Brimbank set to get two men’s sheds

Bev Swynnerton and Bouangueune Kanlagna in the new Westvale computer room. Picture: Kristian Scott

Brimbank will get two new Men’s Sheds next year.

The Westvale Community Centre in St Albans has received $42,000 in state government funding for a shed to be built in its community garden by the middle of next year.

There are also plans in the works to build a shed at the Brimbank Bicycle Education Centre in Keilor Downs and to refurbish a W-class tram.

Council community wellbeing director Neil Whiteside said the Westvale grant would help deliver a dedicated space for programs including carpentry, sustainable living, nutritional education, active living skills for people with a disability, social and support groups, low-cost activities, seniors and volunteer training, and development programs.

The Westvale centre recently opened a new computer room with 12 new computer work stations.

The Brimbank Bicycle and Education Centre hopes to have its shed in use by early next year with Brimbank Central Rotary funding a container that will be used to store tools.

“We favour a working men’s shed rather than a ‘social’ one,” centre president David Bennett said.

“We’ve got the name ‘Brimbank Men’s Shed’ incorporated, which is going to cause some difficulties with the one in Sunshine because they call themselves that but aren’t incorporated as we plan to be.

There’s a great need in most areas for a Men’s Shed.”