By Aaron Cordy
SMALL gestures can make a far more profound difference to people’s lives than we realise. When the men of the Mooroopna Men’s Shed seemingly lost everything in the October 2022 floods they didn’t know just how long they would be displaced from their ground on Alexandra Street Mooroopna.
Though an official opening has not been set yet, they were allowed back in for the first time a couple of weeks ago, they were surprised with a generous donation of two first aid kits and lunch for twenty members in attendance when Paul Wickham, of Paul Wickham’s Pharmacy, dropped in unannounced.
“I think you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. So, I think for the men that was a big part of that, especially with the flood it was definitely really hard on them not being able to meet and enjoy each other’s company. So, it was a long road for them, and they stuck at it and they had to work pretty hard to get back in,” said Paul Wickham on his surprise visit.
“The smiles on their faces when they were all back in there last week was fantastic and they’re busy getting stuck into what they should be doing. So that’s really good to see.”
While they were out of their Shed, the Mooroopna Men’s Shed had great support from MEAC next door, but to be back in their own space amongst their tools, putting together bikes for Kmart, building things and enjoying the comradery again.
Men’s Sheds are great connectors in the community, and for some, it can be their only outlet when families are far away or have passed on.
If you want to check out Mooroopna Men’s Shed they currently meet every Thursday at 25 Alexandra Street Mooroopna, with plans for more meetings when they are fully up and running.
