Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's Men's Shed Week, and this year's theme is 'Send him down to the Shed.' It's a fitting theme that encapsulates what men's sheds are all about: heading down to the shed to enjoy some conversation, meet some new mates, learn some new skills and keep the mind active.

In Casey we are fortunate to have 11 men's sheds, including the Morrison Men's Shed in Mount Evelyn, Mooroolbark Men's Shed, Montrose & District Men's Shed, Yarra Glen & District Men's Shed, the Monbulk District Men's Shed, Upwey Men's Shed, Belgrave Men's Shed, the Badger Creek & District Men's Shed, as well as Ben's Shed in Yarra Junction and Boorndawan Men's Shed in Lilydale. I've been fortunate to visit most of these men's sheds in the past two years and I've seen firsthand the value that they provide not only to their members but to the wider community. The minute you step foot inside a local men's shed, you can feel the camaraderie and the joy that they get from catching up and building things to support our community.

I was recently at Monbulk Men's Shed, where a member of the public came in and brought an old chair that had a broken leg. The men quickly came together with a plan to repair the chair. Not only do these sheds give men something to do when they have retired but they are full of skills that help the wider community. Ben's Shed in Yarra Junction is another example. They run programs each semester for local schoolchildren to come and learn vital skills.

Each and every men's shed across Casey spends time on projects that support local schools, toy libraries and our community. They raise money for charity as well as running their own sheds. Last week I was in my old home town of Yarra Glen visiting the men's shed; the secretary, Ross; and the team there. I'm looking forward to joining them at the barbecue at Bunnings on grand final Friday, which is one of their main fundraisers for the year. These fundraisers provide important funds to fuel their outings, equipment and tools that allow them to keep busy and support the community.

Everyone in Mooroolbark knows that every second Saturday you've got to go down to Coles to grab a sausage from the Mooroolbark Men's Shed. The Montrose Men's Shed will always be found at the Montrose market, much like the Upwey Men's Shed can be found at the Upwey market. I had a wonderful conversation with them a few weeks ago, and we're very close, hopefully, to getting a new home for the Upwey Men's Shed. I've been really proud to support them over the last 2½ years as they continue to advocate for the new home that they deserve.

I was proud to commit money in the last election to the Belgrave Men's Shed so they could get a new home. I will continue to advocate for them and all the men's sheds across Casey because they do such a great job for our community.