Burrum District Community Men’s shed opens

Continuing to provide social and emotional support to local men will be much easier with the official opening of the new Burrum District Community Men’s Shed building.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt congratulated the organisation on seeing this project come to fruition.

“The Burrum District Community Men’s Shed has been working hard for several years to secure its own shed. I wrote to then Defence Minister Darren Chester to inquire if there were any pre-fabricated disused Department of Defence sheds that could be utilised by the group.

“Fortunately, there was one available and in October 2014 it was trucked to Howard from Wallangarra in South Queensland. A similar shed had previously been sourced for the Toogoom RSL.

“It is well known that problems with men’s health, isolation, loneliness and depression are a major health issue for society, and men’s sheds can play a significant and practical role in addressing these and other issues,” Mr Pitt said.

“Men’s sheds help connect men with their communities and mainstream society, and at the same time, act as a catalyst in stimulating their community’s economic activities.

“As the region’s older population continues to grow, I have no doubt that the men’s shed will continue to flourish and provide a tremendous outlet for local men.”

Burrum District Community Men’s Shed secretary John Laffin said it was wonderful for the group to finally see the shed finished.

“The build started in August 2015 after being granted $32,000 through the Gambling Community Benefit Fund to help with construction of the shed,” Mr Laffin said.

“I’d like to thank all of the members who pitched in and gave their time to get the shed built.

“I’d also like to thank the Fraser Coast Regional Council, local businesses and community groups for their support. And a special thank you to the Burrum District Respite Centre which donated its shed to the group to use for the past three years.”

Mr Laffin said the shed was an important meeting place where men of different ages and cultures could come together to socialise, share life experiences and skills.

“By supporting the social, emotional, psychological and physical well-being of men, they are also an important vehicle for maintaining men’s health and for promoting healthy ageing.”

Burrum District Community Men’s Shed was started in 2011 and incorporated in 2012. It currently has 34 members.

The organisation is one of more than 930 men’s sheds which are represented by Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA).

AMSA was established in 2007 by the Australian independent community-based Men’s Sheds as a Federated body to represent, support and promote the Men’s Shed movement.

It was founded on the principle of sharing information between sheds and those communities wishing to establish and operate a Men’s Shed. It acts as a central hub for information exchange.