Taylah Eastwell
The EACH Covid-19 testing site in Emerald has moved out of the Hills Hub to a new location, leaving community groups that gather inside the hub eager to get back to business.
The Emerald Hills hub is home to Emerald Men’s Shed, Hills She Shed, Emerald University of the Third Age (U3A and the Puffing Billy Toy Library.
The hub was taken over as a Covid testing site from July 22 until December 4, but testing has recently relocated to 348 Belgrave Gembrook Rd Emerald (adjacent to Emerald Medical Centre).
Members of the Emerald Men’s Shed are looking forward to being able to meet again at the hub, having only spent a total of 10 weeks at their new Hills Hub location since first moving in on February 11.
The men got through lockdown by keeping in contact via email and conference calls.
Secretary of Emerald Men’s Shed Tom Connolly said most of the men found lockdown pretty hard, particularly as the pandemic continued.
“It was alright at the early stages but as the pandemic continued we started to run out of work to do at home, so it was starting to get hard that way,” he said.
“Being men were not very good at sitting down and doing nothing,” he said.
The men said they missed the community interaction of being in the Hill’s Hub, and value the visitors they get to meet as people travel through Emerald.
Vice President of Emerald Men’s Shed Alan Bennett said it is great the men can now get back together.
“We don’t talk about mental health because we’re a load of guys but we sit down and chat and enjoy each other’s company so really, it’s all about mental health,” Mr Bennett said.
Emerald U3A President Pat Buoncristiani said the U3A group has continued to run online classes via Zoom during their time away from the hub, including language, philosophy, science and even wine tasting classes.
“As I say about U3A, never underestimate a group of retired people with a bit of time on their hands,” she said.
Ms Buoncristiani said the group were all eager to get back into the space in the New Year.
“Many are considered vulnerable to we will be running hybrid classes, some face-to-face and some via Zoom for those not yet feeling safe enough to jump into the hustle and bustle,” she said.
Secretary of the Hills She Shed, Jill Sullivan said the women are thrilled to be able to get back into their woodwork projects.
The Hills She Shed is a group of local women who meet to create woodworks, sharing the shed and power tools of the Men’s Shed.
“A lot of women have had to go thru homeschooling and this is always been a place we come just to be ourselves, we talk and laugh and chat and support each other through difficult times,” she said.
Karly Lycett King said the Puffing Billy Toy Library was planning to open up in the New Year and looks forward to establishing strong relationships with their new neighbours in the Hills Hub.
Cardinia Shire Council Pandemic Response and Recovery Manager Gary Dore said Council looks forward to seeing the Hills Hub busting with community activity once again.
“Cardinia Shire Council thanks community groups for their generosity in forgoing their space in order to prioritise COVID-19 community testing during this time,” he said.
