Taylors Hill Men’s Shed celebrated its 10th anniversary last week, displaying members’ creative works and cutting a cake to mark the occasion.
Now accommodating more than 100 members, the May 28 celebration united members and Melton council representatives to reflect on the ten-year history of the shed and the friendships formed.
Member Graeme Arbuthnott, who has been involved with the Taylors Hill Men’s shed since 2014 before it was constructed, said he enjoys being able to catch up with “other people of a similar age and a similar disposition.
“It’s a great place for everybody to get together … but if you’ve got a project that you want to do …[like] a wood project … you could take that in and there’s a lot of guys who could help you,” Mr Arbuthnott said.
“If I’ve got something wrong with me, I know there’s another [member] who’s got the same thing … so you can talk about it.”
Mr Arbuthnott was involved in the initial layout design of the shed, including the tools and machinery, alongside John Davitt, Perry Martin, and other members.
In a turbulent first year, he said the shed was robbed of all of its tools and a TV just six months after opening.
Reflecting on its early days to now, Mr Arbuthnott said the shed’s equipment has increased, membership has grown from about 20 to more than 100, and newer features include a “really beaut” kitchen.
“In the next 10 years, they’ll probably have to expand or build another one, because this one is running at almost capacity I’d say,” Mr Arbuthnott said.
He said there is always a Melton council representative on-site to assist with the running of the shed, and hopes the council keeps “supporting it the way they do, because they’ve just done a magnificent job on all of it”.
