A safer space for men’s place

ONE of the region’s supportive sites for men is more secure thanks to a collaboration between Gallagher’s Security and the Australian Men’s Shed Association.

Members of the Dereel Men’s Shed had the assurance of an overhauled security system installed earlier this year.

Branch president Gordon Smith said they’ve never had a break-in before and they want to keep it that way.

“Before this, we had cameras inside,” he said. “We’ve never been knocked off but the CFA next door got done a couple years ago, so we’re lucky.

“It’s very convenient. If someone wants to get into the shed, we can let them in from home. They just open the door, and turn the alarm off.”

The Dereel group currently has about 25 members, and was one of the first Men’s Sheds to put their hands up for the donation as well as three other branches.

The system was put in place through contractor Addpro Security about two weeks after the Dereel Men’s Shed expressed interest, with members installing the wiring themselves.

Staff at Gallagher’s offered the donations to the AMSA in March, 2022.

Gallagher’s national SMB and perimeter manager Greg O’Neill said the average cost to install the security system was be about $2500.

“It’s a cloud-based access control system,” he said. “That Men’s Shed has a couple roller doors and an office and main entry door,” he said.

“For the main door, we put on access control on so they can use their phones or tags to get in and allow their other staff to come and go as securely as they want.”