It sits within a metal shed, out the back of Warmington Lodge and there's only one rule - no girls! Except for the occasional nurse and curious female reporter. 

The shed is run by Warmington Lodge employee, Bruce Hook. In his spare time, Bruce spends hours cutting pieces of wood into templates, creating wooden toys, picture frames, plaques and boxes. It's all for the men who come along to his men’s shed. 

“I make them and the men paint them,” Bruce said. 

“They guys aren't quite up to cutting the wood but they are definitely more than capable of painting them all up. They are always keen to come along and we are getting an amazing collection of wooden bits and pieces.”

The men’s shed is occupied by some of the male residents of both Horton House and Warmington Lodge, most of whom have spent their whole life living in the Yass Valley. 

The shed has been running for just on three months and is open once a week for a couple of hours. 

The men use this time chatting, painting, reciting poetry and, in their own words, drinking that really strong water. 

“It’s the company that I enjoy the most,” resident Garry Blair explains. 

“All of these young guys getting together and causing mischief. It’s great to have something at the end day, an achievement.”

The vast array of wooden products the men have made over the last three months will be sold at a morning tea at Warmington Lodge in June.