90 SECOND STATEMENT: Wynnum-Manly District Men’s Shed

Mr Speaker, last week I had the pleasure of dropping in on the Wynnum-Manly District Men’s Shed in my electorate of Bonner.

The Shed recently completed upgrades to its facilities thanks to two hundred thousand dollars in funding from the Morrison Government’s Community Development Grants Program.

I was really looking forward to this visit and seeing the benefits of our funding in person.

The funding has enabled the upgrade of the Wynnum-Manly and District Men’s Shed’s office facilities, shed equipment including a laser cutter and dust extraction system and the installation of solar panels.

It will also support their growing membership base.

Mr Speaker, Men’s Sheds do incredible work.

Open to all men, they play vital roles in our communities, addressing social isolation and boosting men’s mental health.

Mr Speaker, mental health care is a priority of the Morrison Government.

We have nearly doubled spending on mental health since we came to office.

There are more than one thousand Men’s Sheds across the country where men can work on various projects from manual crafts to gardening.

I am fortunate enough to have multiple Men’s Sheds in Bonner whose amazing projects are often donated back into our communities.

The Wynnum-Manly Men’s Shed has built model trains for our childcare centres, supported local businesses with handmade décor like table numbers for the local Leagues Club and provided carpentry support to those in need.

I am always humbled by the kindness and generosity of the Men’s Shed towards our community.

Mr Speaker, the Morrison Government’s funding towards the Wynnum-Manly Men’s Shed means we are not only nurturing the skills and passions of our community, but we are investing in their mental health and wellbeing.

Our Government is making mental health services accessible and providing safe environments for those seeking support.

I believe this embodies exactly what it means to be Australian.

To provide a helping hand to those who need it most.

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Men’s Shed grants now open

Bonner’s local Men’s Sheds can now apply for funding as part of the latest round of the National Men’s Shed Development Program (NSDP), with priority given on applications with a strong focus on health, wellbeing and safety.

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta MP said in acknowledgement of the impact COVID-19 has had on the community, the grants would be used to help local Men’s Shed groups during their recovery and help facilitate increased connectivity amongst shedders.

“I strongly encourage the Men’s Shed groups in Bonner to apply for this grant to support the great work they already do,” Mr Vasta said.

“Now more than ever, Men’s Sheds offer men a critical avenue for social support and engagement. They have become a focal point for the Bonner community and encourage men to stay healthy, socialise and do regular activities in good company.

“This funding can help our Sheds deliver programs with a strong health, wellbeing or safety focus and I urge all local Sheds to apply.”

Men’s Sheds can apply for financial support across the following funding categories:

  • Category 1: Health, Wellbeing, and Events $8,000 maximum
  • Category 2: Shed Improvements $8,000 maximum
  • Category 3: Equipment $5,000 maximum

Minister for Health Greg Hunt MP said Men’s Sheds were vital in providing a safe space for men to talk and work on meaningful projects.

“This new funding round will provide financial support to assist in both setting up and maintaining Men’s Sheds across Australia,” Minister Hunt said

Since 2013, the Coalition Government has provided $5.4 million to support Men’s Sheds across Australia.

Applications for the current funding round close Friday 27 November. For more information, visit https://mensshed.org

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Men’s Shed Life Week to combat loneliness

Men’s Shed is celebrating Shed Life Week at four locations across the Bonner electorate to encourage men from all walks of life to build and create together.

With over a thousand locations across Australia, Men Shed aims to be a creative space to combat isolation and loneliness as well as reduce preventable mental health issues.

“Bonner is home to four Men Sheds that do amazing work to foster a sense of community for men of all ages to build and create with the latest shed tools,” Mr Vasta said.

“They’re also a place men can come together to openly talk about import issues relating to their physical and mental health shoulder-to-shoulder.

“Originating in Toowoomba, Men’s Shed has gained momentum world wide breaking the stigma around masculinity and to semi-retired to retired men on the same page about their issues.”

Shed Life Week encourages members to showcase their craftsmanship from around the world, open their doors to new members and promote talking about issues that matter to men’s health.

To find out how you can get involved with your local Men’s Shed visit:

mensshed.org/celebrating-shed-life-this-mens-shed-week/

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Carina Men’s Shed Open Day – 16 June 2018

CARINA MEN’S SHED OPEN DAY

Date: SATURDAY 16th JUNE 2018

Time: 10 AM TO 3 PM

Address: CLEM JONES CENTRE, 56 ZAHEL STREET, CARINA QLD 4152

·        DECORATIVE GLASS WORK, LEADLIGHTING, WOODWORK, LEATHERWORK AND
ARTWORK ON DISPLAY (SOME OF THESE ITEMS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE)

