By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
THEY’VE been carting their tools around Casey for seven years in need of a patch of grass to build their shed and this week the Casey-Cranbourne Men’s Shed members nailed down their home once and for all.
Among 15 other successful Victorian community sheds, the Casey-Cranbourne Men’s Shed will receive a share of $750,000 in State Government grants.
Some communities can expect to receive up to $60,000 to build a new Men’s Shed, redevelop an existing building or co-locate a Men’s Shed in a multifunction community facility or hub.
Casey-Cranbourne Men’s Shed committee member of seven years Robert Adams said the grant money was “brilliant news”.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said.
After finding it difficult to secure a long-term home for their shed, Mr Adams said Blairlogie Disability Services in Cranbourne South has hosted the eight members in a small workshop for the past two years.
“We’ve been from garage to garage and started out in our president Dennis Vernon’s home, and Blairlogie have been fantastic and allocated us a parcel of land to build a big shed,” Mr Adams explained.
After submitting their grant application with the help of Blairlogie the shed-less Men’s Shed is looking forward to getting their “bums into gear” and doing up the new 18mx9m shed.
The current members will fit out the shed with woodworking benches and a place for a barbecue and a beer and Mr Adams said the shed would also be equipped with a disabled toilet and kitchen.
“Once we officially get the money we’ll be getting it underway, were hoping to expand the membership base to 40-plus within 12 to 18 months of the shed going up.
“We have a lot of interest but because we had the small workshop we haven’t been able to accommodate more men,” he said.
The Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos announced the successful grant recipients on Monday 7 September at the official opening of the Melbourne Men’s Shed at Federation Square.
Ms Mikakos said the community sheds play an important role in building inclusive and vibrant Victorian communities.
“Men’s Sheds enable people to get together, work on valuable projects and forge strong ties with others in the community – they are great for the health and well-being of men in our communities,” Ms Mikakos said.
The Casey-Cranbourne Men’s Shed operates every Tuesday and can be contacted by email on ccmensshed@gmail.com
