The Nyah West Men’s Shed Renovations were opened by Bishop Andrew on Monday 19th December. There was a lovely crowd attending to join in the celebration and stay for lunch. Visitors included volunteers from the Op Shop that operates from the same Nyah West building and people from the Swan Hill and Lake Boga and Balranald Men’s Sheds. The renovations incorporate a kitchen, lunch room, office, toilet and a mezzanine storage area that has been so stunningly crafted it give the look of a ‘Men’s Palace’ rather than a ‘Men’s Shed’.
Bishop Andrew admires the balustrade which extends from along the mezzanine floor above his head right down beside the stairs just out of the photograph to the right. Men’s Shed president Graham Muir calls for the men’s shed members to assemble ready for Bishop Andrew to cut the ribbon and officially open the renovations.
Report from Graham Muir:
There was a large attendance of invited guests, and representatives of various community organisations, and men visitors from the Lake Boga, Swan Hill and Balranald men’s sheds to help celebrate the recent official opening of the new kitchen/lunchroom/office/toilet and mezzanine storage area at the Nyah District Men’s Shed.
Men’s Shed President, Harvey Pearce, welcomed all in attendance and briefly outlined how and why the project came about. The Anglican Church’s Bishop Andrew Curnow addressed the gathering with a resume of how the Men’s Shed and the adjoining Op Shop all came about in the former Freemason’s Temple during the 2010/2011 era.
The essential development works for the comfort of the shed members and visitors, came about as a consequence of successful funding applications under both the Commonwealth Government’s Shed Development grants scheme and their Volunteers grants, along with a Swan Hill Rural City Council’s Community Development grant, with a considerable Men’s Shed in-kind contribution.
Following the formal speeches, the Shed members along with the Bishop performed the traditional ‘cutting of the ribbon’, in this case a piece of hay band, after which all present enjoyed a very pleasant lunch with a guest appearance of Santa.
The Men’s Shed will re-open on Monday, February 6th at 10.00 am following the member’s ‘annual leave’ break, and operates each Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm. The Shed is located at 7 O’Connor Street, Nyah West which is at the rear of the Nyah West Pharmacy.
Males of all ages from 18 upwards are welcome to call in, have a chat and maybe become a member for a very nominal subscription, which is there just to cover your insurance.