Brian Arberry, Laurie Woollcott and Terry Whelan

Members of Gerringong Mens’ Shed are hoping a recent application to Crown Lands to erect a purpose built shed as a home for their activities will be approved quickly.

The group, which was only established late last year, is currently based in a small Council owned building near the netball courts by Mick Cronin Oval.

“We’re grateful for the space, but it is better suited to a meeting room than a workshop,” says Vice President Terry Whelan. “Lots of equipment and tools have been donated but we’ve nowhere to keep or use them at the moment, and the projects we’ll do will also take up a lot of room.”

They feel the ideal place for the new shed is up on the western side of the carpark, where the access is more level.

Fourteen men, aged from 67 to 78 with a range of experience in building, woodworking, fitting and turning and technology, have joined the group so far. They have been overwhelmed by the support they are being given by the local community, including Council and the Gerringong Bowling Club, for setting up a local chapter of the Australia-wide mens’ health initiative.

The initial period has been spent getting the organisational and administrative structure up and running and planning for the new shed. The men have also been fund raising, and are almost half way to covering the costs of the $30,000 shed. Their latest project is making western red cedar planter boxes to sell at the local market.

“The core group that got together in November hasn’t lost their enthusiasm,” says Terry. “We are old enough to understand these things take time to get up and running.”

Until the new 12×12 metre shed is built, the men are just meeting once a week. It’s an opportunity for them to share skills, build friendships and contribute to the community by completing useful projects.

Details: New members are welcome.
Contact Terry on 4234 2257.
Meetings are on Tuesdays between 9 and noon