Terry from St. Albans has lived in Brimbank most of his life, he always had a keen interest in woodworking but was time poor during his working life and did not have much of an opportunity to pursue it as a hobby.

​

After his retirement, Terry and a neighbour decided to visit the Westvale Men’s Shed where he found a welcoming community of like-minded people, learning practical skills and safety.

​

“There’s a great bunch of blokes and some very knowledgeable woodworkers in the group, who continually help me and others learn skills from where we are at. I am proud to say I’ve not just had the opportunity to learn these skills, but I have also made new friends and have a good social outlet. I really, really enjoy it.”

​

Terry’s connection with Westvale’s Men’s Shed has also opened him up to other learning opportunities at Westvale Community Centre. He has also taken computer and cooking classes over the past few years. Terry and the other Men’s Shed members have also supported inter-generational learning, where they have mentored groups of young people from neighbouring primary schools who regularly visit and undertake woodworking activities with members of the Men’s Shed.

​

​