The outgoing vice-president, Mr Price joined the men’s shed three and-a-half years ago after moving to Maitland from his native Queensland.

“I’ve loved every minute of it,” he said.

“It’s a phenomenal place.”

And while close friend and shed publicity officer Ted Borridaile cheekily taunted him from the sidelines of the interview, Mr Price told the Star that his journey to the shed came from a sense of isolation and redundancy. 

”My wife’s job brought us here [from Queensland],” Mr Price, a retired BHP height-safety worker said.

“She’s the manager at an over 55s resort.

“I thought I’d better find something to do – but they didn’t want me at the resort.”

Looking for a way to volunteer his time, Mr Price went to Centrelink to ask about unpaid work in his new community.

“They told me to try the shed,” he said.

“I wandered in, [the shed manager] took my $20 and put me to work fixing lawn mowers and pushbikes.”

It’s a story recurrent within the shed – wayward men, often but not always retirees, searching for a sense of mateship and practical value, wander in off the street and find exactly what they need.

“It’s the camaraderie, simple as that,” Mr Price said.

“The guys in here help you out if you’re in trouble.

“I was in hospital at one point and my wife’s car conked out. It took six of them to get her car going again – but they did it.

“We look after each other.”

Maitland Community Men’s Shed was the first shed Mr Price was a member of, but he said he’s a convert and will likely sign up to his new local shed on the Sunshine Coast. 

Mr Price re-stated his call for men in the community experiencing isolation to join the shed that helped him profoundly.

“We have plenty of people who come in off the street, or on work experience and they end up staying because it’s so beneficial to their wellbeing.”