However, when it comes to looking after their most important piece of machinery — themselves — men often overlook preventative maintenance and the annual service.

To mark Men’s Health Week (June 12-19) The Australian Men’s Shed Association has rolled out its health initiative, Spanner in the Works? Raymond Terrace Men’s Shed is taking part and it simply asks men to do a rego check on their health and well-being.

Men’s Health Week really underscores what Men’s Sheds are about.

On any given week someone will open up about their health issues over a cuppa and we’ll go around the morning tea table with open discussion on the topic.

But we can do more. AMSA executive officer David Helmers hit the nail on the head when he launched the cause last week.

“Five Australian men die every hour from potentially preventable causes, which is such an alarming statistic when it boils down to men being proactive about their health and well-being,” he said.

I couldn’t agree more.

All we want is for men to take a proactive approach to positive health and well-being. So go and have that full annual check-up with a local GP.

We’re taking part this week by sending a delegation to Newcastle to hear from HMRI (Hunter Medical Research Institute).

This will give us the opportunity to disseminate some helpful information to all of our members.

We’ll also be distributing leaflets as part of Spanner in the Works? The program has been around for a while now and while it’s been a success for us, it’s been great to hear it’s working well across Australia.

So well, the Irish Men’s Shed Association has rolled it out there in the past week.

The Spanner in the Works? health check program is regularly run by Men’s Sheds across Australia, and just last week the initiative was launched in Ireland by the Irish Men’s Shed Association.

I’ll give Gary Green, the community engagement manager with AMSA, the last word: “Men seem to like their health information without the fuss so we keep information short and sweet to make health choices relevant and achievable.”

Robert Bull is the Raymond Terrace Men’s Shed president.