Meryl Swanson (Paterson, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Men's Sheds are terrific. Today I want to congratulate Salamander Men's Shed, the 2322 Men's Shed at Beresfield and the Raymond Terrace Men's Shed for receiving funding under the National Shed Development Program.

Salamander shed has a great spot at the Recycling Centre, so members can salvage items and materials that have been thrown out and bring them back to life, and then sell them—it is the ultimate in upcycling. In the community, they have built computer desks for the IT centre at Tomaree high, and an outside kitchen for Bobs Farm school.

The 2322 Men's Shed at Beresfield is in the old Beresfield tennis clubhouse, but I know they would dearly love their own shed. Shed members fashion wood-turned toys for sale, mentor boys from Francis Greenway high, and help locals with odd jobs such as building ramps into their homes for walkers and wheelchairs. They have built a chicken coop for Woodberry primary, a display stand for Beresfield primary and cupboards for the bowlers at Beresfield Bowling Club.

At Raymond Terrace Men's Shed, they do fantastic work. They are celebrating the opening of their flash, new, purpose-built Men's Shed in Boomerang Park shortly. I am looking forward to it. As well as a big workshop, it is also going to have a computer room to help members learn new technology, a function room for hire and a kitchen and amenities. The shed is also working on a kitchen garden. And I want to personally thank them for fixing the flag stand at my electorate office. Good on you, fellas!

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