By JESSE GRAHAM
YEARS of work paid off for the men at the Badger Creek Men’s Shed, when residents, politicians and local identities gathered to celebrate the shed’s official opening on Wednesday, 20 April.
Casey MP, Tony Smith, Victorian Opposition Leader, Matthew Guy, Eildon MP, Cindy McLeish, and Yarra Ranges Councillor, Fiona McAllister, joined a group of residents to celebrate the shed’s opening, and the unveiling of its official plaque.
President, John Layton, said the day was a “milestone” in the shed’s development, years after setting up in a shed at the rear of the Badger Creek CFA’s land.
He gave a history of the group’s time at the Healesville Living and Learning Centre, before outgrowing the site and searching for a new headquarters.
Fast forward to 2016, and the shed has since been extended with $30,000 from the former Victorian Government, and 25 men are signed up as members.
They now work with Aurrum Aged Care in Healesville to get men to and from the shed, and work on projects with Badger Creek Primary School students.
“The shed members put in long hours, hard labour to get the rest of the job done – we didn’t always agree on things, but we always worked together to build what we needed,” Mr Layton told guests.
“Today is a very important day for us – it marks project completion, as well as our opportunity to move forward with new and expanded projects.”
Vice-president, Mario Herodotus, then made a moving speech about how he came to the shed about a year ago, after he began experiencing depression and anxiety – side-effects of his then-undiagnosed diabetes.
He said his wife found an article in the Mail about the shed, featuring a photo of Mr Layton, and urged him to sign up.
He did, albeit reluctantly at first.
“At first, I’d come every now and again, and I started coming more regularly,” he said.
“As an American, I had no idea what it meant to be a mate … I didn’t think mates were a good thing, to be honest – I’d always heard it used in a very negative way.
“I came here, and I learned why Australians are so proud of the mateship thing … and that’s because without mates, you really can’t survive – and these guys are my mates.”
Mr Herodotus said the shed gave him a place to make friends and talk to them about his issues, and to learn the ropes on the tools there.
“I got to the point where I was confident, and I’m feeling again confident, and I’m feeling again useful, and I’m feeling again like I can be an active participant in the community,” he said.
Following speeches from guests, including Victorian Men’s Shed Association executive officer Ric Blackburn, a commemorative plaque was unveiled, and presentations were made to the groups that made the shed’s running possible.
“If you guys hadn’t been doing what you do, in allowing the shed to exist, then someone like me couldn’t get to where he is today,” Mr Herodotus said.
To express interest in joining the shed, visit the Badger Creek Men’s Shed at 358 Badger Creek Road, near the back of the Badger Creek Hall, on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 9.30am-4pm.
