New look for Men’s Shed

By Bridget Cook
JUNCTION Village’s Men’s Shed has been refurbished, and is now up and running.
Hastings MP Neale Burgess, who represented the Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge, officially opened the Men’s Shed on Friday night at a cocktail event.
The Men’s Shed is located within the Aveo Botanic Gardens Independent Living Village, and the opening ceremony was a joint celebration to mark the village’s 20th anniversary.
It is the first Men’s Shed in a retirement village that was built by refurbishing and extending an existing building with a $37,502 funding grant.
The new building will not only service the demand for a Men’s Shed program in the area, but also assist an established program, which provides toys to the Salvation Army at Christmas time for underprivileged children.
The opening celebration was attended by the City of Casey Mayor Shar Balmes, Councillors Amanda Stapledon and Geoff Ablett and many residents and supporters.
Cr Balmes and Mr Burgess spoke of the importance of the opening of the Men’s Shed to the wider community and the opportunities the facility will present for residents of Aveo Botanic Gardens and the surrounding community.
“This is a valuable new community facility in a program that is receiving full support from the Victorian Coalition Government,” Mr Burgess said.
“Men’s sheds are proving to be very good places around Victoria for men who need a bit of extra support at critical or difficult times in their lives.
“It could be just building new social networks after a bereavement or unemployment, or finding a way to stay occupied and happy in retirement.
“Men are often comfortable in these environments, where they can relax, talk about their emotions and feelings, learn new skills, and forge new friendships.
Junction Village’s Men’s Shed is auspiced by the Dandenong-Cranbourne RSL, and has received wide local support.
For more details or to join the group, contact secretary Louise on 5996 8311 or project manager Les Smith 5995 4245.