In the last week we have had the Shade Sail installed and with the generosity of AGL have had two Power Station Runners donated, transported and placed in position at the north end of the Shed. These will provide an attractive feature and will no doubt arouse curiosity with the public. It is planned to display information about the Runners.

Other Shed News

• We have purchased items for a Dust Extraction and Collection System that will be installed in the new year. This is a very big and expensive job. Irvin Beeston is convening the working group of Mal Darwent, Rob Van de Linden, Warwick Mitchell, Les Bevan and Rod Hyde.
• Also in the new year there are plans to fence off the west side of the Shed and build a verandah on the west side to improve security and increase our storage space which is always at a premium.
• Lawn Mowing Co-ordinator — Reg Hollonds has taken on this role. The boys like the new Ride-On.
• Personal Storage Lockers — Mal Darwent has acquired some lockers that can be used by members to store personal items.
• Membership – We have 63 members. Thank you to all those who have renewed for 2016/17.
• Women in the Men’s Shed Skills Program — Dick Puttyfoot and Irvin Beeston conducted this pilot program for five women over 7 x 2 hour sessions once a week. It was run in conjunction with the Neighbourhood Centre.
• Christmas Luncheon —We had 56 members and partners at the Luncheon held in the Alex McCullough Hall. Our Chef de Shed Mark Hardidge and his band of helpers are to be congratulated. President Dick Puttyfoot presented Graeme Caulfield with an Achievement Award for his five years of committee service to the Shed. Graeme has retired from the committee. A Participation Award was also presented to Jordan McNicol.
• Garden — Work on the garden has commenced and a few scrubs planted. More work in the new year.

Shed Days & Hours — Shed will re-open after the Christmas break on Tuesday 17th January 2017. Shed will then be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Morning tea 10:30 am and lunch 12:30 pm.

McKay Ck PS Runner positioning	From left: Ian Howley & Paul L’Huillier… just checking the levels
West Kiewa PS & McKay Ck PS Runners in position	The new Shade Sail in position. A great addition to the Shed’s social activities.

I am relaxing, (well, in between getting the scaffolding and erecting Mount Beauty’s street decorations for this season). Being president is sometimes very tiring and I wonder why I am. And then a project is completed and another good result comes our way. The camaraderie and openness between the members is becoming stronger and it augurs well for the future. By this interaction, the members’ health and well-being is kept at a level that offsets the onset of old age?

Innovation is the key word for most of our work. All active members bounce ideas between each other, thus establishing a first class finished product.

The culmination of the year’s endeavours was the Christmas Lunch. The members, and some of their ladies, worked very hard to achieve a first class sumptuous feast. Tables were decorated, food served and dispatched, and the hall cleaned and restored to normal. This was a long, satisfying day to end a satisfying year.

My thanks go to all persons that jumped in to help make the day fantastic, and special thanks to those wonderful persons in the kitchen. They certainly know how to turn out some wonderful dishes. And thank-you to the Neighbourhood Centre for the use of their facilities.

It is the co-operation and results of being a member of our shed that makes me feel wanted as a president. Thank you all.

Dick Puttyfoot
President

Erecting Street Christmas Decorations: Sunday 11th Dec ’16 — Top from left: Dick Puttyfoot (president) & Bruce Brereton. Bottom from left: Irvin Beeston & Len Sims

At last Fridays Annual General Meeting (AGM) the following people were elected to the Shed committee for 2016/17.

*new member
Graeme Caulfield has retired from the committee after five years of service. Thank you Graeme.

Membership Fees are now due —The 2016/17 fees were approved at $35.00 for an individual member and $50.00 for a business/organisation. Fees are due by 31 October 2016. Click [HERE] to download, print off and fill-in the Application Form. A number of payment options are given on the Form including via Direct Credit — the preferred method.

Shed Rules & Policies — Members are reminded of the rules and policies that the Shed has adopted – these are set out in the  yellow covered Induction Manual which all members have received. It is also available on the Shed website.

The committee wishes to draw members attention for the need to be considerate of other members working in the Shed or who intend to work in the Shed (say) the next day. Please consider: cleaning up your work area (Shed doesn’t employ cleaners – each member is a cleaner), putting away tools used, moving (storing) your project so others can use the bench space, if the task has excessive noise then maybe work outside if weather and job are appropriate, using protective gear e.g. earmuffs, googles/full face protection and hand protection as appropriate (a Shed Health & Safety requirement). The Shed has a policy that requires members to be assessed (by a Workshop Panel member) in the use of tools and equipment.

New sign just erected. From left: Irvin Beeston, John Driver, Ian Howley & Dick Puttyfoot