January 27, 2014
One man’s vision to do something to tackle the problem of male suicide in the local community culminated in the official opening today of a Men’s Shed at Nanango.
“Don Niebling had a dream. There was a certain need in the community because of the suicide rate among men,” former pastor at the Nanango Community Baptist Church Neil Folling said.
“His dream was for a shed where men could come instead of sitting at home feeling lonely.
“I told him: ‘You’d better do something’.”
Don told southburnett.com.au that he first thought about the need for a Men’s Shed two or three years ago.
When challenged to do something, he decided to call a meeting at the Nanango RSL Club and was surprised by the number of people who turned up.
About 15 people attended that first meeting and then almost 25 at a second follow-up meeting.
He was also surprised to learn that other people in the Nanango community had been tossing around a similar idea but a plan to establish a shed at the Nanango Showgrounds had fallen through.
Don decided to go ahead and get quotes on how much it would cost to build a shed on land belonging to the Baptist Church on Mt Stanley Road.
The church also put in an application to the Heritage Nanango Community Branch’s Community Grants scheme and was successful – gaining $56,500 for the project.
The Men’s Shed will be open to all men in the local community but the finer details – such as opening hours and any cost of membership – have yet to be confirmed.
Church member Peter Ballinger supervised the construction of the fully insulated building and the fit-out.
“At the moment, we mainly have woodworking-type machinery but I am hopeful we can also get some metalworking equipment, such as grinders and metal lathes,” Peter said.
Items to fit out the shed have been donated by the local community.
“People have come forward from left, right and centre to help,” Mr Folling said.
- Related article: Heritage Donates $500,000 To Community
