Men scout site for workshop

Andrew Mathieson
RETIRED men battling boredom and depression around St Leonards could solve their problems by turning their hand to woodwork.
Members of Bellarine Woodworkers, which operates out of Drysdale, want to establish a “men’s shed” in the seaside town.
Men’s sheds already number 150 throughout Australia to give older men resources to participate in doityourself workshops.
Mal Carson, leader of a steering committee investigating the St Leonards proposal, said the sheds also helped address issues of isolation, allowing participants to meet, socialise and even “have a cuppa tea or read the paper”.
Mr Carlson said lonely men in the town were in desperate need of an outlet like a men’s shed.
“What is occurring today, particular in areas like the Bellarine Peninsula where there is a great proportion of retired people, is there’s an element of men who are basically lonely,” he said.
“Women are much better organisers than men but a lot of men tend to be a bit more stoic.”
State Government announced in an election promise last year to provide funding for up to 25 men’s sheds across Victoria.
Mr Carlson said St Leonards Scout Hall would be an ideal site for a men’s shed.
“The old scouts site is not used any more and it’s not likely to be because of the area’s demographics,” he said.