Shed finally has a place to call home

ECHUCA-MOAMA Men’s Shed is finally getting a permanent home.

After eight years shifting from building to building around the twin towns, the group has finally secured the funding it needs to set up shop in Rotary Park.

The news of a $60,000 grant from the Victorian Government came through last week and Men’s Shed president Graham Green said he was ‘‘absolutely ecstatic’’ when he found out.

The new shed will be nearly twice the size of the current makeshift shed on Bowlan St in Moama, and will feature an engineering workshop on top of its existing woodwork area.

There will also be an improved lunchroom, an office and a mini showroom.

‘‘It’s going to be a safer environment. People will have more space to work,’’ Mr Green said.

‘‘At the moment we are confined to woodwork so the engineering shop will help some of the members who are fitters, turners and toolmakers.

‘‘Overall, we’re hopeful when we get a new shed we’ll be able to do even more than what we do at the moment.’’

The visible and more central location at Rotary Park should also help attract new members, Mr Green said.

‘‘We think we’ll be able to double our membership out there,’’ he said.

‘‘We currently have 26 mem- bers and I expect it to climb to about 50.’’

Prior to moving into its Bowlan St home — where Tony Aquino provided it to them rent-free — the group was previously housed on Cornelia Creek Rd and at Murray Human Services and Echuca Neighbourhood House.

Mr Green said he hoped the new home at Rotary Park would be ready by June next year.

‘‘Slowly but surely we’ll start moving stuff over there,’’ he said.

‘‘We’d love to get something in the ground before Christmas. It all depends on when they release the funds.’’

The grant was part of a $1.2 million funding boost to Men’s Sheds around Victoria and Member for Northern Victoria Steve Herbert said it was important to support such enterprises.

‘‘Men’s Sheds are extremely important in helping with the health and wellbeing of our community,’’ he said.

The Echuca-Moama Men’s Shed is currently at 5 Bowlan St, Moama.

It is open Tuesdays to Thursdays from 9am to 3pm.

For more details phone Graham on 0428 344 273.