Kinglake Ranges Men's Shed Inc.

• Incorporation No.  A0052784Y
• ABN:  58 918 300 196
• DGR/Charity Status:  Endorsed as a Charitable Institution
• Executive Officer:  Cris Ruhr

Location

• 5 Oldfield Road, Pheasant Creek
• Ph:  03 5786 5999

Operating Hours

• 9am - 4pm Friday
• 10am - 1pm Saturday

Why

A small group of local men have been meeting since 2005 in Kinglake under the banner of KANDO (Kinglake Action Network and Development Organisation). The “Opportunities for Men” action group formed became a member of the Victorian Men’s Shed Association several years ago and have been actively researching possible options for offering programs to the men of the Kinglake Ranges area. After the devastation of the February 2009 bushfires which decimated the communities of the Kinglake Ranges, the Kinglake Ranges Men’s Shed took immediate action by becoming an incorporated group, applying for an ABN, applying for not for profit charitable status and investigating funding options (government, philanthropic and corporate) to make their dream of establishing a viable Men’s Shed in Kinglake a reality.

The need for establishing a Men’s Shed in Kinglake is paramount and urgent. Communities across the Kinglake Ranges were decimated by the Black Saturday bushfires of 7 February 2009 resulting in the loss of lives, homes, community infrastructure, businesses, pets and livestock, local history and the natural environment. Kinglake Ranges has had a long history of being dissected and fragmented by local and state government boundaries that intersect at critical points such as town centres or along major arterial roads. Some state government authorities have borders that split natural local communities. This historical perspective, combined with "linear" layout of the small communities along the ridge of the Great Dividing Range, has made service delivery problematic, resource and infrastructure development complex, and has made it difficult to justify resource allocation by responsible funding and service providers.

A Men’s Shed in Kinglake could begin to address some of these issues. It is envisaged that the Kinglake Ranges Men’s Shed will actively work with and for local men by providing a

• Place for nurturing mateship and creating feelings of belonging
• Have a structured program for advancing men’s health and well being
• Develop a positive and participatory culture amongst it’s members and the community
• Meet the needs of it’s members and their families
• Be a valuable asset in the community, respected and supported
• Be a place of learning
• Be inclusive of all men of all ages

How

Strong links have been established with a number of organisations including Familycare, Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House, Department of Human Services – Bushfire Recovery Services Unit, Kinglake Police and Kinglake Ranges Community Building Initiative. The Kinglake Ranges Men’s Shed is a member of the Australian Men’s Shed Association; the Victorian Men’s Shed Association and the Kinglake Ranges Business Network and has established a sound working relationship with Mensline. A firm link has been established with the Whittlesea Men’s Shed and a standing invitation has been issued for men from Kinglake to drop in and utilise the Whittlesea Men’s Shed whilst the Kinglake Men’s Shed is evolving. Whittlesea have also offered ongoing support and mentoring to their Kinglake neighbours.
Support has also been offered through a number of businesses, local tradespeople and community groups who have heard of the plight of the Men’s Shed group in Kinglake. For example tool donations have been received from Swedex, Bordo, Makita and Cooper Hand Tools and monetary donations have been given by Brimbank Men’s Shed, the local Buddhist Temple and a group of interested people from the Mornington Peninsula.

Who

A steering committee has been formed to oversee the development of the Men’s Shed in Kinglake and two volunteer coordinators have been appointed. The construction and establishment of the Kinglake Ranges Men’s Shed will be a collaborative effort between key partners – KANDO, DHS, Familycare, the Kinglake Ranges Men’s Shed steering committee and the two volunteer coordinators. Support will also be given by Murrindindi Shire Council, Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House, Kinglake Ranges CBI and DPCD regional staff. Specifically the Board of Familycare agreed in late April 2009 to commit $40,000 towards the Kinglake Ranges Men’s Shed project – it is anticipated that these funds will primarily be used to lay the concrete slab and fund the actual costs associated with the building of the men’s shed. Familycare will also offer ongoing staffing support to the program. Familycare has a well established suite of Men’s services and programs that focus on raising community awareness about issues that relate to men’s health and wellbeing. Negotiations are currently underway with Department of Human Services – Bushfire Recovery Services Unit to co-locate a shipping container full of donated tools next to the Kinglake Ranges Men’s Shed. The tool library will be staffed by local volunteers and staff from the Community Services Hub. These tools will supplement the large array of tools already donated to the Kinglake Ranges Men’s Shed.

What

A Men’s Shed in Kinglake will offer local men a place where they can meet, network, share skills and experiences and begin the process of the recovery and rebuilding of their communities in the aftermath of the 2009 bushfires.

Anticipated outcomes will include:

• Establishment of a functional meeting place for local men offering a range of programs both formal and informal ranging from health and wellbeing sessions facilitated by Familycare to an ideal venue to meet with builders and workers associated with the rebuilding of the Kinglake Ranges
• Intergenerational activities encouraging mentoring and linking of men across various ages from older males to young boys, achieved through school based sessions in partnership with local primary schools
• Providing a safe and welcoming venue where men, (many of whom are no longer linked into their community as they are living off the mountain) can plan and begin to implement the rebuilding of their own homes, with the support and assistance of their peers
• Access a variety of tools from a vibrant and well stocked tool library (funded through DHS and through the many donations and sponsorships already received from the business community)
• Engage in a variety of education and training activities that can be run in partnership with other groups and organisations such as Kinglake Ranges Neighbourhood House and Familycare. Preliminary discussions have already commenced in relation to offering vocational educational programs
• Development of a shared community space (located across the road from the soon to be established temporary village) connecting people to a diverse range of organisations and groups in an inclusive, participatory and safe environment, for example the Men’s Shed will
• have the potential to offer links to counselling and other services to many men who might not otherwise access such services
• Opportunity to participate in a range of volunteering activities, upskilling those involved and enhancing community connectedness
• Opportunities to continually identify new opportunities for program development to meet community need
• Environmental outcomes will also be a focus as links will be established with organisations and businesses that offer environmentally viable components that can be showcased at the shed and incorporated into the rebuilding of Kinglake e.g. energy efficient, recycled materials, water saving systems etc. Where appropriate the Men’s shed can hold information sessions focusing on rebuilding and can incorporate relevant building reforms and requirements
• Provide opportunities for celebrating and showcasing programs and products developed
• Provide information to men of all ages on services, programs and in so doing facilitate social interaction between individuals and groups, enabling participants to become aware of community services and be better skilled to access these services
• Development of a strategic plan focusing on sustainability of the men’s shed and relevant policies (e.g. occupational health and safety)