By Brendan Rees
Casey-Cranbourne Men’s Shed is a big winner after receiving federal funding which will help the shed buy a water tank for gardening.
As part of the National Shed Development Program, Casey-Cranbourne is one of four Men’s Sheds to receive thousands of dollars’ worth of funding to help purchase equipment, undertake facility upgrades and provide materials for community projects. The other three Men’s Sheds are New Peninsula, Safety Beach-Dromana and Junction Village.
Member for Flinders Greg Hunt said the funding would support men’s physical and mental health and wellbeing.
“This funding round helps Men’s Sheds to buy tools and equipment, support community projects and training, maintain or develop their buildings, or create local activities to improve men’s health.”
“Men’s Sheds help men, particularly as they get older, to connect with each other and prevent social isolation and preventable health conditions,” Mr Hunt said.
“These grants mean a lot to Men’s Shed members and the broader community, and I congratulate them on their continued success.”
“Men’s Sheds provide a sense of community, a safe and friendly environment where men can work on meaningful projects at their own pace, in their own time, in the company of other men.”
“Members have an opportunity to pass their skills to others, learn new things, or just catch up regularly with other men in the community for a chat and a cup of tea,” Mr Hunt said.
This grant funding was part of a $5.1 million the Federal Government has provided to the Australian Men’s Shed Association through to 2018-’19 to support the national network of Men’s Sheds.
Casey-Cranbourne Men’s Shed committee member Rob Adams said the grant was critical in running their shed’s activities and covering “big ticket” items they needed.
“We sought the grant just approved to purchase and install a water tank which will assist our environmental foot print, and when installed will allow us to offer a new activity to shed members, a vegie garden where the men can grow their own produce. This will provide another healthy, outdoor activity that the men can share as a group or have their own small patch,” he said.
Casey-Cranbourne Men’s Shed president Dennis Vernon said the grant was “fantastic” news.
“We’ve got to try and come up with that sort of money. It’s almost impossible. So to put a variation of what the Men’s Shed does, it’s just another way of adding to it. A Men’s Shed is designed for blokes to do what they want to do.”
“All we’ve got is the shed at the moment, and we’re adding on as we get more grants – we do more and more things,” Mr Vernon said.
He said the Men’s Shed mainly did woodwork, but added “If people have select ideas, well then they’ve got to chase funding to go ahead with that idea if they want to go into metal work or they want to do gardening.”
He said the water tank was the first step towards creating a garden. “This is all part of it – to build it all up to start it happening and to provide the water to do it and maintain it.”
Casey Councillor Amanda Stapledon said the funding was “fantastic” and would help continue the “great work” of the Men’s Shed.
“I think that’s indicative of how important the Men’s Sheds are. They provide so many great outcomes,” she said.
“I can imagine they are desperately in need of funding. It’s great to see them get it, I think.”
“They’re doing such great work, doing all the things that Men’s Shed does, building on skills, making sure people are included and addressing men’s physical and mental health.”
