Brimbank blokes gathered at the local men’s shed to catch up and check-in on their mates’ health as part of a Men’s Health Week event, which runs from June 9 to 15.
Free massages, haircuts, coffee and health check-ups were on offer in an effort to bring awareness to men’s physical and mental health issues.
Fifty Australian boys and men, under the age of 75, die from preventable causes each day, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Nino D’Agruma, a champion of Westvale Community Centre Men’s Shed, said the shed plays an important role in supporting men’s health.
“We look after each other, we have each other’s backs, we laugh and carry on, we talk,” he said.
“I love going. When it’s shut you kind of get pissed off.”
Westvale Men’s Shed holds weekly social sessions where men can have casual conversations about what’s going on in their lives.
“I invite them to talk a bit about themselves and some are just happy to listen and laugh. You can see they’ve got a smile on their face and you think, ‘this is good.’ We don’t know what these guys have been going through,” Mr D’Agruma said.
The shed also offers a guided woodworking program for men and women.
“If you’ve got a little project you’ve started at home, you bring it in and start it or finish it there,” he said.
“There’s a guy who’s making a replica of a hot rod. The sky’s the limit.”
Details: https://directory.brimbank.vic.gov.au/westvale-community-centres-mens-shed/
