The proposed shed will be built on land behind the Tarago Town Hall and it is hoped it will become the base for the already thriving group there.

The building of a permanent home for the Tarago Men’s Shed group came one step closer this week with the approval of a DA for it by Goulburn Mulwaree Council. 

The Men’s Shed group is already thriving in Tarago, with a current membership of about 50.  Up until now they have been meeting in the pavillion at the Tarago Showground. 

The proposal is to erect a prefabricated 30m X 8m commercially manufactured shed on the Goulburn Mulwaree Council-owned block, behind the Tarago Town Hall. 

Tarago Men’s Shed president Keith Hunter welcomed the approval and said the idea to develop a Men’s Shed out there first came up in 2016.

“The ladies pushed us into the decision - my wife Theresa Hunter and Pam Hawke particularly,” he said. 

“They started monthly Bingo at the pub, conned me into calling it and these donations from it were how we got started. 

“We formed a committee and established the first temporary Men’s Shed in the showground pavilion mid last year.” 

The the shed will be built in three stages.

“Stage one involves laying the slab, building the shed and connecting the electricity,” Mr Hunter said. He hoped stage one would be completed by Christmas this year.

“We’ll seek funds for it from the Veolia Mulwaree Trust now that the DA has been approved. We hope to get the shed up and running by Christmas. Stage one is worth $85,000.

“Stage Two is worth $70,000 and involves installing two water tanks, solar panels and an internal mezzanine floor. The following stages will see a car park competed and possibly a garden or barbecue area.”

Mr Hunter said the group is seeking funds from the State and Federal Governments to assist with their plans. 

“We’ve also had support from the Bendigo Bank ($1600) for a defibrillator, Goulburn Workers Club ($1000 for tools), Heron Resources ($3000 to cover insurance) as well as a contribution from Tarago Real Estate. 

“We also visited other Men’s Sheds in the area - the Goulburn group were very helpful. They made a large donation of machinery to us, as did other Men’s Sheds at Crookwell, Queanbeyan and Braidwood. 

“We also had local donations - Syd Pitman donated a lot of machinery to us as well - good wood lathes, a drill stand and other machines and top quality tools.”

Mr Hunter said the men’s Shed would not require a kitchen or toilets because these were available from the Tarago Town Hall. 

“The shed was established at the same time the Tarago Village Plan was being put together,” he said. 

“Veolia were facilitating this and it is an ongoing living document and the men’ Shed is a high priority in that plan.” 

Mr Hunter said there were active war veterans in the group and that the Men’s Shed helped them cope with mental health issues as well as providing a place for connection to combat the loneliness and isolation that men can often feel. 

“The key reason for Men’s Sheds is to foster men’s health, to provide an outlet for companionship, a place where men can talk to men,” he said. 

“Men’s loneliness and withdrawal can be an issue. Men often keep things within. The shed is about socialising as well as completing projects. Blokes can come down and just have a chat. 

“It’s good to see the women are pushing it as much as us. There are a lot of retirees out here and the blokes need to socialise as well.

“It is also a community facility. It is another contributing organisation to make it a better community out here.

At the council meeting, Cr Denzil Sturgiss said having a Men’s Shed in Tarago is great and it is located “in the perfect spot.”