By Victoria Stone-Meadows
The Cranbourne-Casey Men’s Shed has a new space to socialise and take a break from their work, thanks to a $2500 grant from the Casey Cardinia Foundation.
The group were awarded the grant in December last year as part of the foundation’s 2016 Community Grants program.
The men’s shed has used the money to build a new kitchenette in their workspace and install dust extractors for a safer and cleaner working environment.
Casey Cranbourne Men’s Shed president Dennis Vernon said the grant had allowed the group to have a new space to build relationships between members.
“It not only makes everything more convenient, but also as our men’s shed is quite diverse, it gives a space for our members who can’t work on the tools to still be involved and part of our group,” he said.
“We can come in here and have a coffee, play cards and board games, watch TV and have snacks while still being a part of the group.”
The Cranbourne-Casey Men’s Shed started in 2009, with the group meeting in Mr Vernon’s shed at his home, and has since grown to have many members and a new home.
The men’s shed officially started operating out of their new home at the Blairlogie Living and Learning Centre in December 2016.
Mr Vernon said the move to the bigger shed and the addition of the kitchenette had given the group a chance to expand and work comfortably and safely.
“It is a major improvement and has made a hell of a difference,” he said.
“We have room to manoeuvre where we used to be working on top of each other all the time.”
Mr Vernon said the value of having the men’s shed in his life and the lives of the other members was invaluable to the health and wellbeing of those that are involved.
“You can’t put a figure on it really,” he said.
“It can be hard for people, and men in particular, when you retire after work you can get really depressed and having a place to go and be with other men is a great thing.”
“There are men here now I never knew before, but now I consider all of them my mates and we have all had a chance to learn new skills and it gives us all something to look forward to.”
The blokes at the men’s shed often work on projects that benefit other community groups and do not charge for their work on these projects.
They are currently constructing possum boxes for local wildlife groups and say these kinds of projects give the men an opportunity to give back to the community that supports them.
“We are always looking for ways to try and give back,” Mr Vernon said.
Vice-president of the Cranbourne-Casey Men’s Shed Rob Clarke said it was with the generosity of grants through organisations like the Casey Cardinia Foundation that they could do their work for the community.
“The foundation does a marvellous job,” he said.
“We don’t have the membership base to be able to be entirely self-sufficient and while we can sell items we make here and there, it is with these grants we can continue to do what we do.”
The Cranbourne-Casey Men’s Shed is also putting the call out for any new members who are thinking of joining to come and give it a go.
“Just get down here, have a coffee and meet us; we don’t bite” Mr Vernon said.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Cranbourne-Casey Men’s Shed or are interested in joining, you can contact Dennis on 5336 6320 or Noel on 0419 391 289 or email ccmeansshed@gmail.com.
