Whose shed is it anyway?
John Gibbons in the Menzshed.
Menzshed Wellington in Haining St was started more than two years ago by four people including John Gibbons, the President and Executive Officer of Age Concern Wellington. He is being forcefully challenged by former broadcaster and media man, John Shrapnell.
Menzshed is a place open to all Wellington men to meet others over a cup of tea or to revive their trade skills, or pass them on to others, but ‘especially those in the older age group who may be feeling isolated or alone’. Much of the work they do is community based for groups like Refugee Services who need tables or chairs fixed.
Shrapnell became a more recent attendee at the Wednesday ‘grumpy men session’ when people gathered, more to drink tea and chat, than work. He has posted vituperative posts about Gibbons on his Menzshed website which appeared after a difference about the charity’s management. Gibbons has taken out a trespass order for Menzsheds Wellington against Shrapnell.
It seems clear that Shrapnell wants to take the place over after Gibbons and his fellow trustees refused to change the way trustees were chosen. Gibbons wanted the “sheddies” to manage the Menzshed themselves, saying sheddies come and go and although there needed to be somebody in overall charge of administration, they were perfectly capable of managing the shed.
Shrapnell argued that sheddies couldn’t take responsibility for managing it because they were not “members” (for which there was no provision), and nor for the same reason, would they be able to choose all their own trustees.
Gibbons’ group started Menzshed Wellington months before it was registered as a charitable trust.
Six months after that Shrapnell registered a new Menzshed with exactly the same aspirations (but providing for ‘members’) and encouraged a number of Menzshed Wellington members to join, but wanted to go on using the Haining St premises. Gibbons said that if the new group wanted to take it over they should sub-lease the workshop at the rate Menzshed Wellington paid. They refused and after offers of mediation were turned down a month ago, Gibbons locked Shrapnell’s group out for three weeks.
Membership is automatic for anyone who walks in to the Haining St Menzshed. It is is well equipped with donated tools and machinery, a kitchen, and a toilet, and rent is paid for by grants and donations which until now have been raised by Gibbons, who says Menzsheds is open and free to anyone who wants to go, currently Wednesdays or Fridays 1 – 4pm
Shrapnell’s group is now reported to be raising funds for a new Menzshed, looking for new premises and to have previously obtained $16,000 from Medibank Community Fund for a supervisor. (Gibbons says Medibank supports successful Menzsheds and may have thought its money was going to the original Menzsheds Wellington which leases the Haining St Shed).
The Wellington City Council’s Community Grants Committee which “fully supports Menzshed” and gave Menzshed $7,000 last year, has refused further funding until ‘ownership’ of Menzshed becomes clear.
Have Your Say
9 Comments
Disappointed reader at 3:06 p.m. on 19 November said
I'm surprised Capital Times team, this doesn't seem like a particularly balanced article. I expected more from your journalists. This article just reads like a lot of muck throwing on your part.
BKT at 6:47 p.m. on 19 November said
Talk about a one-sided report. Poor reporting Capital Times.
Printerink at 5:28 p.m. on 21 November said
Whose Shed?
Reading your lead story “Whose Shed” I got an uncomfortable feeling that this was not a piece of balanced reporting. It took a couple of reads and then I realised what was causing this concern.
The opening paragraph says is it is about two groups competing, but from then on is talks about one man called Shrapnell, and paints him as most unpleasant person.
This is a strange portayal of a man who is quite well known for his personal integrity, honesty and for his dedication to community work in several spheres.
It also seemed odd that someone who is described in the article “a former broadcaster and media man” has no direct quotes anywhere in the story. There is not even a report of what he said to your reporter. There is however is a quote and reportage from the other person involved.
While it is clear your reporter met and spoke to Mr Gibbons, did the reporter also speak to Mr Shrapnell? There is no evidence of this and this make me wonder who made the various the assertions about Mr Shrapnell’s motives and actions. The answer would appear to be either Mr Gibbons or your reporter. Whoever, where is the response one would expect in balance reporting?
I hope that you will be able to answer concerns. I need to be assured that what I read in your paper, especially on matters of dispute, are fairly and accurately reported.
Peter at 5:42 p.m. on 21 November said
This is pretty average journalism. It may pay to do a bit more research and get your facts straight. Poor showing CT.
J Tinakori at 7:24 p.m. on 21 November said
Capital Times come on! There are 2 sides to every story or have you forgotton this?.....oh look, you have
norman Kabak at 10:45 a.m. on 22 November said
Re: Wellington Menz Shed Trust
Your article “Whose shed is it anyway?” Capital Times 16-22 November 2011
The writer is a former trustee of the Wellington Menz Shed Trust established by John Gibbons. I resigned, because I did not wish to be associated with a trust that was not performing according to the regulations established by the Charities Commission.
The Charities Commission required that there be an AGM, that officers are appointed, and that financial information be filed in a timely manner. None of these were done!
Further reasons for my resignation, are the numerous attempts to contact the Chairman, Mr. John Gibbons, with nary a response from him, or other trustees, in order to ameliorate a situation that was becoming more and more untenable.
Yes, there was a request for professional mediation, by the trust, without the knowledge of this trustee. However, no notice of reason for the request was given by the trust, nor was there any cooperative effort to meet informally with participants of the shed to discuss matters.
There have been other transgressions, such as decisions being made on a unilateral basis that affect the participants of the shed, and the not-for-profit organizations that the “Sheddies” support in the way of doing repairs for Refugee Services, and local schools.
Suddenly being locked out of the shed by Mr. Gibbons, is not evidence of an under-standing individual who helped establish the organization to provide a comfortable environment for “Gentlemen of a certain age” to meet, socialize, learn new skills, and be of assistance to others.
While I have no qualms about Mr. Gibbon’s personal financial integrity, he is a busy man who perhaps should continue to occupy his professional and volunteer life with those things less disruptive to others, and where he needn’t relinquish the controls that it would seem he thrives on.
Sincerely,
Norman Kabak
Wadestown
Sally Kabak at 10:55 a.m. on 22 November said
What a dreadful bias story against John Shrapnell who is well known in the Wellington Community for his volunteer work.
The Menzshed belongs to the community as a whole and not to Mr Gibson. Perhaps he needs to take a hard look at himself and realise that he's damaging what is a wonderful place for men to meet.
John at 8:02 p.m. on 22 November said
Come on you guys. hardly anyone bothers to turn up anyway except the Shrapnell 'club committee.
Onlooker at 9:37 p.m. on 22 November said
It appears to me that Mr Shrapnell had no right to override the original Trust. If he did not like what was happening, then he should have found alternate premises and funding. His attitude seems rather arrogant, as well as that of his supporters..