Men in Sheds chairman John Middleton said he was notified by the Goldfields Esperance Area Consultative Committee (GEACC) in October last year that the Men in Sheds organisation had been granted $96,000 in funding through the federal government’s Regional Partnerships program, only to have that funding be stripped after the election of the Labor Government under Kevin Rudd.

However the axing of Regional Partnerships provoked an outcry from many sections of the community, in particular in rural communities, and in August it was announced that many organisations – including the Esperance Men In Sheds – would be receiving the funding they had originally been promised through the scheme.

Mr Middleton said when he saw the funding agreement that was sent to the Esperance Shire, who is acting as the sponsor for the group, he was overwhelmed with a feeling of relief.

“It really took the rug out from under us when that funding was cut, we didn’t know what we were going to do, or even if the project could still continue,” Mr Middleton said.

“It really came as a shock to all involved.

“I don’t think the government could have predicted the outcry they caused, particularly in rural areas.

“I guess they thought they could save some money in the budget, but these Regional Partnerships go to some extremely worthy causes and thankfully the communities rallied to an extend that the government realised they had made a pretty big mistake.”

Esperance Shire executive manager of corporate services Darren Kennedy said it was fantastic that the funding had been restored to the group.

“I think you would struggle to find a more worthy cause than this one,” Mr Kennedy said.

“The funding shouldn’t have been cut in the first place, and now we’re back on track and hopefully we can really move forward with the project.”

The shed is currently under construction, and Mr Middleton predicted the group could be using the facility within three months.