The blokes at Sunbury Men’s Shed are in desperate need of bigger digs.
The Evans Street men’s shed is booming, with about 140 members compared to 60 this time last year.
Club president Dieter Jankovic said the venue is a tight squeeze for the men, who get together sometimes seven days a week, using their creative skills and experience on projects that benefit others.
“The group’s been gradually building up, and it’s showing no sign of slowing down,” Mr Jankovic said. “If we advertised more than by word of mouth, we’d be inundated, and it would get out of control.”
He puts the sudden growth of the club down to Sunbury’s ageing population.
“It’s just to do with our generation,” Mr Jankovic said. “It’s also got to do with men just wanting to get out of the house and have some camaraderie.
“We’re a fully self-funded shed, which means we direct our own program, and it’s that independence that the men are drawn to.”
They would like a $45,000 extension to their clubrooms and have applied for a $30,000 state government Men’s Shed grant. The committee is trying to raise another $15,000 to put towards the extension.
The club’s communication officer Frank Zambello said there were about 2000 men over the age of 60 in retirement in Sunbury.
“We think there are many more who’d like to join us, but we haven’t the space,” he said. “Safety is becoming a bigger issue.
“Our occupational health and safety and first aid committees are getting busier, and more diligent.
“We are very aware of safety, but the big boost in members and men turning up is making things harder.”
Projects undertaken at the shed include making ramps for disability access to Sunbury businesses, and supporting community organisations, such as kindergartens, and Sunbury community radio station 3NRG by building new consoles.
