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Current Health Promotion Initiatives |
Walk n Talk group – Mondays and Thursday 9.00am( see flyer)
Life begins at menopause Wed 5th March 7.00pm – (see flyer)
Kooweerup Community garden is a partnership project between the Kooweerup Secondary college community members and the health service – article in Pakenham Gazzette and photo Feb 20th Mellissa Grant
NEW garden in Kooweerup will focus on fostering a closer and healthier community.
The community garden will be developed in front of the Kooweerup Regional Health Service thanks to grants from Nestle and the Open Garden scheme.
The garden will feature an indigenous plant area, children’s area, a rose garden bed as well as an edible garden.
Community gardens are popping up all over the country and Kooweerup’s will be modelled on one in St Kilda.
Kooweerup’s secondary college and regional health service have teamed up for the project which aims to bring people together to grow and have access to quality fresh food and to provide opportunities for physical activity as well as providing a meeting place for locals.
Kooweerup Secondary College students have a pivotal role in the garden’s construction and will be aided by older members of the community who will teach them about growing food and flowers.
Assistant principal Leonie McGinley said those heading the project hoped that the interaction between the older and younger generations of the community would continue after the garden was completed.
“We want to create a hub to bring people of all ages together,” she said.
Kooweerup Regional Health Service Health Promotion Practitioner Aileen Thoms said promoting an active lifestyle and good eating habits would be the focus of the community hub.
“With the rise of childhood obesity it’s very topical to encourage families to be active and have a healthy diet”
“I will be a good place to bring people together and for them to engage in purposeful physical activity.”
She said the construction of the garden, which will be accessible to all people, would begin about April.( see design plan)also info link http://www.permablitz.net/
Kooweerup Mens Shed - The concept of a bloke and his shed is something most people can relate to however the concept of a Mens Shed as a community based initiative is one that is relatively new but gaining in popularity in Australia.
The mens’ shed is usually a shed or workshop type space that provides opportunities for bringing groups of men together to have hands on activities or enabling them to have access to health information or have health issues addressed in a more relaxed, informal setting. Mens sheds are often organised by community organisations such as neighbourhood houses, learning centres or community health centres or independently driven by the community often through support of the ”Mensheds Australia “ organisation.
Mens sheds provide a unique way of addressing mens health issues, capturing existing skills, mentoring others and have the ability to enhance, support and implement community projects.
Mens sheds are an important initiative that can increase social connectedness for males in the community , fostering a sense of purpose and social connection for males who would otherwise be isolated whether it is through retirement, retrenchment or in a rural context, disadvantage through lack of transport and access to services.
Mens sheds are providing a way of addressing mental health needs such as loneliness, depression or trauma, this in turn impacts on families and communities in a significant manner. Today, families are often going through separation or divorce, a fragmentation also happens where contact with extended families are lost through the process, this particularly can affect men who may not have strong social networks, Mens sheds give them an avenue to find someone they can share their experiences with, work through emotional issues, gain a sense of self respect and perhaps learn some new skills.
Research is indicating that they are effective in addressing in a holistic manner, the social, health and well being and non vocational learning needs of mainly older men, an often difficult to reach group that can sometimes be isolated and may be experiencing complex and difficult changes in changes to their working lives status and identity, their physical and mental health, their relationships and identities as men. Mens sheds can provide important positive and therapeutic activities that satisfies a wide range of needs .They also provide opportunities for men of all ages to pool their considerable skills and experiences for mutual and community benefit.(NCVER 2006)
By having increased contact with Men in an informal setting, it will be possible for health professionals to act proactively, focusing on early intervention and prevention and to link them in to health services in a more effective and timely manner. For more information on Koowee mens shed a lunch time meeting is to be held March 14th Kooweerup pub
Other info on Mens shed Link http://www.mensheds.com.au
By establishing a more health-enhancing culture Kooweerup is extending good quality patient care and disease treatment towards prevention and promotion of positive health; a healthy workplace; partnerships for healthy communities; and a healthy environment.
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