18 March 2023: Official opening
The shed was officially opened in a ceremony attended by a large number of contributors and supporters of the shed. It started with a traditional Smoking Ceremony and concluded with Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, cutting the traditional ribbon to admit people into the shed. For more details, please read this Coast Community News article or watch this NBN TV report.
27 February 2023: Cluster meeting
Men from Bateau Bay, Broadlands, Erina, Ettalong, Gosford, Hardy’s Bay, Kincumber, Terrigal, The Entrance, Valhalla and Wiseman’s Ferry Men’s Sheds met together at the Shed to learn of the latest developments from AMSA reps and to discuss problems and successes. Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, was also in attendance.
10 January 2023: Partial opening
Great progress has been made in preparing the shed to the point where, with the limited range of tools available, members are able to undertake small projects or just relax with a cuppa. The shed will now be open on Tuesdays between 8.30am and 12.30pm until further notice.
23 December 2022: Occupation Certificate issued
An Occupation Certificate was issued today. This marks the formal end of the construction process and means that we can now use the building as a men’s shed. However, there is still some work to be done to prepare for the opening — watch this space for a date announcement!
5 December 2022: Construction completed
The last tradesman left the shed last week after completion of the plumbing & drainage and the installation of electrical & fire safety fittings, air conditioning and solar panels, and today the Certifier came to make his final inspection. Meanwhile, members continue working on the building and grounds, sorting tools and materials, building shelving and workbenches, and generally getting ready to open.
20 November 2022: Progress inside & out
More work has been done fitting out the social area and the workshop, including connecting up the light and power and cladding all the walls. Landscaping the area around the shed building is also progressing well.
24 October 2022: The fit-out continues
The electrical wiring has now been fitted, and after several walls were clad the installation of the lighting and wall sockets has commenced. The staircase into the mezzanine has also been installed, as has much of the plumbing.
11 September 2022: The shed fit-out starts
The fit-out of the shed began with the erection of the partition wall between the social area and the workshop, the walls of the machine room and the mezzanine floor. MP for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, paid a visit to observe how we were spending our two NSW State grants.
28 August 2022: First community project completed
Our very first community community project was completed today when a library box built by Laurie and Mike in Mike’s home workshop was erected with the help of Fraser and George at the Before & After Care centre near Copacabana Public School:
19 August 2022: Lock-up stage reached
The shed finally reached the lock-up stage.
27 July 2022: Shed erection continues
Considerable progress has been made with erecting the shed, plagued as always by delays beyond our control, and you can now see its final shape very clearly. Today, the shed looks like this:
1 July 2022: Shed erection started
Part of the skeleton for our shed has now been erected. The skeleton needs to be completed, the roof put on and the walls cladded and we will be ready to start the next step: installing the doors and internal walls.
19 May 2022: Driveway and paths built
After an extended interruption due to the effects of the long period of rain, the area around the slab was graded to improve drainage and to build up the foundations for the driveway and the paths giving access to the main entrance. Then the concrete was laid. Once the concrete has cured, everything will be ready for the arrival and erection of the shed.
secured underground …
above ground…
18 Feb 2022: Slab poured
The slab has been poured! The operation took a whole day and involved five contractors, several concrete truck drivers and pump operators, our Project Manager and five Management Committee members.
5 Feb 2022: Construction progress
Several rainy weeks have delayed progress on the construction of the new shed. However, the foundations for the slab have been completed and it is hoped it will be poured within the next couple of weeks.
8 Dec 2021
14 Jan 2022
5 Feb 2022
31 Jan 2022: Belle Property present huge sponsorship cheque
Belle Property’s offer of sponsorship, first agreed in April 2021, came to fruition with the presentation of a $26,000 cheque today.
19 Jan 2022: The next Open Meeting
Following the spread of Omicron, we have decided to suspend open meetings once again. Watch this space for the date and topic of the next meeting.
11 Dec 2021: Open Shed Meeting
Following the easing of Covid restrictions, we were able to hold an Open Meeting on Saturday 11 December. Kerry Robins and Ken Schneider from the St John’s Ambulance gave a most informative talk on First Aid with the aid of a demonstration defibrillator and a dummy, leaving everyone much more confident they would know what to do in an emergency situation.
1 Nov 2021: Construction started
Construction of the Copa Men’s Shed started on 2 November under the supervision of our volunteer Project Manager, Vantonian Tutaki.
2 Nov 2021
9 Nov 2021
20 Oct 2021: NSW Parliament recognises Copa Shed
Adam Crouch, Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, moved a motion in State Parliament noting that funding was now sufficient to turn the concept of a men’s shed in Copacabana into a physical building and thanking all those who have supported the shed for their perseverance.
