main donations come from and businesses who would usually donate to us can't dish out the extra funds because they're doing it tough too."
He said he hoped lockdown would end soon so he could get back into the swing of things at the shed, but also something much closer to his heart.
"Of course I want lockdown to lift and to get back to the shed but I mostly want to meet my first granddaughter," he said.
Mr Tonkin said once lockdown lifts the Men's Shed would reopen and he encouraged more members to join.
"We will be here for the community and for the old fellas that are retired," he said.
"A lot of blokes retire without having anything to do and that's where they run into trouble, so that's why the Men's Shed is good because if they retire and they don't have their own shed, they can come down and do something in our shed."
For more information call Terry on 0423 738 639.
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