BASS Coast Shire Council has taken possession of the Wonthaggi Men’s Shed (WMS) after the Community Garden Group was locked out last week.
WMS explained in an advertisement last Tuesday that they had made an executive decision to shut down the garden group operating within the grounds of the Men’s Shed precinct.
Bass Coast Shire Council took possession of the Wonthaggi Men’s Shed late Thursday afternoon, and according to CEO Greg Box, council remained hopeful that the members of the Men’s Shed would participate in mediation and a resolution would be reached.
Cr Mat Morgan, who has been working with council staff to resolve the dispute, said new agreements needed to be drawn up before the site could be reopened.
“This has been very disappointing for a lot of people,” said Cr Morgan.
“There are a lot of vulnerable people in the community who rely on the community garden for food and support.”
The WMS claimed they had ended an internal gardening program, which it claimed it was completely within its rights to do as a properly constituted Not for Profit Corporation.
“No people nor group had been evicted from the gardens,” said a spokesperson. “They were members that had a long running dispute with the WMS committee and chose to remove themselves.
They chose not to follow the model rules used by the WMS, and chose not to follow the dispute resolution procedure contained in the WMS Constitution model rules, but rather pleaded a case to the Bass Coast Shire Council.
“These disgruntled WMS members believe they were a separate, identifiable group with sole rights to the garden. A view not held by the WMS committee. They cannot be a separate independent group because they have no club structure, are not an incorporated association and have no insurance, other than the insurance covered by the WMS insurance. The lease expressly requires that if the WMS allows a third party to use the area for meetings or even gardening, that must be approved by BCSC.
“After three years, the committee called enough, and closed the garden activity, which was operating on a social collective model. A model not used anywhere else where Men’s Sheds operate gardens.”
Garden group coordinator Jessica Harrison said she was disappointed.
“The gardeners at the Men’s Shed were shocked to receive an email giving them just 24 hours to remove personal effects and return keys.”
“It was like a slap in the face,” said Jessica, who was elected to represent the garden group on the Men’s Shed committee but was not involved in the decision.
“The Committee of Management must have met secretly without me and decided to take this action. I was voted on to the Wonthaggi Men’s Shed at the AGM last July.”
Jessica said it particularly hurt as she was part of the original committee, which lobbied Bass Coast Shire successfully in 2007 to use the area for a Men’s Shed and garden.
“We have been sharing the space for 18 years.”
The garden group admitted there had been a recent complaint about untidiness, which the gardeners had been working hard to remedy.
“But that does not justify closing the garden,” said Jessica. “We are keen to resolve any issues and get on with planting spring vegetables.”
Jessica said she was not aware of any irreconcilable issues with the Men’s Shed.
“Now we’ve got to uproot the garden at our busiest time of year,” said Jessica.
Carol has been a member of the garden group for ten years.
“It changed my life,” said Carol.
“There are lots of older people here and it helps with mental health. Doctors told me to get out of the house and join a group to get moving. It’s been the best thing for my health and wellbeing.”
The stalemate is affecting members on both sides, with Wonthaggi Men’s Shed claiming they were locked out of the facility when disgruntled members blockaded the premises last Thursday, and police had to be called.
“We are talking about 15 to 20 innocent men who attended on the day to enjoy shed activities. All seniors aged in the range of 70 to 82. For some, it is the only time they socialise. Many of these men are single.”
Bass Coast Shire Council, which leases the land to the Wonthaggi Men’s Shed, said it will continue to work closely with everyone involved to find a positive way forward. Council horticultural staff have agreed to keep the community garden watered while the site remains under council management.
