The City of Melville has agreed to provide a parcel of land near Mandala Hall for the shed, which will become the second in the City after the Bicton Men’s Shed was established in 2010.
Men’s Sheds provide a space for men to gather together and pursue mutual interests ranging from woodwork and model building to cooking and painting.
More importantly they are a source of companionship and provide a support network for members, many of whom are retirees.
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READ NOWBicton Men’s Shed committee member Colin Taylor said there was a growing demand for Men’s Sheds throughout Australia.
“At Bicton we’ve hit capacity at 60 members,” he said.
“Blokes retire and they miss their workmates for a start and quite often they haven’t got a shed of their own at home and they find themselves at a loose end and get depressed. Men need to mix with men and that is what the shed is all about really.”
While the Bicton Men’s Shed specialises in wood and metalwork, Mr Taylor said the new Bateman committee, once elected, could take their shed in whichever direction they chose.
“There may be model boat builders who want to join, or a group of musicians who want to have a jazz session one night,” he said. “The Wanneroo Men’s Shed focuses on collecting old computer parts, then building and donating new computers, and the Osborne Park Men’s Shed build wheelchairs they send overseas.”
Acting Melville chief executive Steve Cope confirmed the City was prepared to offer the disused tennis court area at Bill Ellison Park for the proposed new shed.
“The Bicton Men’s Shed are pleased with the identified site and subject to them securing funding and local interest, it is envisaged the City would lease the land to the group for a peppercorn rental,” he said.
The meeting will be chaired by WA Men’s Shed Association president Trevor Taylor and will seek to elect a new Bateman committee. A handful of Bicton’s Men Shed members will fill advisory roles for the new Bateman committee.
The meeting begins at 10am at Mandala Hall on Saturday, July 22, followed by a sausage sizzle.
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