My sustainability journey is a combination of both recognising our impact on the environment and feeling a spiritual call to care for this planet. 

One key learning I’ve had along the way is the importance of working at both ends of the sustainability spectrum – engaging and advocacy. That means not only taking personal action but also influencing broader change: how we vote, how we build communities of action, and how we lobby for systemic change. Every action matters, and we need to be doing both the big and small things. 

As a pastor at Box Hill Baptist Church, I encourage people to think beyond just loving people to loving all the world.  That means considering our impact on the environment in everything we do - being careful with our consumption and always looking for new ways that we can minimise our impact on the environment and each other. It’s also about finding those great ‘win-wins’ - where you can build community, save money (or make things more available to people who might otherwise not be able to afford them), and help the environment at the same time. 

The Shed was initiated by some key members of Box Hill Baptist Church who saw the need for a welcoming, affirming space for both men and women to connect, share skills, and do something meaningful for themselves and the local community.  

Thankfully, the Box Hill Community Arts Centre, just down the road, had the perfect space. They have been incredibly supportive in helping to get this new Shed started. 

My role is as one of the session coordinators, running the Monday bike restoration and repair sessions, and helping to oversee the operations and growth of the Shed.

We’re a brand-new Shed—we only opened in December 2024—and currently run two weekly sessions: 

• Sundays, 9am–1pm: Woodworking 
• Mondays, 2pm–5pm: Bike restoration and repair 

It’s all about making the most of what we have and building skills so people can upcycle and create, rather than buying new or discarding old items. 

We’re eager to add new sessions, depending on the interests and needs of our members. 

People can get involved by visiting the Shed to see what’s happening and signing up for membership, which gives access to the sessions. We also welcome ideas for new activities—we’re still growing, so there’s plenty of room for new possibilities! 

Another initiative that may be of interest is the Box Hill Community Bakehouse that runs twice a week and saves food from landfill and offers it to the local community.

It started as we wanted to have a Monday session that I’d run – but I don’t know anything about woodworking! However, I have been fixing my own bikes for years and have found myself often picking up old bikes off hard rubbish to repair either for my own use or for other people. So I decided that would be a good way to spend my Monday arvos.  

At our very first session, I met two other men who were equally passionate—and just as dismayed about seeing perfectly good bikes discarded simply because they needed a little work.  

We collect used bikes from residents and local bike stores and get them running reliably again so they can be given back to the community for free or cheap on a ‘pay what you feel basis’. We also are happy to offer our humble skills to help both maintain and repair locals’ bikes, and also to help them build the skills to repair their own. 

We’d love to create a vibrant space here where the entire community can discover the magic of bikes for both recreation and practical uses, pick up a great bike for cheap, and learn the skills they need to keep them on the road. It’d be a great outcome if every local knew that they could come here to get a bit of help or if they need some help getting on the road. We’re also looking at the possibility of a tool library to help even more in the sustainability space. 

Start with what you love and enjoy doing. For us at the Shed, it’s about tinkering and bringing old stuff back to life. But if for you it’s gardening, or cooking, or walking, think of how you could make a positive impact on the environment within that activity. 

And find some fun ways to bring others with you. Most of our shed members probably wouldn’t consider themselves “greenies”, but in recycling old materials we’re all doing our bit – possibly without realising it. 

Don’t be afraid of picking up someone else’s old stuff if you think you can use it! It’s amazing how much life is left in old things, which helps the environment and saves you a lot of money, not to mention the satisfaction of doing so.