Mount Beauty & District Men's Shed

Feel productive, contribute to the community and have fun doing it!

Shed News for April

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Isolation Seat Project

One of our more creative members has come up with a very interesting project. There has got to be a market for this ‘baby’ in the current environment. Problem is we don’t have access to the Shed.

Shed Extension

The Shed Extension Project started back in June 2018. Finally, we are good to go. Ian Howley, who has lead this project from the start last week had the Plans and Building Permit signed off by the Alpine Shire. Ian thanks for all the hard work with this. We know it was frustrating at times to get all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed but well done.

Tony Gentile of Gentile Steel Fabrications – Coral Bank won the Building Tender and this will be signed off this week. If all goes to plan the building works should start before winter.

To see all the work that has been done to date click [HERE] to view a gallery of photos.

1st On-Line Committee Meeting

Last week the committee arranged to have an ‘On-line’ meeting using the Video Conferencing Program called Zoom. There was a bit of a leaning curve for us but our first go at it went well. Since we cannot meet physically because of the Coronavirus restrictions we plan to have the May meeting this way as well.

This is what a video conferencing computer screen looks like when a meeting is in progress.

A Shed Cooling System

Each year the Federal Government offers a Volunteer Grants Program to community organisations. The Shed has just applied for $5,000.00 (the max that can be applied for) for a Main Shed Cooling System. This has been costed at $7,560.00 so if we are successful the Shed needs to find the balance to put the system in. We should know by the end of May.

Shed On-Line

Stay Connected with Your Mates. Click this link The AMSA Shed Online. Members need to register to join the Forums – an easy process.

Irvin’s small items project – from home

Irvin Beeston has continued to do what he does best — make small items for sale. He is making items in his workshop at home. Campbell has kindly allowed the Shed to sell these items in store. Thanks, Campbell.

Move!…..Find your 30

With everybody being restricted to the home it is very important that members make the effort to ‘get out & about’. Exercise is allowed outside the home. Find Your 30 is a program by Sport Australia, Australian Institute of Sport and the Australian Sports Commission to get Aussie’s moving. Click [HERE] to learn more. For Exercise Guidelines that apply to our age group click [HERE].

Member Profile

Mark Hardidge (Chef de Shed)

Note — we plan to present a number of member profiles (as part of Shed News) over the coming months.

COVID-19 1000m Sprint (Race Call)

This is very, very funny. Click [HERE] to watch the 3 minute race call.

Lawn Mowing – Shed & NH Centre

Thanks to Noel McDougall the grass is being mowed around the Shed and the Neighbourhood Centre area as required. Noel has set up a roster so that this job can be continued for some months. Thanks to Barry Hinson & Brian Keeble for mowing Wednesday.

AMSA Shed Online…it’s new

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Stay Connected with Your Mates at The AMSA Shed Online. Members need to register to join the Forums – an easy process.

Visiting the shed is an important part of the week for many men. Whilst COVID-19 has forced the closure of thousands of sheds across 12 countries, staying in touch and connected is more important than ever.

We invite the Men’s Shed community to join in conversation at The AMSA Shed Online.

The goal of The AMSA Shed Online is to help people connect in the same way they do at the shed – over a cuppa and a laugh.

“The shed’s themselves may be temporarily closed as part of the response to COVID-19 but the mission of helping people stay connected does not change,” said AMSA Patron His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) in a message to Men’s Shed members.

The AMSA Shed Online is a simple online space for men to stay connected at a time when community connection is increasingly difficult, but still vitally important to our health and wellbeing.

We hope to create a global social community where men can talk and share their experiences – a global information exchange. And whilst the AMSA Shed Online has been built with the Men’s Shed community in mind, we’re inviting anyone with an interest to join the conversation.

Tools to help you Stay Connected with shed mates

During physical isolation, staying socially connected is more important than ever… But the Shed is closed! So now what?

Men’s Sheds across Australia have closed and now is the time to be extremely diligent in ensuring that our shedders remain connected and that we look after each other. Click [HERE] to view some of the ways Shedders can do this i.e. the Tools to use.

Some serious work getting done last week on the Shed Extension foundations. Thank you to McPherson’s Earthmoving – Myrtleford for rolling the area free of charge.

Important Shed News

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Future Shed Operations

The Shed has a duty of care to its members, and as a consequence of the Coronavirus threat, the committee met on Tuesday morning and decided to close the Shed to members. Because our members are in the most vulnerable age group, this closure will stay in place until the health authorities indicate that the threat has passed.

This decision is in line with AMSA and VMSA recommendations to close Sheds at this time.

Shed Torque

  1. Bill Griffith R.I.P. — Bill was the Shed’s oldest member at 96 years and passed away last week. He was a long time Men’s Shed member and supported us for eight years. Though not an active member he attended a number of our monthly social BBQ functions and annual Christmas Luncheons. He was generous with his donations. Condolences go to his family.
  2. Ian Howley — Ian is currently having an operation in Albury. The Shed wishes him a speedy recovery. Ian, you have a Shed Extension to build!
  3. Gentile Steel Fabrications of Coral Bank have won the tender to build the Shed Extension. We are anticipating that building will start prior to winter.
  4. West Peak Hotel Raffle — This was to be held this Friday evening but has now been cancelled.
  5. For Sale — Kenyan Top Bar Bee Hives and Miniature Miner’s Wheelbarrow Planter Box. If you know of anybody who might be interested in these items please get them to call mobile: 0400 056 247.

