Door open at new Men’s Shed

AFTER more than three years of construction, the Linton Men’s Shed was officially opened last Saturday.

The ribbon was cut by Member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle, who said the building’s development is a result of the dedication of its members.

“This shed is so much, much more than money. The effort and the commitment everybody has made, it’s here in the walls. You can feel it,” she said.

“I know we’ll keep building and building and this shed will become even more wonderful as time goes on.”

Located on O’Beirne Lane near the fire station, the structure replaces the group’s previous two-car garage facility.

The new shed was supported by a $60,000 grant from the State Government and includes a workshop, kitchen space, toilets and a gravel courtyard for its 27 members.

The group have been utilising their new home for about a month, and president Frank Clarey said he hopes the added space will attract new members.

“We’re hoping now to be able to expand even more. We’ve got more space here than we’ve ever had,” he said.

“The abilities, the knowledge and experience of our current members is extraordinary. I’m past 70 and I’m still in school here, so there’s a lot for new people to learn.

“We’ve got the extra room for more people, more projects, even to hold materials for things like a rotunda at Skipton while we all work on other things.”

Other major projects underway within the shed’s expanded facilities include work on mounting steps for Smythesdale’s Equestrian Centre and an upcoming pergola project.

An Australian creation, the Men’s Shed movement has grown out of likeminded informal projects established in the late 1970s and early 80s.

They were originally set up for a range of reasons, often to provide a space for people to get together as a community.

There are currently more then 900 Men’s Sheds across Australia, and the movement has spread to several other countries.