Welcome to the Birkdale Community Men's Shed (BCMS)

Most Men's Sheds gather around a workbench — ours gathers around creativity. At the Birkdale Community Men's Shed (BCMS), members come together to play and make music, create art, share their writing and enjoy a friendly game of cards.

Like every Men's Shed, we're built on a simple idea: men do well when they come together, share a purpose and look out for one another. We're a community of more than 70 members in Birkdale, on Brisbane's bayside in the Redlands.

You don't need experience or expertise — just a liking for good company and something to get stuck into. New members are always welcome — and if you're not sure, come and visit, have a cuppa, and see if you like us.

BCMS — Interest Groups

Music is the heartbeat of the Birkdale Community Men's Shed. Whether you play, sing, or just enjoy listening, music brings us together at every meeting and barbecue.

Beyond our musical core, members gather in smaller groups to focus on specific interests like art, writing, and card games. Many members participate in more than one, and you are welcome to join any group that catches your eye. Have a different passion? You are invited to propose a new interest group for Board consideration.

The real magic, however, happens when we all come together. Our weekly meetings and fortnightly barbecues are the perfect time to share a laugh, swap ideas, and catch up. If you're feeling adventurous, our open mic sessions offer the perfect platform to share a song, recite a poem, or tell a joke.

Here is what is happening at the Shed right now:

Music

Music is the heartbeat of the Shed. At every meeting, members play, sing and join in together — from open mic sessions to full band sing-alongs.

Most members play an instrument or sing. If you're just starting out or picking up again after a break, you'll find plenty of encouragement here.

Art

A small, friendly group who enjoy drawing, sketching and painting. They meet on a Monday at least once a month.

The group has a relaxed, come-as-you-are atmosphere — no formal instruction, just members enjoying creativity together. Art participants also join in with the Music sessions.

Writing

Members put pen to paper — poetry, personal reflections, short stories and fiction. Writing and Art take turns on Mondays, keeping the week varied.

It's a supportive group where all styles and experience levels are welcome. Writers also enjoy the Music sessions.

Card Playing

A relaxed group who gather for a friendly hand of cards and good company. Cards are often dealt to a background of live music — one of the Shed's unique combinations.

No competitive pressure, just an easy-going game among friends. New players are always welcome.

BCMS Activities and Events

Activities

Regular Activities

Our regular activities are the Weekly Monday Meeting and the Fortnightly Friday Barbecue Meeting.
See below for details:

Special Activities

From time to time, the BCMS may offer members special activities such as tuition, guest speakers or member only outings. Details of these Special Activities will be publicised within the BCMS at Monday Meetings and via email. Details will be posted on the Activities and Events page.

Events

Our events fall into two categories. The first are hosted directly by the BCMS; these are typically ticketed and may require an entry fee. The second type consists of external events to which BCMS members are invited. These are posted for informational purposes only, as attendance is managed by the organising party. Details will be posted on the Activities and Events page.

Weekly Monday Shed Meetings

We meet every Monday from 10.00 am to 12.00 noon at the Birkdale Sports Club, Holt Lane, Birkdale QLD 4159. This is our main weekly activity.

New faces are always welcome too. Whether you're a man thinking about joining, or a member's friend or relative visiting the area, come along to see what we do and meet a few of our members.

How a Monday Meeting runs:

• • 10.00 am – 10.30 am
    Arrive and settle in. Catch up with fellow members over a tea or coffee, and if you've brought an instrument, tune up and get ready to play. We also share notices and news, and draw our weekly raffle.
  • 10.30 am – 11.00 am
    Open mic session. Members take a turn to play or sing a piece of music, read a poem or a piece of writing, or tell a joke.
  • 11.00 am – 12.00 noon
    Play and sing along session. The Men's Shed Band — which is simply anyone who feels like joining in — plays and sings songs from the BCMS Songbook. The Songbook is a collection of popular favourites, chosen by members because they're fun and easy to play and sing.

Community Engagement: More Than Just a Shed

The "C" in BCMS stands for Community. We gather to make music and enjoy ourselves, but our true strength lies in how we give back. We share the joy of music to brighten days throughout the Redlands.

Music That Matters

Our members bring live music to the residents of aged care homes and retirement villages across the Redlands. Whether performing as soloists or as a group, we aim to brighten days and build connections—sharing music that means as much to us as it does to those we perform for.

Hands-On Support for the Night Ninjas

We believe in supporting our neighbours. Through our partnership with the local non-profit Night Ninjas, we help those facing homelessness or poverty. From collecting essential supplies and hosting clothing drives to raising funds through recycling and local busking, our members are dedicated to making a tangible difference for the most vulnerable in our region.

For more information about the Night Ninjas click here to visit their website.

Social Media

To help keep up with our activities, events and to share items of interest to our members and friends we have a Facebook group. If you are a member or one of our family or friends, you can request access to our Facebook group. Click below to find out more.