Shark Bay Community Men’s Shed moves into new headquarters

Members of the Shark Bay Community Men’s Shed have been handed over the keys to its new headquarters in a much-needed upgrade from their old premises.

Up to this point the community group had to operate out of a shed that lacked basic amenities including power, water or toilets.

Clearly needing an upgrade, the Men’s Shed teamed up with Shark Bay Shire to apply for a building grant with the State Government.

They were successful, receiving a $110,000 cash injection through the Gaming Community Trust to get the project off the ground.

SBCMS secretary treasurer David Lergessner said the new digs on Hughes Street were a significant step up.

“We had to bring in a generator to make the tools work at the old shed,” he said.

“We had a lot of members but we lost them because we didn’t have power.”

Mr Lergessner hopes the new shed’s central location will turn a few heads and bring in a more diverse group of people.

“There was a time before COVID when we opened on a Saturday morning to get more people in. It brought lots of women in seeking assistance,” he said.

“What we should be doing is a day when women have access to the shed and we can do training in handyman skills.”

Mr Lergessner said men’s sheds played an important role in regional communities.

“We have a problem with male suicide,” he said.

“A lot of young people don’t see a way forward.

“I would like to do something in that sort of area to bring them in and teach them a few things.”

Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15-44, according to the Black Dog Institute.