Shedding cash

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
YARRA Junction’s Men’s Shed needs to raise $50,000 within three months or face closure.
The men have been an active part of the Upper Yarra community for more than four years, giving their spare time to mentor school children and people with disabilities.
The shed as a meeting place has also played an important role in the mental health of the men involved.
Unlike other sheds across the state, Ben’s Shed was begun with community funding to secure the ideal location in the main street of Yarra Junction.
It is named after the last owner who spent his last few years creating a space for his friends to meet while tinkering with things.
But the shed is on Crown land with a commercial agreement that the family is withdrawing from, which means the men would have to begin paying rent of up to $400 a week.
Eastern Access Community Health worker Jenny Hoskins, who co-ordinates the shed, said she didn’t want to see the shed become a workshop to raise funds for expenses. She said the reason for the shed was to improve the health and well-being of the members.
“The shed is an area where the men, particularly those who have just retired, lost a partner, have become unemployed, are isolated or have become disadvantaged by illness, gather regularly for ‘secret men’s business’,” she said.
“There is so much positive energy each day the thought of closing this down is devastating.”
The shed committee has had meetings with local members Brad Battin and Tony Smith, the Yarra Ranges Council and the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise.
“We thought under the current lease it could be changed from commercial to community but that can’t happen,” Ms Hoskins said.
“The shed could be closed for up to a year if it needed to start again.
“It’s one of the most active in the area and linked with many local schools.”
Wesburn Primary School principal Anne Stenhouse said the men ran an “outstanding mentoring program for students”.
“They provide a wonderful service to the community… the students I take each week thoroughly enjoy the company of these men, form great attachments to them, and learn new skills,” she said.
“They also learn attitudes such as persistence, resilience, the importance of getting things right eventually, and incorporate much of their learning at school into the projects they make.
“Not all kids are academics and some of the more hands-on kids get to use those skills and feel good about themselves.”
Ben’s Shed treasurer Ray Smyrk said once they got to know some of the young people, it felt good to be acknowledged out in the community.
“They say ‘hi’ to us and introduce us to their parents in the street, it gives you a great feeling,” he said.
“People walk in (to the shed) from the street, stick their head in and see what we’re up to… it might take five or six visits before they come in the door.”
Ms Hoskins said her role was supposed to end soon but “I don’t want to walk away and leave them floundering”.
“They’ve put so much into the site.
“This hanging over them is causing them anxiety, and they need to know things will be okay,” she said.
“We’d like people to think about what it means to the community, the men, and the children.”
Anyone who may be able to help keep Ben’s Shed open can contact Jenny Hoskins on 5967 5800.