OLD tractors, wooden signs and weathered heritage buildings at Old Gippstown are set to receive some tender loving care with plans for a Men’s Shed.
Members of the ‘Friends of Old Gippstown’ have formed a subcommittee to create a Men’s Shed in co-operation with the heritage park’s management.
“For a long time we’ve been looking at ways to do things and have needed volunteers,” sub-committee volunteer Kevin Coade said.
“We need people with an ability to do certain things, fix tractors, paint wooden signs, and this idea came about to provide the Men’s Shed concept, but also help Gippstown when they need some work done.”
Mr Coade said the project had missed out on the Federal Government’s funding round, but hoped to receive funding this year before making another application to the State Government.
He said the group particularly wanted to create a support system for armed services veterans, including those that had come home from recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
“We would like to provide activities that the group might be attracted to. This may be modern technologies like drones, photography and the like, and not just the traditional trade activities,” Mr Coade said.
Latrobe City Councillor Sharon Gibson, also a trained grief counsellor, said there was a need for the community project.
“Once upon a time men would go down to the pub, but that’s changed,” she said.
“This is another outlet for the gents… I’m not saying no woman can ever go, but I’m very supportive of getting this up and running for men.”
All interested blokes are invited to come to an information day on 27 October.
For more information, phone Kevin Coade on 0438 061 412.
