By Parker McKenzie
As the search for a permanent location continues, the Upwey Men’s Shed is seeking support from the community to find an area for storage.
President of the Upwey Men’s Shed Gerran Wight said without a permanent shed, members have been storing tools and materials in their own homes.
“We are very grateful for the generosity of community members who want to help with donations,” he said.
“It’s very sad but unfortunately we are now having to say no thanks to regular offers from locals who want to donate tools and equipment to the men’s shed in Upwey.”
The community organisation has been searching for a permanent home for the past four years but has yet to obtain permission to build a shed on public land.
Mr Wright said with the search for a suitable location for the community shed still ongoing, the group is looking to the community for help in alternative storage arrangements.
“If there is someone out there preferably in or around Upwey with secure industrial, commercial or residential storage we would love to hear from you as soon as possible,” he said.
“Upwey Men’s Shed have even thought of buying a container, which we could easily fill, but need to find somewhere secure to locate it until we can build our own shed.”
Members from the Men’s Shed recently undertook several community projects, including building new benches for the Upwey Community Group and fixing local residents’ bikes.
Mr Wright said the Men’s Shed has successfully fundraised enough money to build the shed and spent countless hours developing proposals and plans, but they cannot get an agreement to use public man to build the shed.
“We are hopeful that some land may be found soon so we will have somewhere that members can meet together to use these tools and equipment for community benefit,” he said.
“Looking for a site has been very frustrating and whilst we are maintaining good membership numbers we are concerned that unless we can find somewhere soon it might all fall apart and Upwey will lose a valuable community service.”
Upwey Men’s Shed — a registered charity with the Australian Tax Office — has raised over $230,000 in grants, donations and fundraising for their permanent home, but without the land to build it on they cannot proceed any further.
Mr Wright said if anyone can help locate a suitable place for storage, contact him on 0419 560 051 or the Men’s Shed secretary Roger Bailey on 0409 102 007.
