On December 10, the Victorian Men’s Shed Association hosted a Lower Goulburn network meeting in Seymour, addressing more than 30 members of the community.
The association is made up of individuals from Seymour, Alexandra, Kilmore, Kinglake, Marysville, Violet Town and Broadford.
The members were addressed by association general manager Jim Kane, as well as regional co-ordinator Mark Tyrell.
The meeting was held with the intention of sharing resources, information and even raw materials between sheds.
The association offers an inclusive environment for like-minded men to share their personal expertise and abilities with others in their local area.
Mr Tyrell said the network meeting was “a part of a new initiative to try and connect sheds together”.
There are about 360 men’s sheds across Victoria, all of which are standalone and volunteer-run.
The Victorian Men’s Shed Association has developed partnerships with a wide range of men’s health organisations, including the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Diabetes Victoria and Men’s Health.
Mr Tyrell said that network meetings helped a great deal because the sheds did such brilliant work on men’s health.
The association is attempting to forge 25 networks over the next 12 months and plans to host four or five regional roadshows to connect the community and raise awareness for the work that men’s sheds do.
You can keep up to date on the work of men’s sheds in your community on the Australian Men’s Sheds Association’s website here.
Being involved in men’s sheds has a range of positive benefits for both members and the wider community.
“The impact that being a men’s shed member has, not just on the person, but on their families and the community, is significant,” Mr Tyrell said.