By Mikayla van Loon
The rumblings of a new men’s shed in Lilydale have begun, gaining interest from those seeking connection, somewhere to use their hands and mental wellbeing support.
Although only in the early stages, expressions of interest have been sought by Benson Bannon, the man leading the project.
“This has been a long expressed but unfulfilled need, talked about during countless conversations, wherever men gather accidentally and intentionally in each and every community event or group,” he said.
An identified “gap of services” for men in Lilydale seeking “to engage in a safe and comfortable environment” was just one of the reasons for exploring the option of opening a shed locally.
With fully functioning and well established Men’s Sheds right across the Yarra Ranges, Lilydale has been excluded from this service but the hope is that will change.
“Men’s Sheds work on the philosophy that men talk shoulder-to-shoulder, not face-to-face; providing a safe and secure space enables this to occur,” one interested man said.
“There’s a myth that men don’t talk, but the Men’s Shed movement debunks this myth, as Sheds right across Australia have proven.”
The ability to “meet, greet and exchange ideas and educational support” for the improvement of each individual inspired another man to join this initial process.
Trying to combat loneliness and isolation, as well as improve men’s mental and physical health has been a long and desired outcome of Men’s Sheds.
As to why one hasn’t before been set up in Lilydale, there were a few ideas shared; the lack of community infrastructure aside from sporting reserves, that ideas are now only being voiced, especially since the establishment of the Lilydale Township Action Group and the narrow view of Lilydale being just an industrial or commercial area.
At the moment, Mr Bannon said gaining an understanding of interest in a shed would be the first step to creating a case and proposal for taking it further.
“We’ll call a public meeting to create a Steering Group, which will also liaise with the Australian Men’s Shed Association.”
Looking to also engage with trades people, local traders, the council and existing Men’s Sheds, the group hope to “look at opportunities to secure funding or premises to operate out of” but that will be further along.
For now, the group is looking for people of all ages who may be interested in joining the Lilydale Men’s Shed to like and follow the Facebook page, by the same name, to stay up to date on any meetings or announcements that might occur.
