By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
A BENEFACTOR is needed to provide a roof for a pioneering Men’s Shed in Springvale.
The shed will be different to other Men’s Sheds, which have been a social refuge for lonely men, mainly those who have retired.
But not many men from multicultural backgrounds are joining the regular sheds that are typically about woodworking, manual trades and ‘cuppas’.
Instigator of the project, Reverend Paul Creasey of Springvale Uniting Church, said the Springvale shed would aim to bring together different cultures and faiths under the one roof.
It was sparked by meeting a Chinese man whose daughter died unexpectedly. Because of language and cultural barriers, the man was finding it hard to get help.
“There’s a lot of information out there but it was hard for him to get hold of because of his background. He just wanted to have friends around him.”
The time was ripe for a hub to support older and retired men in Springvale, Mr Creasey said. For men in various cultures, many were facing the “shame” of no longer being their household’s breadwinner, he said.
They included those who were ‘boat people’ from the 1970s, those approaching retirement age, and those who had joined the unemployed.
Mr Creasey said older Sudanese men were asking for help to parent their teenagers. It would help them bridge the cultural gap between them and their children who had absorbed the Australian way of life.
A kitchen will be a centrepiece of the shed, providing the means to mingle over different cuisines. It will also be a place to teach cooking and nutrition to kitchen-averse men.
The shed has a steering committee, including Greater Dandenong mayor Youhorn Chea and Cr Roz Blades, but – as yet – no shed.
Men’s Shed Association spokesman Andrew Stark, a steering committee member, said about $20,000 was needed for a decent shed built on a concrete slab.
“This shed is as grassroots as it gets. It’s basically started by Paul who really has a heart for people here. We just need a company to get behind them.”
To help, call Paul Creasey at the Springvale Uniting Church on 9546 9297.
