November 20, 2020
A fire which badly damaged the Nanango Men’s Shed late on Thursday night is being treated as suspicious.
Emergency services were called to the blaze in Mount Stanley Road about 12:40am.
Upon arrival they found a fire burning outside the shed which had spread to the interior.
Firefighters cut through roller doors to extinguish the flames inside, however tools and machinery used by the Men’s Shed members is believed to have been badly damaged.
About 50 men regularly use the facility. Projects they were working on were also destroyed.
Paramedics remained on standby while the four fire crews were in action, but no injuries were reported.
Firefighters had the fire extinguished and the area made safe by 2:30am but police remained at the scene.
A QFES fire investigator returned on Friday morning to continue an examination of the area.
Investigations are continuing.
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The fire has occurred at a critical time for the Nanango Men’s Shed which was on the cusp of expanding.
The Shed, which is located on land belonging to the Baptist Church, was the dream of former pastor, the late Don Neibling.
It was officially opened, after fundraising from the local community and the support of Heritage Nanango Community Branch, in January 2014.
The group had recently received permission to relocate the Nanango SES’s former building to a site beside the shed.
This would provide more room for the members as well as serve as a memorial to Pastor Neibling who died in December last year.
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Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said it was devastating to hear about the fire.
“The Shed is like a second home to its members and the loss of this facility will be a very difficult time,” she said.
“While we can’t be sure what has happened just yet, if it was deliberate, then we should all be rightly shocked and dismayed that anyone would want to inflict such damage and hurt.
“I have contacted the men to offer my support.
“Knowing the members, they’ll bounce back as soon as they can, and I know the Nanango community will do all they can to help get the Shed open again.”
[UPDATED]
If you happen to get any enquiries for people to donate funds to help us recover, a special bank account has been opened at Heritage Bank as follows:
Nanango Community Men’s Shed
BSB 638-010 A/c No 13143522
Thanks for your great write-up and photos.
Wayne Scott (Treasurer)
Thank you, Wayne, for the information. We will share it on our Facebook page as well. Our sympathies to the people who have put so much hard work into this project.
Hi Shedders
Really sorry to hear of your misfortune. If there is anything we can do to help, please let us know.
We do have some tools that we could give you, but unfortunately no money, as we are in debt at the moment.
My phone number is 0428-951-939 and email is mikeant4357@gmail.com.
cheers
Mike Antonio (vice president Millmerran Men’s Shed Inc)
I was very sad to hear about the fire, and understand how the fellows must be feeling. They are a great bunch, and I know they will soon be back better than ever. I will be making a donation and I’m sure I won’t be the only one.