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This transformed scout hut is the north Sydney Men’s Shed. The Men’s Shed movement is one of Australia’s fastest growing charities. It's been credited with lowering the number of suicides by giving men a place to escape from pressures and talk about their problems.

Anthony Meggitt is a community co-ordinator for the shed which produces many things, including toys. Supporters insist that the sheds are a breakthrough in men’s health- they allow men to talk about their problems, which might include depression and loneliness.

The big clean up: Social isolation is the biggest issue that community workers have to deal with. On Outlook, 80 year old Kevin Hardacre said "‘most members …are refugees from something- refugees from their own fears I think and frustrations."

Dr Dick O’Reilly, pictured with John Marlin, is a retired doctor. He told Outlook that he loves going to his local shed adding people “reckon that Australian blokes don’t talk-we do...we solve most of the world’s problems here.�

A shed carving: the movement encourages people to work creatively and get involved in community projects. The sense of doing something for others can literally be a lifesaver because men are given a new purpose in life.

Supervisor John Marlin is central to the north Sydney Shed. He’s a former carpenter and is happy to share his knowledge with others. John feels the shed movement has renewed his enthusiasm for life. He enjoys teaching the other men and "we talk about all sorts of things from cake recipes to sex so we cover a wide field."