·        SURPLUS TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR SALE

·        MEMBER HOBBIES WILL ALSO BE DISPLAYED

·        TALK TO OUR MEMBERS ON THE BENEFITS OF BELONGING TO OUR SHED

·        ENJOY MUSIC PROVIDED BY OUR NEWLY FORMED BUSH BAND “THE CORRUGATED
SHEDDERS”

·        ENJOY A SAUSAGE AT THE SAUSAGE SIZZLE 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Website: www.mensshedcarina.org.au

Telephone: 07 3395 0678

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90 SECOND STATEMENT: Men’s Health Week

This week is National Men’s Health Week. The theme this year was “Healthy Body – Healthy Mind: Keeping the Balance”. It was a great opportunity to raise men’s awareness of the benefits of keeping healthy. I couldn’t think of a better organisation to collaborate on this with than one of my electorate’s local men’s sheds, Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed.

As their President Murray Rogash tells me, men’s sheds are much more than group workshops. They’re health initiatives that improve their members’ physical, mental and social health.

Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed offers a variety of health activities such as fitness classes. It counts among its 292 members a medical doctor, psychologist and Minister of Religion, who help cater to other members’ health needs. It also provides health check-ups to members through the Australian Men’s Shed Association’s Spanner in the Works program.

Last Tuesday I was pleased to contribute to Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed’s health initiatives with a Men’s Health Week morning tea. I was joined by special guest and local GP Dr David Hunt, who spoke on the crucial health issues older men face and the importance of regular check-ups. Dr Hunt has treated a number of men from the Shed. He tells me the Shed has made a positive difference in their lives, and that men’s sheds are a vital community health resource.

No doubt men’s sheds help to save lives. I’m proud to support the men’s sheds in my electorate, and I commend them for their work improving local men’s health.

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MEN’S HEALTH WEEK LAUNCHED AT MT GRAVATT MEN’S SHED

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta today hosted a men’s health information session for members of Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed, as part of Men’s Health Week 2017.

He was joined by Dr David Hunt from Mt Gravatt, who spoke to Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed members about health-related issues they faced, and State Member for Mansfield, Ian Walker.

“I know a number of men here whose lives have been changed for the better since joining this Men’s Shed,” Dr Hunt said.

“Men’s Sheds are a wonderful health initiative and it’s great to see Ross get involved today.”

President of Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed, Murray Rogash, said Men’s Sheds were health-focused and helped save lives.

“We have a medical doctor, psychologist, and Minister of Religion who help meet our members’ physical, mental and spiritual needs,” Mr Rogash said.

“On August 7th, we will be offering members another Spanner in the Works tune-up. Spanner in the Works is a great initiative by the Australian Men’s Shed Association that encourages members to stay on top of their physical and emotional health with regular health check-ups.”

Mr Vasta said Men’s Sheds give their members an opportunity to gather together to take part in a range of activities, helping stave off social isolation while keeping member’s minds and bodies engaged.

“This year the theme for Men’s Health Week is Healthy Body-Healthy Mind: Keeping the Balance, which is exactly what men’s sheds are all about,” Mr Vasta said.

“I’m proud to support Mt Gravatt Men’s Shed and I’m pleased to have been able to deliver them $22,000 in funding recently to install new solar panels, which will help them continue their good work improving the health and well-being of members of our community.”

For more on Spanner in the Works visit http://malehealth.org.au.

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NEW FUNDING GRANT FOR WYNNUM-MANLY & DISTRICTS MEN’S SHED

The Turnbull Government is providing $4,000 in funding to Wynnum Manly and Districts Men’s Shed for the purchase of much-needed tools and equipment including a defibrillator and wall-mounted cabinet, as well as for first aid and CPR training for 20 of its members.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said he was pleased to be able to provide the funding, which comes on top of the Government’s $100,000 investment into Wynnum Manly and Districts Men’s Shed announced last year that will assist with the installation and fitting out of their new shed side at Manly West. 

“The Wynnum Manly and Districts Men’s Shed has a long and proud history of helping local men connect with each other to work on meaningful projects, preventing social isolation and bringing the community closer together,” Mr Vasta said.

“This grant will mean a lot to the Men’s Shed members and the broader Wynnum-Manly community and I congratulate them on their success.”

President of Wynnum Manly and Districts Men’s Shed, David Westlake, thanked Mr Vasta for his support in securing the funding.

“We are over-the-moon with this announcement and would like to thank the Government for their continuing support,” Mr Westlake said.

This grant funding is part of the $5.1 million the Federal Government has provided to the Australian Men’s Shed Association through to 2018-19 to support the national network of Men’s Sheds.

“This funding round helps Men’s Sheds to buy tools and equipment, support community projects and training, maintain or develop their buildings, or create local activities to improve men’s health,” Mr Vasta said.

Details of all successful grant recipients from this National Shed Development Program funding round are available at www.mensshed.org

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