Community service was simply a way of life for Geoff Wiltshire.
It was something he did quietly and consistently.
So, when he received word that he had been awarded the Medal of The Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours, the recognition came unexpectedly but he also welcomed the surprise.
“It’s very pleasing for me and my family,” he said.
“It also recognition for some of the wonderful organisations I’ve been fortunate to be involved with.”
Now in his 70s, the Maddington local has spent decades volunteering across lifesaving, sport, scouts, Rotary, and community advocacy.
But one of his proudest contributions is one along the Canning River, the Gosnells Community Men’s Shed.
It began with a simple idea in 2010, when Geoff, then President of the Rotary Club of Southern Districts, floated the need for a shed in the area.
Inspired by his late brother’s experience with the Kalamunda Men’s Shed, Geoff brought the idea to life with the help of fellow Rotarians and Amaroo Care Services, who offered up a run-down homestead and block of land behind the McMahon Centre.
By July 2012, the Shed officially opened.
At the time, they had no proper workshop, just the old Lewis homestead, which members restored while building a sense of purpose and friendship.
“By the end of 2013, we had well over 100 members before we even had a proper shed,” Geoff said.
With limited facilities, the group kept busy; running gardening sessions, cycling groups, painting classes, card games and monthly sausage sizzles under the trees. Eventually, with a Lotterywest grant and Amaroo’s backing, a purpose-built brick-and-iron workshop was opened in 2015 by then Premier Colin Barnett.
As the Shed grew, so did its sense of community. In 2018, members transformed a 40-year-old transportable classroom into a new space called ‘The Annex’, adding room for more social and creative activities. The building was renovated almost entirely by volunteers, who poured more than 6,000 hours into the project.
“The members involved provided a significant amount of skill and experience to the project and created a space that is the envy of every other shed that visits,” Geoff said.
Today, the Gosnells Community Men’s Shed has more than 160 members and offers around 18 activities; from woodworking and photography to morning chats over coffee.
“The most meaningful moments are when members say the Shed has changed their life for the better,” Geoff said.
While he appreciates the honour of an OAM, Geoff sees it as a tribute to the team effort behind the Shed’s success.
“I’m proud of what we’ve built together,” he said. “Volunteering doesn’t just help the community; it helps you too.”
Geoff also served with Citizen Advocacy South Metropolitan for more than a decade, held various leadership roles in Rotary, and spent 37 years as a public servant. But ask him what he values most, he said, “Making a difference. That’s what it’s always been about.”
