COCKBURN men will have somewhere to hone their skills, meet new people and forge friendships at the Cockburn Community Men’s Shed when it opens on June 13.
The new purpose-built base in Cockburn Central has been more than six years in the making and three men who couldn’t be more pleased are its inaugural 2013 chairman Mike Manning, current chairman Peter Hodgson and men’s shed advocate and current treasurer Geoff Webb, who helped establish the project’s partnership with the Rotary Club of Cockburn.
Mr Manning (76) said he needed somewhere to use his creative skills that included wood and metal work.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW“I retired at 70 and my wife said to me ‘you are not going to sleep in that chair all day’, and now she has to make an appointment to see me,” he said.
“It’s great to have a safe space for men to talk about their issues.”
Mr Hodgson (63), a long-standing Rotarian, became chairman in April 2017 and has put project and change-management skills honed during his professional life to good use as the Men’s Shed moved to its permanent home.
“I’d always intended to join a Men’s Shed because although I don’t have any artistic skills, I like pottering about with various projects,” Mr Hodgson said.
“But what I really like about the objective is that Men’s Sheds foster, maintain and promote men’s physical and mental health and wellbeing.
“Often men don’t want to be publicly talking about themselves and there is no pressure to lay on a couch and pour their heart out here.
“But when they are ready to talk to another bloke in blokey language, a Men’s Shed is a good place for that.”
Mr Webb (67) helped establish the Leschenault Men’s Shed and was keen to use his experience to help Cockburn’s come to fruition.
“It’s been a huge effort to get the shed where it is today and hats off to the City of Cockburn for all their support,” Mr Webb said.
“We have more than 50 members and look forward to doubling that now we have a dedicated facility.
“We plan to hire out the space to generate income and hope to hold community seminars about health and other topics of interest.”
Visit www.ccmshed.org.au or email cocmensshed@iinet.net.au.
MORE: Safety concerns at redeveloped Scarborough foreshore
MORE: Shenton Park law student crowned Miss Naidoc 2018
MORE: Family of missing Canning Vale man Ian Collett remains hopeful