Joanna Holman

This mens shed group developing inventions to defeat a flock of overly intelligent cockatoo birds has the beginnings of a premise for the next great Aussie comedy movie

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-17/cockatoos-lorne-new-invention-to-stop-bin-rubbish/106760610

Marauding cockatoos thwarted by bin lid invented by men's shed

Residents of the scenic Great Ocean Road are at their wits' end after the increasingly intelligent birds learnt how to lift the lids of wheelie bins, spreading rubbish through the town of Lorne.

Jun 24 at 12:18amWeb
Show threadallrite1d ago
@joannaholman "When the Australian Defence Force was faced with an invasion by emus, they turned to the one group who could defeat the birds: The Men's Shed."
Show threadJillL1d ago
@allrite A retired SAS dude finds new meaning by leading the his motley band of Men's Shed attendees in defeating a band of bin-marauding cockatoos.
Show threadZło To 🏴‍☠️1d ago
@joannaholman
It should be told from the birds' perspective, as a drama with no happy ending
Show threadAI6YR Ben1d ago
@joannaholman what's a "men's shed"?
Show threadJoanna Holman1d ago
@ai6yr it’s a community facility with tools for things like woodworking, mechanics or small scale metal working where men gather to socialise while working on projects. Open they work on creating stuff for the community like building little libraries or fixing bikes
Show threadAI6YR Ben1d ago
@joannaholman aha!
Show threadSupermoosie1d ago

@joannaholman @ai6yr

They are a place to talk, connect which improves health and mental health.
https://mensshed.org/about-mens-sheds/what-is-a-mens-shed/

There are mens sheds around the world.
https://mensshed.org/about-mens-sheds/mens-sheds-around-the-world/

What is a Men's Shed? - Australian Men's Shed Association

The modern Men’s Shed is an updated version of the shed in the backyard that has long been a part of Australian culture. Men’s Sheds are found in

Australian Men's Shed Association
Show threadIan Malcolm1d ago

@joannaholman

I'd watch that, but we may need to resurrect Bill Hunter and Charles "Bud" Tingwell for the cast.

Show threadHelga1d ago
@imalcolm @joannaholman oh wouldn't they be perfect.
Show threadPhil 🇦🇺1d ago
@joannaholman "Marauding" is such a great word
Show threadPhilWill1d ago

@joannaholman the working dog crew are getting toward that demographic now.... damn shame John Clarke is no longer with us

I'm picturing meets Death in Brunswick meets Oddball

Show threadSu_G1d ago

@joannaholman
Great idea!
Now I’m picturing a series, where communities come to their local men’s shed* with a problem which is then solved - or not, but the really interesting thing is the process & dynamics.

* (and by the way, some men’s sheds I know have transformed or evolved into ‘community sheds’ - even tho still dominated by males, who tend to have more of these woodworking, metalworking, machinery skills)

#mensShed #communityShed #solutionsToProblems #woodworking #metalworking #machinery #ideasForTVShows

Show threadDaniel Blake1d ago
@joannaholman I recall a similar story with bins & bears, somewhere in Canada. The solution was a more complex locking mechanism on the bin, but this either frustrated or thwarted some of the humans, who would then leave their garbage bag at the side of the bin. A ranger commented “It seems there is some overlap between the IQ of the bears and our townspeople.”