Benalla's Men's Shed will be able to re-open today with plans to move into their new premises by the end of September.
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President Lou Sigmund said while the group was saddened that they were closed for Men's Health Week they were looking forward to getting back in the shed.
“Men's health week was June 15 to June 21,” Mr Sigmund said.
“Whilst it is important that we recognise Men's Health Week, a lot of our members have underlying health issues.
“Our lunch room can only hold four people who are socially distancing, so we decided it was best to not get together.
“But we are going to be back open as of this Wednesday, June 24.
“Because of the way we are set up we can follow coronavirus restrictions.
“The men are only allowed to come one day per week.
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“They nominate the day and when they go to the shed they go through the virus protocols.
“They have to answer the relevant questions, sign the document and we have a thermometer there to check their temperatures.
“They then have to do all the social distancing things that we all need to do.
“And we will monitor it.
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“Wednesday will be our first day back and we will see how it works.
“If it isn’t working we will change what we do to conform.
“But the boys are very keen to get back in the shed and start doing things again.”
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The Australian Men's Shed Association had hoped to get its members back in their sheds for Men's Health week.
“As we begin to return to our shed life in Australia, we’re taking this Men’s Health Week as an opportunity to simply acknowledge and celebrate the health benefits – both physical and mental – of the sheer act of visiting the Shed,” Australian Men’s Shed association executive officer David Helmers said.“The closure of Men’s Sheds has been a contradictory to the fundamental purpose of the movement – which is in the name of preventing social isolation.“To the naked eye Men’s Sheds might seem to be all woodwork and manual crafts, but the environment offers men from all walks of life with the opportunity to participate meaningfully in their local community.
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“Around the world men – particularly older men – are finding themselves much healthier and happier through involvement in Men’s Sheds.”And even though Benalla's Shedders are coming back just after Men's Health week, the mental health benefits will be as strong as ever.
And the whole group is eager to get into its new shed, which is being constructed on Waller St.
“I can say, we have finally ordered our new shed,” Mr Sigmund said.
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“Council have passed the building plans and the manufacturer is expecting to have it finished by the end of August.
“So we should be in by the end of September.
“This week we had planned to host a clearing sale at the showgrounds to clear out a lot of the items we have made and accumulated.
“We have had to postpone that for coronavirus reasons.
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“But that should take place before we move.”
Mr Sigmund said for once the group was not looking for new members.
“We will be as soon as we move into the new shed,” he said.
“But at the moment with the social distancing and the amount of members we have, we can't fit any more into the shed at the showgrounds.
“But as soon as we are in the new shed, we will put the call out for new members.”
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