By Gerran Wright
2021 has been another challenging year for many with all the lockdowns and particularly with finding a site and progressing our shed construction. Our initial offer by Yarra Ranges Council of a site at the Glenfern Road Depot initially looked like a good option. However, as the planning developed, there were difficulties encountered with cost, lack of services and amenities and UMS abandoned this as a suitable option. UMS are still exploring alternative sites in the Upwey area and are hopeful of securing one in 2022.
Some other highlights this year has been the great work in achieving Charity status and the Men’s Shed also receiving Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status with the Australian Tax Office. This has taken a huge amount of work by UMS committee members but leaves us in a much better position to fundraise. As a result of achieving DGR status we have attracted a large donation of $10,000 from “Home Instead”, a local aged care provider, towards our shed construction project. UMS has achieved a total now of $230,000 in grants, donations and fundraising to build our Upwey Men’s Shed.
Whilst for much of this past year we could not meet physically, (in the most locked down city in the world), we did something really positive which is what Men’s Sheds aim to do; providing companionship and support for each other. UMS held regular twice weekly zoom meetings, which have been well attended and appreciated by members and has helped maintain our sanity and camaraderie. We helped Upwey Primary School with possum boxes and provided food and firewood to residents affected by the recent severe storm which gave our members something constructive to do. We have also received lots of good publicity in the local print media including Star Mail and Ferntree Gully News which has helped maintain the profile of UMS. Members and the public have also been kept informed about UMS through our Facebook pages which attract quite a good and growing following.
Many thanks to the UMS committee who have worked hard behind the scenes to maintain and explore opportunities to advance UMS this year. I particularly like to thank Roger Bailey (Secretary), Andrew Fullagar / John Pope (Treasurer), Colin Holmes (Vice President), Stephen Reddick (Membership /Social -Media), Alex McLeod (aka Captain Zoom) and Peter Jones (Building Consultant). Many other members have helped out when needed in attending meetings (physically or on line) or helping out with fundraising such as our Easter raffle and Bunnings’ sausage sizzle. Further sausage sizzles are planned for 14 and 20 November at Bunnings Scoresby in conjunction with the Upwey / Belgrave RSL, so come and help out and buy a sausage.
UMS is now getting back to our physical meetings after lockdown and currently meeting at the Upwey/ Belgrave RSL and developing plans for our Shed in 2022. Due to our limited ability to do much this year and without a shed, we have temporarily dropped our yearly membership fee to $25 to attract more members. 2022 will be the year we need your support and more members to keep our struggle going to get your Upwey Men’s Shed.
Gerran Wright,
President – Upwey Men’s Shed
