Media Release

1 JUNE 2016:

Federal grants worth more than $6500 for Men’s Sheds at Gordonvale, Julatten and Atherton have been gratefully welcomed by Member for Kennedy Bob Katter – a strident advocate for the community hubs as crucial for the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of the modern Australian male.

“In an era when restrictive laws, nanny-state attitudes and crippling taxation levels have robbed blokes of our ability to enjoy traditional Aussie pastimes, a Men’s Shed provides a place where there’s a reason to come together and spend a bit of time,” he said.

“We used to go out fishing and hunting and camping and shooting together, but burgeoning restrictions have significantly eroded or taken away these opportunities.

“We’d once all go down to the pub and get merry and forget about less-important things, like whether the bank was going to foreclose on us or not.

“But with massive taxation and numerous other laws and attitudes – particularly drink-driving laws, which have made it impossible to go to the pub anymore – gone are the days when blokes would gather down at the local watering hole to play up with their mates, and have the barmaid listen to all their stupid drivel.

“So these release valves have been taken away from men, along with their traditional role as hunter and provider – and the psychological impact is taking its toll. There has to be some reason why men do away with themselves 20-odd times the rate of women. Men’s Sheds are an alleviating weapon.

“North Queensland as a whole owes a debt of gratitude to the people who founded the Australian Men’s Shed Association and the local groups of people who are making it all work – and we are deeply appreciative of government’s support with Federal funding.”

The individual grants for three Men’s Sheds in the Kennedy electorate in round 14 of the National Shed Development Program include:

- $2395 to Julatten for tools, equipment, training and a defibrillator;

- $1893 to Atherton for tools, equipment, TAFE training, and travel to Cairns; and

- $2166 to Gordonvale for tools, equipment, training, workbench timber and vices.

PHOTO: Bob Katter with a few other young blokes at the Atherton Men’s Shed.