By Callum Ludwig
With Men’s Health Week celebrated from Monday 10 June to Sunday 16 June, the Yarra Ranges Men’s Shed Network is opening its doors to new members,
Ben’s Shed on the Warburton Highway in Yarra Junction is always a hive of activity, with something for visitors every weekday and one Saturday a month.
Vice President Rick Goldie said they aren’t only a men’s shed at Ben’s Shed, with female members already involved too.
“We are one of few places where people can come and work with their hands and have 47 members at the present stage,” he said.
We’ve got a full woodworking shop and we’ve got a pretty good metalworking shop for our members and visitors and we provide breakfast on a Monday and lunch on a Wednesday.”
Ben’s Shed is one of 13 in the Yarra Ranges Men’s Shed Network, taking the staple backyard shed found in many homes and opening it up to the community, creating an opportunity to foster social connection.
Mr Goldie said he thinks the social aspect of a shed is incredibly important.
“The shed is all about talking if you’ve got a problem you can find somebody there who can give you a sympathetic ear, there’s tea and coffee for people to sit down and have a cuppa and a bikkie if there’s some still in the barrel,” he said.
The workshops at Ben’s Shed are unavailable on Tuesdays, as the shed is opened up for five local schools to visit and practice their woodworking skills but the shed is still open to visitors. The Upper Yarra U3A group also utilise the space on occasion on Thursdays.
Mr Goldie said having a supportive space like a men’s shed is extremely important.
“I go back to when I left work, I was very close to depression and had nowhere to go at the time and I wish I had somewhere like the shed,” he said.
“Just being able to talk to people, get out of home, see somebody different or talk to somebody that’s interesting is extremely important.”
Currently, the Ben’s Shed team are working on making a variety of wood-carved toys like jigsaw puzzles, rabbits, snails and kangaroos to fundraise. The items are also foot-mounted so they can be sent overseas.
Closer to Christmas time, Ben’s Shed members will also be making ornaments for Christmas trees and homes that will be available for purchase.
