Members of the Sebastopol Men's Shed have realised a long-held dream with the official opening of their new facility on Friday.
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It has been a six year journey for the group to secure funding, land and complete the construction and fit out of the new community space.
President Lee Shimmin said the members were 'stoked' with the new site after a 'hard slog' to make it happen.
Although we are celebrating the new building today, the men's shed isn't really so much a building, it is the members.
- Geoff Haw, Sebastopol Men's Shed secretary
The group's 55 members started using the space in November, with a few breaks in use due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
"It has been fantastic to get all the guys back in and programs up and running again," Mr Shimmin said.
Secretary Geoff Haw joined the Sebastopol Men's Shed last year after moving to Ballarat to retire.
He said he had seen the old shed on Yarrowee Street and the new shed on Vickers Street during that time.
"This is like heaven," he said.
"It is wonderful and is such a well placed facility. Members I know really appreciate it.
"The motto of the shed is strength through fellowship. That is really what men's sheds are about. Although we are celebrating the new building today, the men's shed isn't really so much a building, it is the members.
"Everyone is accepted for being themselves. People come from all sorts of backgrounds."
The new Sebastopol Men's Shed was constructed on old squash courts, with council agreeing to provide the land.
Buninyong MP Michaela Settle said there was 'extraordinary collaboration' across community and all levels of government to make the project happen.
It was funded $60,000 by the state government, $20,000 by the federal government and sponsored by Ballarat Community Health.
"Men's sheds are much more than building and fixing. They are about camaraderie and keeping people together," Ms Settle said.
"It has been a year like no other and it is incredibly important that we get these groups and people back together."
Members of the men's shed can be linked in with health support through Ballarat Community Health.
Federal member for Ballarat Catherine King said it provided a link to important health services.
"We know men are reluctant to seek medical help particularly when they are having issues around mental health," she said.
"The men's shed provides the environment in which men can talk with each other and provide support to each other.
"As we start to emerge from COVID, having spaces here where people can talk about their issues and also just have a laugh are going to be vital in making sure we have the healthiest population we possibly can."
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