Inside a shed at Mickleham’s Trillium estate, a group of men is hard at work making Christmas decorations.
They are members of the Craigieburn-based Northern Men’s Shed and they’re helping to establish a Men’s Shed in Mickleham.
It is hoped the new Mickleham shed will become a haven for men who have recently moved to Trillium and are keen to meet their neighbours and work on DIY projects.
The shed is the result of a partnership between developer Villawood Properties and the Victorian Men’s Shed Association.
Northern Men’s Shed president Tom Rolls says the men from Craigieburn will be based at the new shed until it has enough members to be a stand-alone group. He said men’s sheds gave men a place to work on DIY projects while offering companionship and the chance to meet new people.
Mr Rolls said the men work on projects both for themselves and for community groups. They also make Christmas decorations each year to sell and raise money. “Sheds are social, they give us an outlet. We don’t always pick up the tools. Sometimes we go to the movies together or jump in our cars and visit other sheds.”
Mr Rolls said men’s sheds also gave members the chance to talk to other men about issues they were facing.
Villawood Properties development manager Piotr Rutkowski said he hoped the Trillium Men’s Shed would help build a vibrant and healthy community at Mickleham.
