Community & Business
22 November, 2023
Handover of Shed Down the Murray funds
The extraordinary expedition underaken by a gallant team from the Pittsworth Men’s Shed continues to draw praise - not just for the crew of the raft that made the 600 kilometre journey, but for the Pittsworth community generally.
At the Men’s Shed on Thursday, the various speakers were glowing in their praise for the three men who journeyed down the Murray - Merv Hinneberg, Jason Driscoll and Trevor Gull - and for the many individuals and groups that gave strong support for the project.
Shed Down the Murray raised a total of $50,000, which attracts a dollar-for-dollar subsidy from the Australian Government, meaning It’s A Bloke Thing Foundation will benefit to the tune of $100,000.
The Foundation will channel the funds into educating men on prostate cancer and research into the disease.
The fundraising started before the crew and its support team left Pittsworth and continued well after the feat was completed.
Ruth Logan, Education Program Facilitator with the Foundation, described the effort as “an incredible act of tenacity”.
She told the gathering on Thursday that during the course of the event, they spoke to more than 1,500 people along the route in rural New South Wales and Victoria.
Many of those exposed to the message were members of Rotary clubs along the way, and members of Men’s Sheds in more than fourteen centres.
Those who attended Thursday’s presentation heard of the trials and tribulations associated with the trip and despite the difficulties, the trio was able to laugh with the crowd as stories of their adventure were relayed to the crowd.
The man whose brainchild was Shed Down the Murray, Merv Hinneberg, reminded men of the importance of being aware of prostate cancer.
He said the Pittsworth Men’s Shed will continue fundraising for It’s A Bloke Thing Foundation, which is now the Shed’s charity of choice.
The vessel which made the journey has come back to Pittsworth.
It’s currently being stripped of “valuables” at the Men’s Shed and will eventually be put on public display adjacent to the sheds at Moore’s Trailers on the Gore Highway.
The raft was returned to the local Men’s Shed after one of the major supporters of the project, IOR Rural, purchased it during an auction, adding $5,000 to the total raised, and chose to hand the craft back to the team who constructed it.
