The Toongabbie and District Men’s Shed will receive $7,500 from the Federal Government to support its community projects and training programs.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the funding would be used to purchase new tools and equipment for community training, and to run a series of health seminars covering healthy cooking.
Mr Chester said the Toongabbie men’s shed played an important role in the community supporting men with friendship and the opportunity to learn new skills.
“The Toongabbie men’s shed will purchase a band saw, grinders and other equipment required for the community building projects,” Mr Chester said.
“They will also use the funding to run a series of four community health seminars focussed on diabetes and healthy cooking.”
Mr Chester said the Federal Government was providing a total of $5.1 million over three years to the National Men’s Sheds program.
“Men are talking about their health more and more and men’s sheds provide a safe and friendly environment for them to do so. The benefits of men’s sheds to the community are widely acknowledged,” Mr Chester said.
Heath Minister Greg Hunt said men were less likely to seek help or talk about their feelings, than women.
“Feeling part of a social group is important to our emotional and mental health and every day men’s sheds around the country provide men with an opportunity for companionship,” Minister Hunt said.
President Grahame Berrett said the Toongabbie and District Men’s Shed was grateful for the contribution from the Federal Government