Men’s Shed gift supports BCH hub

THE Ocean Grove & District Men’s Shed have delivered an early Christmas present to Bellarine Community Health’s (BCH) new Child, Youth and Family Hub in Ocean Grove.

Men’s Shed participant Ray McHenry spent about 30 hours creating a hand-made wooden tipi to feature in the children’s outdoor therapy space at hub in Goodwell Drive.

Ocean Grove & District Men’s Shed manager John Lowrie said Mr McHenry had a clear vision for the project.

“Ray has been keen to see this project through and contribute to the community. He’s used recycled timber palings and spent hours creating the tipi for the kids to use.”

The Child, Youth and Family Hub has been purpose built and will provide contemporary facilities to support children, young people, and families on the Bellarine, with both indoor and outdoor therapy spaces.

“The tipi from the Ocean Grove Men’s Shed will be a great feature in the outdoor space and I’m sure the children will love playing in it,” BCH capital works manager Michelle Day said.

“We’re grateful for the contribution from the Men’s Shed and look forward to working on other projects with them in the future.”

The hub is nearing competition, with services scheduled to start from January 2025.

Children’s services operating from the new hub include speech pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and mental health together with some youth services.

Construction of the building has been designed in two stages, and BCH is seeking further funding to complete the second stage.

Funding for stage one has been provided through the federal Department of Health and Aged Care and the Anthony Costa Foundation, with the land in the Kingston Ocean Grove development donated by the Corless Family Trust.