AFTER four years of trials and tribulation, the Bombala Platypus Men’s Shed has persevered and now have a place to call home.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Men’s Shed secretary and treasurer Chris Philbrick was pleased that the group can officially call the old Rural Fire Services headquarters home.
“It has taken us four years to get this finalised and Bombala Shire Council have been extremely generous during this process,” Mr Philbrick said.
“In particular Mayor Bob Stewart has backed our cause and supported us.
“At the moment we have a lease agreement and eventually in the future, with council’s help, we will own the building.”
In NSW there are now more than 300 Men’s Shed groups and the Bombala troops are ready for action.
“Our main project now is to set up the new shed,” he said.
“There are a lot of modifications to be done and I think we will busy doing those, however, we are open for anything at this stage.
“We have been commissioned to make some signs for the local Lions Club but we welcome any community groups that need some odd jobs done to approach us.”
The Australian Men’s Shed movement started in 2007 and provides a central hub for information to be exchanged and Mr Philbrick said that’s what makes the group a great place to spend time.
“The old saying that women talk face-to-face and men talk shoulder-to-shoulder, we like to be working and the Men’s Shed is place where we can share ideas and skills,” he said.
“I’m pretty good with a computer and I don’t know anything about welding.
“We have some men in our group who have been welding all their lives and they are more than happy to pass that skill on, and I will be more than happy to pass some computer skills on to them.”
Mr Philbrick said he has been flattered by the amount of support the group has received from the local community.
“We have had one member donate machinery,” he said.
“Telstra have donated a wireless modem for us and BeyondBlue has been a tremendous support.”
Mr Philbrick said new members are welcome to come along and join the group and said ‘the more the merrier’.”
“We have around 15 men at the moment and we just got two new members this week,” he said.
“Anyone who wants to come along is most welcome to join us and lend a hand.”
The group meets on Thursdays.
For more information please contact Mr Philbrick on 0412 474 342.
