THE Bega Men’s Shed has taken a significant step towards building its home.
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The group has received a $15,000 grant through the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnerships program.
The money will go towards the construction of a shed.
The grant is the result of almost four years perseverance by a dedicated steering committee.
Following the inaugural meeting in 2009, the committee struggled to maintain momentum for the concept after experiencing several major setbacks in its search for a suitable location.
That hurdle was finally overcome in mid-2012 when an agreement was reached with the Old Bega Hospital Trust.
The Men’s Shed group can now begin plans for constructing a building.
“It has been a long, hard, and at times frustrating slog, and there were many occasions when we wondered if was worth the effort,” Bega Men’s Shed president Eric Myers said.
“What kept us going was the basic concept of the Men’s Shed idea, ‘men enjoying the company of men’.”
Mr Myers paid tribute to the group’s secretary Fiona Scott, who took on the role from the outset and “stuck with us despite her already busy employment schedule”.
“There is no doubt that her expertise has been a major factor in obtaining this grant,” he said.
Ms Scott said it was exciting news for Bega Men’s Shed.
“It’s great now that we can actually do something – we’ve never had our own space,” she said.
“We are fairly sure we will get enough support to put a shed up.
“We will provide something great for men in Bega.”
Mr Myers said thanks to the grant and donations from a number of local organisations, the Men’s Shed now had sufficient plans to start construction.
“Once it is built, we have several major items of equipment in storage ready to be installed and we will then be able to offer the men of Bega and surrounds a purpose-built meeting place and enable us to address many of the social aims of the Men’s Shed concept by providing a base for men to interact socially and participate in a range of practical activities.
“When you consider that there are already men’s sheds operating successfully in Merimbula, Eden and Bermagui, then Bega, as the largest centre in the Bega Valley Shire, is long overdue for its own,” he said.
According to Ms Scott, the group had received great support from Member for Bega Andrew Constance and the local community.
Mr Constance said he was pleased to give the green light to the funding.
“Men’s Shed is a wonderful community-based organisation that encourages people to get involved,” he said.
“Sometimes people in the community become isolated and Men’s Shed is a wonderful outlet to support men in particular.
“Men’s Shed is a wonderful initiative and worthy of support.”
This week, the State Government announced 18 organisations would receive a share of $300,000 worth of Community Building Partnership grants.
Other successful local recipients included:
* $40,000 to the Bermagui Skate Park Association for the construction of a skate park at Dickinson Oval;
* $14,100 to the Bega Girl Guides for the upgrade of its hall;
* $10,000 to the Tulgeen Group, Bega, for the establishment of a retail sales facility and upgrading of employee facilities at the Riverside Nursery;
* $10,000 to the Cobargo Pre-school for provision of weather protection screens; and
* $790 to Red Cross Bega towards the purchase of a lawnmower;
Anyone interested in joining the Bega Men’s Shed is welcome to attend the regular weekly meetings at the Old Bega Hospital from 9am every Thursday.
Call Eric Myers on 6492 0289 or Fiona Scott on 6492 0972 for more information.
