Region – Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne
Email: regrep2@menzshed.nz Tel: 021 963 354 Shed: Matamata
I was born in Dunedin and worked, from the age of 15, 4 years as an Assistant Grocer and after that, a further 19 years as a Sales rep for companies including Mainland Cheese, Eta Foods and Hansell’s. I was then shifted to Christchurch as Sales Manager South Island for Hansell’s NZ.
This was followed up by being appointed South Island Sales Manager Tegel Poultry and I was there for 11 years. After Tegel I worked for 2 further poultry companies – Santa Rosa and Country Carve (a division of the Skeggs Group.)
An opportunity for a change of lifestyle presented itself and we had the chance to live on an island, so we decided to take on the management of Pah Farm fishing lodge on Kawau Island in 1995. We spent three years in this position. Circumstances meant we had to leave and we shifted to Putaruru and took on the lease of the Putaruru Motor Inn. This was for three and a half years. We found we missed the Island life so we applied to take on the lease of The Port Fitzroy Boat Club on Great Barrier Island in 2001. This was a Tavern license. We had a bar and restaurant to establish. During this time I gained experience at all the things a manager could experience, I became the plumber, electrician water supply expert, diesel generator mechanic, cook, bartender (my favorite job I was very good at this) sewerage disposal, and any other job that came up as it took approx. 5 days to get an experienced person from Auckland and the cost of flights and
accommodation made this nigh impossible. This work gave me a good grounding in all the trades.
We continued in this field for ten years, and in 2011 decided it was time to move on, so we shifted to Whitianga. We purchased a home through Harcourts and during this time I studied for my Real Estate License and I was offered a job with Harcourts. This lasted approx. 5 years
During a short break in Australia travelling around seeing the sights I had an accident which affected my back and after a time I became unable to walk or climb stairs. This put paid to selling real estate so we moved to Matamata where we established Kaimai Views Bed & Breakfast accommodation.
Unfortunately, Covid arrived and what had become a busy time for the business became extremely quiet so we had to sell. 
I have been at the Matamata Men’s Shed for approximately 4 years as secretary/ administrator which I have enjoyed. I enjoy meeting new people and have helped the shed to progress and grow. The time spent at the shed has helped me understand how the benefits that meeting with a group of men of a similar age can be good for the wellbeing of all the men involved.
I look forward to calling on all the sheds in region 2 and helping the members to achieve their goals.
Keith Dickson Mt Maunganui 2016 – 2024
Rob Hall 2016
Peter Lewis 2015
Neil Bruce Hamilton 2013 -2014