Hangin' out: Ray Allen works the airwaves from 3WBC, speaking to an audience of more than 40,000 listeners.
FOR the men out there who can't make it to their local Men's Shed, never fear; all you need is your radio.
The Monash Men's Shed has been hitting the airwaves for the past few months and recently promoted to a monthly morning slot on community station 3WBC.
The show, Hanging Out In The Men's Shed, is hosted by Monash shed co-ordinator Ray Allen on the first Saturday of every month and goes out to about 46,000 people.
"We talk about anything to do with Men's Sheds and men's health," Allen says.
The Men's Shed movement started in Australia and recognises the need for older blokes to maintain contact in retirement, to share experiences and to talk about their health.
Music on the show ranges from Neil Diamond to Peter, Paul and Mary — tunes that baby boomers, who as it happens make up most of those hanging out in the shed, would appreciate.
And although they're unable to take calls from listeners at this stage, Allen hopes to be able to do so in the near future.
He says the radio program was aimed at men who couldn't get to their local shed.
"It doesn't matter where you are in the world because if you go to www.3wbc.org.au, you can follow the links and you can hear it, as my son did in Ireland."
The program will also be uploaded to theshedonline.com.au, a new initiative by the Australian Men's Shed Association.
"There's lots of blogs and topics that they can get involved with from home. And as of next month I'll be uploading the program to it every month," says Allen.
The radio program is only one of a number of successes the Monash Men's Shed has celebrated this year — it's also recently recorded its 110th member.
Allen says the shed gives retired men who can succumb to loneliness a feeling of camaraderie.
"Men essentially are not communicators. They're not good communicators and they're not good at looking after their health.
"One of the great things about the Men's Shed is when they come in one-on-one, working shoulder-to-shoulder, they find they open up to each other."
Residents can hear Hanging out in the men's shed on the first Saturday of every month on 3WBC 94.1FM.
Details: 3wbc.org.au or theshedonline.org.au.