11 Oct 2021: Council lease signed
The Council lease to the shed site has now been signed, meaning that we can finally start construction of our new shed. Work is scheduled to commence on Monday 1 November.
17 Jul 2021: Shed Meeting postponed
The Shed Meeting due to take place on Saturday 17 July has been postponed because of Covid restrictions. The talk on wills, probate and related topics that was going to be given by the Shed’s Honorary Solicitor and former President of the Copa Community Association, Peter Hill, will be re-scheduled.
19 Jun 2021: June Shed Meeting
The first of the planned monthly Shed Meetings was held at the Copa Rural Fire Station on Saturday 19 June. Kristen Budd, General Manager of local media company Southern Cross Austereo, gave an inspiring talk on the value of meditation as a tool in reducing stress and anxiety and also gave a practical demonstration. Click here to view her handout.
18 Jun 2021: Infrastructure grant announced
The NSW Government’s Office for Responsible Gambling announced the award of a $127,500 grant to help build the Copacabana Community Men’s Shed. The cheque was formally presented on 21 September 2021.
2 Jun 2021: DGR status approved
The Men’s Shed has been approved for endorsement as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). All donations of $2 or more made to the shed on or after 9 February 2021 are therefore tax-deductible.
8 May 2021: Informal general meeting
Twenty people attended the barbecue breakfast held at Susan Fahey Park in Copa. There was much enthusiastic discussion of how to progress the shed and general agreement there should be monthly meetings in future. Watch this space for further announcements!
23 Apr 2021: Belle Property, Killcare, offers substantial sponsorship
Belle Property have offered to sponsor the Shed to the tune of 90% of their agent’s fee if we can recruit a Copa house owner willing to sell their home through them. CCMS members have promoted the offer through a letterbox drop and Belle have produced this video.
14 Apr 2021: Meeting with Premier
Representatives of Central Coast men’s sheds met the Premier of NSW, The Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP, and the Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch at Bateau Bay Men’s Shed. Our Coordinator and Secretary were able to update them and other men’s sheds on our progress.
24 Mar 2021: Membership drive opened
Membership of the Shed is now open to all men aged 18 and over. For details, click here.
25 Feb 2021: Crowd funding campaign opened
A crowd-funding campaign to raise the additional funds needed to permit shed construction was started on the GoFundMe web site. The event was reported in the Central Coast Community News.
23 Feb 2021: Construction Certificate issued
The issue of the Construction Certificate left one last hurdle to starting construction of the shed: the signing of a lease with the landowner, Central Coast Council.
19 Feb 2021: Project Manager appointed
The Shed Management Committee has appointed Vantonian (Tony) Tutaki as the Project Manager for the construction of the shed. Tony, who is NSW Regional Manager for Brisull Industries, is giving his time and experience pro bono as his contribution to the community.
21 Sep 2020: Ground broken for the Copa Shed
The first sod at the site for the Copacabana Community Men’s Shed was cut by the State MP for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, and Shed Coordinator, Dr Michael Mitchelmore. Federal MP Lucy Wicks and Senator Deborah O’Neill were also present. The event was reported on NBN News that day and later in the Central Coast Community News.
6 Aug 2020: Development consent granted
The shed Development Application was approved by the Central Coast Local Planning Panel, as reported in the Central Coast Community News.
14 Oct 2019: Bob Clancy elected Honorary Life Member
Bob Clancy, who had attempted to start a men’s shed in Copa in 2010-2013, was made an Honorary Life Member of the new Copacabana Community Men’s Shed.
17 Sep 2019: Shed Development Application lodged
A Development Application to construct a “community facility to be used as a men’s shed” was lodged with the Central Coast Council.
4 Sep 2019: Men’s shed wins My Community Project
The Men’s Shed won the most votes in the Terrigal electorate for the 2019 My Community Project grant scheme. NBN News reported the ceremony in which Adam Crouch, State MP for Terrigal, presented the cheque.
24 Aug 2019: Our second sausage sizzle
A sausage sizzle at Bunnings West Gosford made a considerable contribution to shed funds.
27 Jul 2018: Men’s shed receives seed funding
Tanya Davies, NSW Minister for Mental Health, provided valuable funding to start off the building process. The event was reported on NBN News that day and later in the Central Coast Community News.
24 Feb 2018: Our first sausage sizzle
A sausage sizzle at Mitre 10 Kincumber barely covered its cost, but was a good learning experience.
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