Ribbon cut on new Shed

MEMBERS of the Sebastopol Men’s Shed celebrated moving into their new premises at an event last Friday.

Located on Vickers Street, the 55-person strong group witnessed the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the site by Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle to mark the occasion.

After originally setting up the Shed in an old joinery on Yarrowee Street, members often dreamed of eventually moving into their own fit for purpose building.

“The challenges of making such a move were enormous, but that didn’t deter us in our efforts to make the dream a reality,” said Sebastopol Men’s Shed president Les Shimmin.

“Thanks to the generous support of many, including our State and Federal MPs, the council, and Ballarat Community Health, things started to happen. The whole process probably took several years, but it was worth every day.”

The Sebastopol Men’s Shed has close ties to Ballarat Community Health and CEO Sean Duffy highlighted the benefits of the partnership.

“Ballarat Community Health has seen so much public good develop as a consequence of the presence of the Sebastopol Men’s Shed,” he said. “It has been an honour to be associated with it.”

Both the Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King and Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle were on hand to speak at the opening.

“It’s been a long time coming, a five to six-year project, but what I love most about it is the extraordinary collaboration it is,” Ms Settle said.

“There was $6000 from the State Government, but Catherine King and the community fund provided $20,000, the council have provided the land, Ballarat Community Health have really driven it and the president, Les, is great at getting people involved.”