It was a bracing, mid-June evening in beautiful Bega on the Sapphire Coast of NSW, Australia. Blokes from the Bega Valley and surrounding areas, the famous home of Bega Cheese, gathered at Grace Shed for a night of great food and ‘doing life’ together.

Each month on a Thursday night Craig Hayman, John Wearne, and a dedicated team host Bega Shed Happens, an evening where space is created for blokes to get real and talk about the issues of life. My brother-in-law Glaucco, who captured the event on film, and I were honoured to join them along with another special guest, Bega-based environmental scientist Nick Yee. Watch the video below to find out more.

Shed Happens: A Place for Men

Founded by the legendary Ian ‘Watto’ Watson, Shed Happens is a non-judgemental place where blokes can be honest and talk about the good, bad, happy or sad rather than bottling it up, which helps no one. As we say in the video, in today’s world we’re more ‘connected’ than ever, but sadly we’re more isolated than ever.

Here’s more background from Shed Happens:

In May 2002, Ian Watson and a few of his mates started having a BBQ once a month at one person’s place at a time to talk about their life and hobbies. They then ran out of topics and got bored with talking about hobbies and moved on to wanting to hear about what was on blokes’ hearts.

Ian was a big character and had three core principles that drove him:

1. Encouraging others. As he’d famously say, “I’ve never seen a bloke go backwards with encouragement”
2. He wanted to see ‘rocks’, or hardness, removed from around blokes’ hearts
3. He wanted men to know that God has a future and hope for everyone

Sadly, Ian passed away in December 2019, however the charity he created in May 2012 with other Shed Happens men, named Shed Happens G’Day Mate Inc. continues to encourage men in their relationship with God, their family and mates, in that order, under the name of Shed Happens or whatever group of blokes they happen to meet with.

Something special happens when blokes get together and share from the heart. I often see it at Dads4Kids annual Men’s Summit (happening 28–30 August 2026 at Stanwell Tops Conference Centre – save the dates, more details coming soon!) and within our Courageous Fathering Courses and Inside-Out Fathering Programs.

Creating and holding space for blokes to share takes some effort, but it’s totally worth it. In fact, it’s one of our big goals at Dads4Kids and is a core part of our mission to transform the nation by inspiring fathers to help their children be the best they can be.

I couldn’t be prouder of the work that Shed Happens is doing, and huge congratulations to my mates in Bega and all the others around Australia (shout-out to Dads4Kids friend Randall Gibbens at Shed Happens Toowoomba!) helping to change blokes’ lives.

Lovework

If you’re not already part of a men’s group, make sure you check out Shed Happens Contact Page to see if there’s a group near you. As we say in the video, Shed Happens exists because life happens, success happens, failure happens, loss happens, and no man should have to navigate it alone.

The truth is blokes need each other more than ever. Events like Shed Happens and Dads4Kids Men’s Summit present a great opportunity for building male friendship and being encouraged. As John says in the video, “Just come along and experience the friendship, the encouragement.”

You’ll be better for it.

Yours for changing lives,

Nathaniel Marsh

P.S. Many, many thanks to all those who donated to Dads4Kids EOFY matching fund appeal. Thanks to everyone’s amazing support, we exceeded the $140,500 target and raised a total of $153,891.16. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

My team and I are working towards thanking every single donor as soon as possible – if I’m not able to speak with you personally, please know that I profoundly appreciate all the support. Thanks to Dads4Kids faithful donors, we will continue building men, growing fathers, and changing generations.

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