In early March, a collection of average blokes from Shed Happens Mackay assisted a man living in a Government Housing unit to move to the St Vincent De Paul’s Men's Hostel.
For over two years the man had been directed to clean up the excess gear he was collecting in his front yard but had not complied.
Shed Happens Mackay - a local men’s group helping men with issues of all kinds, including mental health - put the call out to its cohort to help him move.
The Shed Happens blokes responded to the call, as well as their regular sponsors DGH Engineering, who provided a truck with three men to help with the task.
Matt Cole from Empire Trailer Hire also provided the group with a free trailer to use for the day.
Frank Cowell, Convenor of Shed Happens Mackay said it was “a bit of a job,” but was another part of Shed’s continued involvement with the men’s shelter which they are ever proud of.
“He’d been evicted because he was a hoarder, and we were asked by Collin Cook at the shelter to help out, so we got together a few blokes,” Frank said.
They worked from 8am until 3pm and took a “fair bit” of stuff to the tip.
Sadly, the gentleman who’s home it was has dementia and wanted to keep everything.
There was so much that the group returned on Wednesday to finish the job.
Although sad, there is a silver lining and an altruistic tinge to the story, which Frank Cowell put perfectly.
“When you do that sort of task, the reward is in itself that you know you’re helping someone out, and the blokes that were there, they’re shed blokes that have the heart for helping others,” he said.
“Hopefully, he can get the help he needs there.”
One of five Shed Happens vehicles that was used to help remove the gear
