“We didn't know who was going to buy it,” Murchison Men's Shed president Dennis McCullagh said of the Impey St property the men have gathered in for years.
“It was devastating to start off with when the liquidation happened, and then COVID-19 made things worse for everybody . . . you had no outlet at all.
“We lost a lot of money fundraising and some when Murchison Community Care went under, because the little bit we had was in their bank account.”
Murchison Community Care formerly owned Impey St's Murchison Neighbourhood House — recently repurchased — and also the DP Jones nursing facility, which is now up for sale.
Luckily, the new Impey St owners have allowed the men to continue using the site for now, while they seek a block on which to build a bigger shed.
“Hopefully it's not too long and we'll get something else going,” Mr McCullagh said.
“We had plans to build a shed behind [Impey St], but because it's private land now we couldn't.”
Mr McCullagh has been in contact with Greater Shepparton City Council to discuss potential sites.
“I tell them, I'm going to annoy you until we get it,” he said with a laugh.
Top of the list is council land behind Murchison Police Station where the community centre sits.
The men have also been considering the site of a former Scout hall next to Murchison's tennis court on River Rd.
“We need a a bigger shed, we only have a tiny one at the moment and we have a lot of equipment,” Mr McCullagh said.
“We've got 12 members at the moment but we know there's a lot of other people who want to join, we just don't have room to accommodate them.”
Mr McCullagh said a larger shed would be a relief for members, who had been "hit pretty hard" by the COVID-19 shutdown.
“We need the security of a suitable venue, so that we can re-apply for government grants for our new shed and equipment,” he said.
“These things take time, but it's frustrating.”
Once a site is secured, Mr McCullagh hopes to set up a welding and woodwork area, and a hoist for car enthusiasts.
For Mr McCullagh, the shed has been a vital place for members to discuss mental health and wellbeing in an open and safe environment since its opening in 2013.
“Men don't talk about their health but if you're in a group it's different, you take up a friendship and feel you can talk to each other,” he said.
“It doesn't matter what background or age you are or what interests you have — we have an age span of 30 to 90.”
Murchison Men's Shed is now a registered charity, welcoming tax-deductable donations.
“Anybody that wants to help us out, we'd be most grateful,” Mr McCullagh said.
For more information, phone Dennis on 0428 148 210 or Con on 0468 786 454.
Murchison Men's Shed will be open at 23 Impey St on Wednesdays between 10.30 am and 2 pm from February 3.
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