User:Ballarateast

Ballarat East Community Men's Shed is a shed open to all men who want to call their own. Located at 730 Eureka St, Ballarat (1300 MENS SHED) and is open Saturday mornings (9:00am to 1:00pm), Tuesday mornings (9:00am to 1:00pm) and Thursdays (9:00am to 4:00pm).

We have over 200 members and there is bound to be someone with the right skills that can help you.

A significant part of the purpose for the shed is the underlying health of men. Being able to drop in to the shed for what ever reason is part of that support for your health.

If it's physical activity in a workshop environment that is needed, then we are the place. If it's a place to stop in at for a chat and cuppa with like minded people, then we are the place for you. If you want to provide some "give-back" to the community, then you can't go past our friendly environment to do just that, without any pressures.

Helping out a mate is what Australian men do best, and the shed provides a great way to do this. A new phenomenon is afoot! The Men’s Shed movement is here, and it’s thriving!

There’s nothing new about men gathering together in their own space to talk, share skills, swap ideas, solve problems or just discuss life in general – it’s been happening since the beginning of time. There’s nothing new either about men spending time in their backyard shed – an acknowledged Aussie pastime.

What is new is that men, particularly retired men, are combining these two activities in a communal space simply called a "Men’s Shed". What is also new is how strongly men have embraced this new identity – being a member of a Men’s Shed. Men’s Sheds, as such, are a peculiarly Australian phenomenon. In the past decade a wide range of community-based Men’s Sheds has sprung up - each with its own unique identity and purpose.

Activities within Sheds are many and various: woodwork, metal work, restoration of old cars, portable’ Sheds taken to Alzheimer facilities or mobile Sheds for remote country areas. The membership is diverse too. Men from all backgrounds, ethnic and social mixes can enjoy a Men’s Shed, bringing their unique cultural characteristics to enliven the activities.

The common theme in all Sheds is about men feeling useful and contributing again to their communities, learning or sharing their skills, making friends, networking and availing themselves of health information programmes and opportunities. Men’s Sheds are under the auspices of a variety of organisations whose ethos they tend to exemplify.

Communities are keen to provide activity, identity and meaning for vast numbers of older, unemployed, job-redundant, ‘downsized’, isolated, depressed and happily retired, active, creative, enthusiastic men. Men’s Sheds are fast being recognized as vital, viable places to fulfill these needs and provide relaxed, happy creative spaces for men to enjoy.