by Lyn Matthews, Traralgon Men’s Shed And Woodworking Inc Secretary/Treasurer
Traralgon Men’s Shed continues to make items for the bushfire affected communities of East Gippsland.
A grant has made the project possible and recently a delivery of items went to Clifton Creek, located north of Bairnsdale.
This community had approximately 60 homes affected by the 2019/2020 fires.
Bench seats, adult and children sized picnic tables, cutting boards and other items were transported by Willaton Transport and donated to the Clifton Creek Community.
The Shed contributed funds for a BBQ held at the community recreation grounds during the community working bee on the day of delivery .
The community was thrilled by the donation of items and the BBQ.
Another delivery is planned for mid May 2021. Members of Traralgon Men’s Shed continue to make items for the Sarsfield area.
This project was a way of assisting a number of individuals and the community of these fire-affected areas of East Gippsland — and providing a meaningful project for Shed members.
Grant funding for this project has been thankfully received from Gippsland Primary Health Network to finance the materials, incidentals and coordination.
Gippsland Primary Health Network was supported by the Australian Government to deliver the One Good Community Wellbeing Grants program.
Its aim was to help address the long-term impacts of drought and bushfires in the region by promoting healing and recovery, and building resilience.
Traralgon Men’s Shed offers individuals a place to engage with hands on activities and to interact with others, and by doing so, develop a sense of meaning and value around the process of completing projects in the shed.
The health and wellbeing aspect of the ‘Men’s Shed’ is perhaps its greatest benefit.
Through shared experiences in the shed, members make friends, build a network of emotional support and develop a sense of belonging — all of which facilitate a willingness to communicate often uncommon in men.
Traralgon Men’s Shed is open to men and women on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8am to 3pm.
Find a Shed near you at this link: mensshed.org/find-a-shed/
