Wood Glen Retirement Village at Erina is to get its first Men’s Shed, thanks to an injection of more than $2,000 in funding from the Federal Government.
A group of male retirees at the village put a lot of time and effort into preparing a funding application for the first Wood Glen Workshop.
Jim Paterson, Vice Chairman of the Residents’ Committee at the RetireAustralia village, said the recent COVID restrictions had spurred the committee to lodge their application.
“After a few weeks indoors, we realised how important it is to have an outlet for men in our community to get together, enjoy our lifelong hobbies and have a good chat,” Paterson said.
“The committee had been mulling over the idea for a while, and the downtime we experienced through the height of restrictions gave us the time to put our application together.
”We’re thrilled to receive this funding and get the workshop up and running with some of the basics, like a first aid kit, hearing and eye protection and some basic safety training.”
Village Manager, Vanessa Fordyce, said the funding came at a perfect time, giving men in the Wood Glen community an opportunity to keep busy and support each other through a difficult time.
“Not only will the Wood Glen Workshop give the men an outlet for their hobbies, it’s a great opportunity for them to have a chat and check in on their mates to make sure they’re travelling okay,” Fordyce said.
Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, who presented the grant from the National Shed Development Program, said it was great to see the funding help establish what would become an integral part of community life for men in the village.
“We know how important it is for men, particularly retired men, to have a regular avenue to connect with others for social support outside their homes,” Wicks said.
“Now more than ever, Sheds offer men a critical avenue for social support and engagement.
“Men’s Sheds, like the Wood Glen Workshop, are a great way for men to find this social support, while also giving them the opportunity to get involved in meaningful community projects.
Terry Collins