By CASEY NEILL
SPRINGVALE’S multicultural men’s shed project started very simply – with a Chinese man who’d lost his daughter to a brain aneurism.
Reverend Paul Creasey said the Australian first came about because he found “very little that was culturally-specific that was able to help” the bereaved father.
In the two-and-a-half years since the idea was born, Mr Creasey and a community steering committee have set aside land at Springvale Uniting Church, received a donation of a former school portable and fundraised.
“We’re currently preparing the architectural plan to go to council, and once it’s through council we will see the shed on site,” he said.
“It’s only a matter of time.”
There are also plans for a wood-fired oven, barbecue area and outside learning centre.
“The idea is giving men space and a place where they can start to talk through their issues, and cutting down the barriers that stop us from communicating,” he said.
“A lot of men are finding it very difficult to understand their place in the world at the moment.”
Mr Creasey said the Springvale concept was in line with other Australian Men’s Shed Association groups, which give men a place to chat while working shoulder to shoulder.
“We go in with purpose,” he said.
“The management committee will represent that diversity from those different groups.
“We will be looking for people to become part of that leadership for the future.
“We want the programs specifically to come out of the needs.
“People who use the shed will be the people that will determine what actually goes on.”
Mr Creasey said there’d be support for men reaching retirement age and feeling “a little bit disassociated with the community” and a focus on skills, parenting and health.
“Men’s health becomes a real problem when you’ve got people from different languages trying to communicate with each other, and talking often about things that are taboo subjects for them,” he said.
Anyone who’d like to get involved through contributing ideas or donations can call Mr Creasey on 9548 2799.
