“You don’t have to be tough.”
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That’s the message coming from the new soon-to-be built Sebastopol Men’s Shed.
With a new premises in their sights, members of the current Sebastopol Men’s Shed – which is on loan from a local builder - are looking for more men to share their new building with.
An announcement the shed will be built at Vickers Street came on Friday afternoon, with the men set to celebrate well into the weekend.
Sebastopol Men’s Shed president Les Shimmin said the last two years of fundraising, combined with a $20,000 grant under the National Communities Programme, were instrumental in getting the plans off the ground so quickly.
“Two years ago we walked in with 12 guys to start the shed off …. the community reaction since was outstanding, they came out and helped us out,” he said.
Now there are 70 members, with numbers expected to grow when the new shed is completed.
Mr Shimmin said the new premises, which will be located near Ballarat Community Health, will create a hub for men and their health needs.
With one in eight men suffering from depression, one in five suffering from anxiety, and many more fighting health issues, he said the new space would be a place where men could feel comfortable and seek help.
“It’s so they can go somewhere and get out of the house so they don’t go into their shells,” he said.
“Once they open up they find they’re not by themselves.”
Federal Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said the new building will include separate woodwork and metalwork area, offices, kitchen, dining and training spaces.
“Men’s sheds are really important for many communities across our region. Sebastopol is no exception,” she said.
$150,000 has been funded so far to construct the building – which is due to be constructed by July - with the total cost expected to reach $250,000.
In other news, the Dereel Men’s Shed in Swamp Street, Dereel, will be officially opened on Monday from 11am.
