SETTLING IN: New home for Men’s Shed as community takes shape

MOUNT Duneed Men’s Shed has finally settled at its permanent new home and is planning to expand its community service for the flourishing neighbourhood.

The group moved into the newly built Mount Duneed Community Shed at Sovereign Drive earlier this year – its fourth location in its first nine years of existence.

After stints at other Mount Duneed institutions Club Armstrong and Foundation 61, the Men’s Shed now has a purpose-built workshop, kitchen and meeting space to gather, build and swap stories for its growing membership base.

“We often see with these developments that there’s plenty of facilities for younger people. But we thought, ‘what about us?’,” group secretary Gerard Irvin said.

Men’s Sheds provide equipment for members, especially retirees, to hone their woodwork and metalwork skills, and are a valuable social outlet with benefits for mental health.

Previous projects from the Mount Duneed Men’s Shed have included bench seats for local schools, Christmas decorations, and garden beds and propagation tables for a community garden at the Warralilly estate.

The Men’s Shed presently opens twice a week but hopes its new home can spark enough interest to cater for new timeslots that provide more services for the Mount Duneed services.

“We want this to be a facility that’s just for the people that live in this area,” president Merv Poyner said.

The Community Shed will have a grand opening on August 14 to showcase the building to prospective members and other community groups.

“We want to show people what we’re all about and see if we have support to open for more days of the week,” Mr Irvin said.

The City of Greater Geelong finished the $595,000 facility earlier this year, with the Men’s Shed moving into its new digs in May.

A fit-out of the shed’s new workshop is ongoing ahead of next month’s official opening.

In addition to the workshop, the shed includes a small function space for meetings and activities that serve a range of demographics in the neighbourhood.

Meanwhile, work is progressing on large-scale community facilities to provide services close to home for residents of the growth corridor.

Armstrong Creek West Community Hub on the corner of Unity Drive, is under construction and due to finish early next year.

The $13 million hub will include a 66-place kindergarten and other child services.

Across the Surf Coast Highway, the $18 million Armstrong Creek Town Centre Library and Community Hub is on track to finish in 2024.