Official Opening Kilkivan Veterans’ and Community Men’s Shed - Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD address

Member for Nanango, Ms Deborah Frecklington MP; Gympie Regional Council Mayor, Councillor Glen Hartwig and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Hilary Smerdon; President of the Queensland Men’s Shed Association, Mr John Greatrex; Kilkivan Veteran’s and Community Men’s Shed Founder, Mr David Timperley and Chairman, Mr Jeffrey Scarlett; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.  

I begin by adding my acknowledgment of the Traditional Owners of these lands, as well as Elders, past, present and emerging, and any First Nations people here today.  

As Joint Patrons of the Queensland Men’s Shed Association, the Governor and I were very pleased to receive the invitation from David to be with you today on this important occasion.  

Unfortunately, Her Excellency cannot be with us today, as she is currently on regional travel in Townsville.  She sends her congratulations and very best wishes. 

The story of the Kilkivan Veterans’ and Community Men’s Shed, as you’ve heard recounted by David, is truly remarkable and has required exceptional persistence and determination as well as enormous generosity, and at the outset, I congratulate and thank everyone who has been part of the long journey to today’s official opening. 

Her Excellency and I both began our careers as medical practitioners and our interest in health has continued unabated into our later working lives. One of our Vice-Regal priorities is to encourage a healthy and active Queensland, and our Joint Patronage of the Men’s Shed movement is part of that commitment. 

It is therefore particularly pleasing that the official opening of the Kilkivan Shed can be held on the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Australian Men’s Shed Association3 and the Men’s Shed movement. 

In its 30 years, this grassroots phenomenon has spread throughout Australia and is now thriving in countries as far away as Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and North America, supporting the health and wellbeing of more than a hundred thousand people. 

Today, the Kilkivan Veterans’ and Community Men’s Shed officially joins that international fellowship of men and women, working shoulder-to-shoulder in support of each other.  

In declaring this marvellous facility officially open, I once again congratulate everyone concerned and look forward to spending time with you all during the reception at the Kilkivan Hotel. 

It now gives me great pleasure to present a Certificate of Vice-Regal Patronage to President of the Queensland Men’s Shed Association, Mr John Greatrex, before unveiling a commemorative plaque marking today’s official opening.