Coronavirus

The Council on the Ageing – Victoria (COTA) have produced an excellent up-to-date ‘Fact Sheet‘ on all things to do with the Coronavirus. A must-read for all of us in the ‘vulnerable age group‘. Click [HERE] to read.

Victorian Men’s Shed Association (VMSA)

Click [HERE] to read the March 2020 Newsletter.

A very satisfied client— Julie Gaul from Redbank with her two Kenyan Top Bar Bee Hives. Mal Darwent (left) was the team leader for the manufacture of four large and two smaller hives.
A Community Project — The Neighbourhood Centre’s new Garden Shed foundations being poured. From left: Mark Hardidge, Len Sims, Pozzie (thank you NE Home Improvement Co) and Reg Hollonds.
The foundations finished — From left: Mal Darwent & Reg Hollonds

Projects & Other News

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West Peak Hotel Fundraiser

This Friday 31st January. Come along and support this Shed fundraising initiative. Dinner from 5:30 pm and 20 raffle draws at 7:00 pm. Funds towards the Shed Extension. Shed sells the tickets (we have sellers identified). All you need to do is enjoy the meal and the social occasion. Please bring your partner or friend.

New 15″ Thicknesser – spiral cutting heads

With assistance from a $2,000.00 grant from the Alpine Shires Community Development Fund and a Shed contribution of $1,200.00 we now have a state of the art ‘Thicknesser’ for preparing wood surfaces. The boys are excited about this new piece of equipment. Pictured from left: Henry Ziemnicki, Rod Hyde, Derek Hutton, Reg Hollonds & Mal Darwent

Neighbourhood Centre Project

This Community project involves the Men’s Shed constructing a new ramp to one of the portables (Stage 1), another garden shed (Stage 2) and a fence (Stage 3). This will improve the whole appearance to the area next to the Alex McCullough Hall.

Stage 1 completed and officially opened by Mal Darwent (left) & Barry Hinson cutting the ribbon. Dick Puttyfoot getting suck into the serious part of the project.

Kenyan Topbar Beehives

From left: Warwick Mitchell & Mal Darwent constructing Kenyan Top- Bar Beehives for a client.

Local Australia Day Awards

On Sunday 26th January in the Hydro Park (next to the swimming pool) the local Alpine Shire Australia Day Awards were presented. We had two members involved. Reg Hollonds was the guest speaker and spoke about his early days in the Kiewa Valley. Nick Brown was the recipient of two awards. The Alpine Shire Local Achiever of the Year (Kiewa Valley) and the Alpine Shire Citizen of the Year (for the whole Shire). Nick congratulations. Well deserved. Also thank you to the Upper Kiewa Valley Lions Club for hosting the Awards for the Alpine Shire. The club has been providing this service forever.

From left: Reg Hollonds & Nick Brown

Victorian Men’s Shed Association Newsletter – January 2020. Click [HERE] to view.

Pre-Chrismas News Extra

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Street Christmas Decorations

For the sixth year, the Men’s Shed has erected the street Christmas decorations. This was done on Sunday 8th December with two shifts each of six men working for a total of four hours. Thanks to all involved.

Hollonds Street — the new flashing solar fairy-lights add to the atmosphere.

Green Thumb Gardeners still needed

Come and join our Green Thumb Garden group and assist in developing the Mount Beauty Neighbourhood Centre’s wonderful garden and have produce to share. Each Tuesday morning from 10:00 am. Free cuppa and cake for all the workers. Contact co-ordinator: Marie Lucas-Gear Mob: 0438 619 942.

Media Releases re Shed Extension Grant

  1. Jaclyn Symes (Member for Northern Victoria) — Click [HERE] to view.
  2. Alpine Observer – 11th Dec ’19 — Click [HERE] to view.

Shed Torque

  1. Shed re-opens on Tuesday 14th January 2020 with a FREE sausage sizzle (snag in bread) at 12 noon.
  2. Veteran Survival — Tony Fraser & Wayne Taylor and Josh & Megan New speak openly with John Walker about how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects their lives. Click [HERE] to view a video of the interview.
  3. Bill Sutton’s 80th Birthday celebrations — Saturday 4th January 2020 at Settlers Tavern, Kiewa Valley Highway, Tawonga South, commencing at about 12.00 noon. Bill and Yvonne would love for you to come along and enjoy the afternoon. NO PRESENTS please, just pay for your lunch and drinks, or if preferred, simply come along and say g’day, and have a chat (he loves to chat, as we all know). If you can make it for lunch, please let Yvonne know – mob: ‭0438 575 441‬ or email <dearest040140@gmail.com> so that she can let Settlers know how many to cater for.
  4. Know Your Nuts — From the first time a boy gets his testicles hit in the schoolyard, he becomes keenly aware of his nuts. But while men talk about, joke about and learn to carefully protect their testicles, most men don’t know them as well as they should. Click [HERE] to learn more.
  5. Neighbourhood Centre Project — The improvements to the garden shed area of the Centre are progressing. Currently, work has been done in preparation for Bobcat work, adding road fill, boxing foundations and cementing. Another garden shed and fence will be erected in the new year.

AMSA & VMSA News

• Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) Newsletter – The Shedder. Click [HERE] to view.

• Victorian Men’s Shed Association (VMSA) Newsletters – November: Click [HERE] to view and December: Click [HERE] to view.

Community Events

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Understanding Dementia — Monday 2 September 2019. Free session

Adult Learners Week (#learn1thing) – Building Digital Skills Event. Free event. Tuesday 3rd September 2019. Booking essential.