Men’s Shed advocates Mike Baimbridge, George Miller, Karen Fothergill and Alan Renouf look over the shed site at McKenzie’s Reserve.
By Kath Gannaway
WITH three men’s sheds operating in the Yarra Valley, a major step has been taken to establish a fourth at Yarra Glen.
The groundwork had been laid with the Shire of Yarra Ranges allocating a site at McKenzie’s Reserve and on Wednesday, 15 September, a public meeting indicated strong community support for the project.
Retired Yarra Glen tradesman George Miller is helping drive the project.
He said a committee had been formed to move the project and people were keen to hear about the concept and how it might work.
‘We had Alan Jones from the Healesville Men’s Shed and Peter Harris, who has been involved in setting up men’s sheds all around the place, talk and there were lots of questions,’ Mr Miller said.
He said the meeting left no doubt there is a need in Yarra Glen for a shed.
‘You get a lot of retired tradesmen and others who work for 30 or 40 years and then just stop,’ he said.
‘Men’s Sheds break the boredom, and the stress, by providing a meeting place for people to talk and get involved in a range of hands-on projects.’
Mr Miller said the type of activities carried on in the Men’s Shed will be shaped by the people involved.
‘It is a very open idea at the moment and it will be open to anyone ‘ retired, semi-retired, skilled and unskilled,’ he said.
Although it is in the early stages, Mr Miller said the new committee would also like to hear from anyone who may later be able to donate tools and equipment.
A further information session is planned and updates on progress of the project will be included in the Yarra Glen Living & Learning newsletter.
Telephone Mr Miller on 0427 171486 for more information.
