Representatives from most of the Victorian Men’s Sheds have gathered in Warrnambool this weekend for the Victorian association’s annual gathering.

Victorian Men’s Shed Association president Phil Keily said gatherings were held in various locations around the state. 

“It’s a great way to let them know what’s happening with insurance, funding and various other bits of information,” he said. 

Information sessions were held yesterday and today they will visit the Men’s Sheds in Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Portland and Heywood.

Mr Keily said the Men’s Shed program had grown rapidly since the Victorian association was founded in 2007 with 30 sheds. 

There are now 300 sheds across Victoria with about 10,000 members. 

He said the sheds all had different management structures and membership bases, but each played a huge roll in its community. 

“It’s a social outlet,” Mr Keily said. “It gives these men who may be retired, retrenched or widowed somewhere to go and something to do.” 

Mr Keily said that being a member of a shed had saved his life after a health-check program picked up high blood pressure and other health issues. 

“Like any bloke I couldn’t tell you the last time I had been to a doctor,” he said.

“I felt fine but in reality, I was a walking time bomb.

“The shed gives blokes an informal setting to talk about whatever is troubling them.

“It’s about improving health and wellbeing of these men.”