By CASEY NEILL
AUSTRALIA’S first multicultural men’s shed is now in place at Springvale Uniting Church and preparing to open its doors.
Proceeds from the Club Noble Gala Golf Day at Keysborough Golf Club on Thursday 3 April will support the project.
The shed is set to open in coming months to support men and build tolerance, understanding and positive community relationships.
The Springvale initiative started about three years ago after a Chinese man lost his daughter to a brain aneurism.
Reverend Paul Creasey said he found “very little that was culturally-specific that was able to help” the bereaved father.
“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.
Rev 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 want the programs specifically to come out of the needs,” he said.
“People who use the shed will be the people that will determine what actually goes on.”
There’ll be a focus on skills, parenting and health, he said.
“Men’s health becomes a real problem when you’ve got people from different languages trying to communicate with each other, and talking about things that are taboo subjects for them,” he said.
The Club Noble Gala Golf Day costs $75 a head, starts at 11.30am and includes pre-game snacks and drinks, 18 holes of golf, a gourmet barbecue dinner and prizes.
To book, call Grant Connolly on 0438 765 798, email grant.connolly@accessservice.com.au, call Craig Ortland on 0416 101 396 or email craig.ortland@ato.gov.au.
