Two years ago, Wallerawang’s memorial hall was empty. Its interior had been vandalised and damaged.
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Now, it is the home of the Wallerawang Men’s Shed. A lease arrangement with Lithgow City Council has allowed the group to make the space its home and it is now a thriving hub for its members.
The group celebrated its growing success by hosting an official opening of the Wallerawang Men’s Shed alongside local members, Bathurst State MP Paul Toole and Calare’s Federal MP Andrew Gee, on Saturday, February 2.
Wallerawang Men’s Shed’s Des Francis said it was a welcoming space for men of all ages.
“We’ve got a couple of older blokes, one over 90, and it gives them something to come along and do,” he said.
“Members don’t have to do anything if they don’t want to. For some, they want to have a cup of tea, a yarn, walk around and see what everyone is up to.”
The Men’s Shed is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm. People are welcome to drop in.
The Wallerawang community, as well as the Men’s Shed members themselves, have taken great pleasure in seeing the hall come alive.
Using funds from a State Government grant, the Men’s Shed has constructed a wall to allow more space for the Wallerawang kids club to operate next door. Grants have also allowed security cameras to be installed in the area.
The transformation of the interior has been significant, with the installation of specialty overhead power, thanks to a federal government grant. and the installation of equipment throughout. Even the portrait of a young Queen Elizabeth II has been restored, minus the graffiti glasses she had been given during the memorial hall’s closure.
“Since we have taken over there has been no vandalism at all,” Mr Francis said.
The Men’s Shed has already made a significant contribution to the town, creating a stainless steel railing to the Wallerawang Community and Sports Club for its new verandah, which members made and installed at no cost.
A very grateful club has become a major benefactor to the Men’s Shed, covering its rent to Lithgow Council.
Lithgow Police has also given unclaimed bicycles to the Shed to be fixed up and given to kids in need.
Mr Francis said the Men’s Shed could not have come to this point without significant contributions from businesses and associations throughout the region – too many to name individually here.
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Lithgow Men’s Shed gave the new club its wholehearted support, making sure equipment they had no need for found a new home at Wallerawang.
Many of the tools now in use at the shed were donated from the estate of Hartley resident Angus Hawes.
“He wanted it to go to the Men’s Shed because he knew they would be used, they would just sit in a shed somewhere,” Mr Francis said.
The Wallerawang Men’s Shed celebrated its opening by unveiling its new signage at the front of the hall and – of course – with a cuppa.
Kirsty Horton
A journalist with 15 years of experience, Kirsty Horton has been the editor of the Lithgow Mercury newspaper and a journalist for mastheads including the Great Lakes Advocate, Nambucca Guardian News and Moree Champion. She is now a member of ACM's features and special publications team.
A journalist with 15 years of experience, Kirsty Horton has been the editor of the Lithgow Mercury newspaper and a journalist for mastheads including the Great Lakes Advocate, Nambucca Guardian News and Moree Champion. She is now a member of ACM's features and special publications team.
