The organisation was recently approached by Hunter New England Heath (HNEH) and rehabilitation staff from the Muswellbrook Day Centre, at the Weidman Wing of Muswellbrook District Hospital, to construct an outdoor-raised garden bed.

It will be used by patients as part of their therapy, respite and day care activities. 

The volunteers at the men’s shed were only too happy to oblige, building the raised garden bed completely from recycled materials.

Now, there is ample room for patients in wheelchairs so they can easily access the facility, too.

The centre’s coordinator, nurse Sally Shields, and coordinators for welfare and activities, nurses Jo Edwards and Toni Rheinbergh, were on hand when men’s shed members presented the finished project, along with enough potting mix, as a goodwill gift, to get patients started on their winter planting.

The staff at Weidman Wing were also overwhelmed with the generosity of the local group in donating the project.

“It’s the least we could do for the patients of the centre,” men’s shed manager Dennis Matthews said.

“Our ‘shedders’ take great pride in assisting our local community-based organisations when and where we can.

“We are a registered charity ourselves and we know all too well how tough it can be running a charity on limited funds.

“But, we do the best we can for people and organisations in need.”

Ms Shields praised the volunteers.

“Our patients and clients will get many years of enjoyment from the garden bed,” she explained.

“It’ll assist them greatly in their rehabilitation and respite activities.”

The Muswellbrook Men’ Shed can be contacted on 0411 361 028 or email mbkmenshed@outlook.com

They can also be found on Facebook.