In the rolling hills around Victoria’s Mirboo North, life seems easy. But as with much of rural and regional Australia, the high rate of depression and suicide is an issue which is seldom spoken of and often ignored.

Men’s Sheds around the country have been set up to help combat depression and promote a healthy lifestyle, both physically and emotionally.

Visiting the Mirboo North Men’s Shed last week, I was welcomed by Lindsay, Alan and Keith and immediately offered a cup of tea and a grand tour. It was not what I expected at all.

When I first heard of Men’s Sheds I pictured a bunch of blokes having a beer, talking about footy and building stuff. But at the Mirboo North Shed they offer a variety of classes covering subjects such as pottery, cooking, health promotion, broadband and mobile phones as well as having a Men’s Shed workshop.

Since receiving a Telstra Connected Seniors grant earlier in the year, the group has held nine mobile workshops for seniors, covering everything from how to turn your phone on and off, to making phone calls and sending picture messages.

Keith, who runs the technology sessions, tells me that, “seniors often want to learn these things but are embarrassed to ask their children or grandchildren. They leave the sessions feeling proud and confident – ready to go home and show off their new skills.”

Keeping in touch with loved ones is hugely important to all of us. But in the Mirboo North community there’s another reason people need these skills.

Almost three years ago, just before Black Saturday, the community around Mirboo North was rocked by a disastrous bushfire. Many houses were lost in nearby Boolarra and in Mirboo North, as up to 400 men and women worked day and night to fight the fires. With that memory constantly in the back of locals’ minds, there has been a massive community push to recognise and understand the importance of communications.

The men tell me it’s vital that people in the community, young and old, know how to use their mobile phones in case of another emergency. Since the fires, the Senior Citizens have received a grant to set up a phone tree while the shed, along with a number of other community facilities, now provides a cool haven in times of extreme heat as well as a large kitchen to prepare meals for the CFA volunteers should such an event occur again.

Through the Shed, which was established following the fires, men are encouraged to talk about topics ranging from keeping up with changing technology and their grandchildren to health and well being. As a result, subjects such as depression, prostate cancer and bowel cancer – which until now have been taboo for many men – are discussed openly. As Lindsay told me, “the shed has saved at least one life, and that’s enough reason for us to keep on going.”

Check out my video from my visit to Mirboo North Men’s Shed last week

• Applications are open for Telstra Connected Seniors grants of up to $50,000 until December 2 2011.
• Australian Men’s Shed Association

Do you know a community organisation that could do with a leg-up to provide technology training to seniors? If you do, send them our way….