During his visit, Dr Kelly announced the Quaama Men’s Shed’s application for a $6000 grant from the National Shed Development Fund toward had been successful.

Under the NSDP, the Australian Government will allocate a total of $800,000 over the 2017/2018 financial year.

The following Monday, Dr Kelly’s office confirmed a second grant of $17,630 from round three of the Stronger Communities Programme was also approved, bringing their total to $23,630.​

The Quaama Men’s Shed will put the money toward extending their shed, improving the work space and increasing the building by more than double its current size. 

The old fire shed was made available to the Quaama Men’s Shed about five years ago on the condition they restored it to a functioning space again. 

President John Preston said it was no small job. 

“We’ve had an estimation of the whole project, and to carry out the extension and repairs for the building will be in the area of $110,000,” he said. 

“But many of our members are ex-tradies, so we can bring that cost down by doing some of the work on our own” 

Heimo Heino signed up to the Quaama Men’s Shed about five months ago. He is looking forward to making the extension a reality. 

“A lot of us come from laboring backgrounds, so you’re used to working in a team everyday,” he said.

“But when you’re taken away from the work site, you loose the comradery that comes with it, and that’s a big reason I’m at the shed now.”

A larger kitchen space and workshop will allow the Quaama Men’s Shed to accommodate more members and the group agreed they would like to see their membership grow alongside their shed.