Tucked away on Aged Care Centre land in Angurugu, a small shed is giving senior men a place to meet, socialise and support each other.

At the request of the senior men, the ALC built the shed in February 2014 as a place to make spears and cultural objects. Senior men have been meeting at the shed since and activities have also included painting and other art, making didgeridoos and more. Since the shed has been operating there the shed has been enlarged creating a keeping place for objects and a tool storage area.

The men have facilitated projects in collaboration with school children and have spent regular time working with anthropologists on country recording traditional names for the Groote landscape. The shed is also a consultation stop for visitors and the many agencies who plan to work and engage with the Anindilyakwa people.

The Men’s Shed have a range of activities that include the development of ochre paints for artists, Felled timber is recycled into bread boards along with other saleable wooden items. They are all made from Eylandt timbers.

At the request of the Anindilyakwa men a sawmill and forestry enterprise is underway and which will supply decking timber and roof trusses for houses and trade areas to make furniture items to be sold here on Eylandt. This builds on the historical nature of this industry where many of their forefathers were also employed creating the timber used in the beautiful heritage buildings of Angurugu.