Monday, 10 August 2026
Teeing Up Support for Bellarine Men’s Sheds
Men’s sheds continue to grow in number and popularity across Australia, providing a place for men to connect, share skills, and support one another. That growth hasn’t gone unnoticed on the Bellarine Peninsula, where the Portarlington Golf Club has recently awarded twin grants to Clifton Springs Community Men’s Shed and St Leonards Men’s Shed.
Each shed received $1,700 through the Golf Club’s Community Contribution Fund (CCF), with both putting the funding towards much-needed workshop equipment.
For Clifton Springs, which has 48 men on its books, the grant supports ongoing community projects across both the metal and wood workshops. Shed Secretary, Jeff Neale, described the shed as a place where men can gather to learn new skills and get out of the house, including men who have lost their partners, and where more experienced members are keen to pass on their knowledge to younger shedders or anyone after a few pointers.
St Leonards, meanwhile, is open three half-days a week and typically sees around 24 of its 47 members attend. Shed Secretary, Shane McManus, said there’s no pressure to take part in a particular way, members can join a community project, work on something of their own, or simply sit down with a book and a coffee. The shed’s membership spans a wide range of trades and professions, including plumbers, architects, mechanics and even a doctor, who gives a quarterly health presentation for members.
St Leonards has also secured a separate council grant to help expand its premises, a goal that’s taken several years to achieve given growing demand. Both sheds credited the Golf Club for its ongoing support of the local community, including help with event hosting and administrative assistance that has saved the sheds money on equipment purchases.
The two grants were part of a total of $12,500 distributed by the 2026 CCF across seven successful applicants. Over the past six financial years, the Portarlington Golf Club has provided more than $180,000 in charitable support to the community, with over $60,000 of that through CCF grants alone. This year the club received a record 32 applications, totalling more than $100,000 in requests.
It’s a great example of how local businesses and community organisations can play a role in supporting men’s sheds and the men who rely on them.
Image: From left, Jeff Neale and Stu Davies, of the Clifton Springs branch, join with St Leonards branch members Shane McManus and John Stevens to celebrate their CCF grants with Portarlington Golf Club’s Jacklyn Nasuti.
Originally reported by Portarlington Golf Club. Read the full story here.
