December 2016

       

                                      Shed Shavings

St Leonards Men's Shed Newsletter
December 2016

Welcome to the December (Christmas) newsletter.  Isn’t it great to have the new room and the amount of space it has freed up in the Workshop area.  Let’s kick off with the update. 

                  Extension Update

What a day it was, 26^th October, we were allowed to move into the new room and there was 16 members in attendance that day and made for a good test.  A little noisy and would do well with some more ventilation, but it’s a start.
We’re slowing getting it sorted out, have computer area sorted, we are looking at getting some cabinets for the wall above the sink, a TV and a new fridge (have to keep the milk cold).   

Bob has done a great job with new bench in the workshop, we’ve moved a few things around and it’s great to see the amount of space being freed up.  We’ve moved the timber racks and put a petition up to make it a safer environment for members using the machinery.

Next more benches.                     

Working with the Schools

Portarlington Primary School

We have always worked closely with the St Leonards Primary School but recently provided two Picnic settings to Portarlington.  The pictures above show the two settings at the Shed ready to go and then delivered to the school. 

While the reception was hardly anything to mention from the school staff, the children gave a round of applause to the guys when the settings were carried into the room.  I might add we’ve have not heard anything from the school.

St Leonards Primary School

As we do each year during the last semester of school, 4 students from the school will be attending the shed to undertake a project and will have one on one supervision.  This year, the students have decided to make a Whirly-gig, so the team have been assembling 4 kits in preparation for their arrival at the shed in November.  The students will have to decide on their own pattern and colours, because no-one would want the colour example on the left.

                                  

RIP Tom Nancarrow

It was very sad to hear that Bulldog Tom passed away on the 11^th October.  Tom very much enjoyed coming down to the Shed and telling everyone how the Bulldogs were going to be too quick for whoever it was they were playing that week. 

You can just imagine him having that same conversation with all the other Doggie Supporters in the kennel above.  12 members attended the funeral service and we, along with RSL members were asked to form a guard of honour at the end of the service.

                                              
Golf Challenge

Digger organized a golf challenge for the 30^th November. The first picture below shows Digger presenting “Neville” club President the table we gave to the club while the next picture shows where we were.  The club will allow us to have our challenge without any green fees to be collected.  ($20/ person and at this event we had 16 players). 

The other opportunities this may present us, is requests for further tables (Neville told us that he had already had questions on the cost of tables) and we are investigating the possibility of making some seats to place around the course, allowing a rest between holes.  At the time of writing this seems a remote chance. 

We started with a BBQ (Thanks Kev and helpers) and a few drinks to get over the nerves then played 6 holes, followed by a putting competition.   The first two photos show the warm up exercises, Mal doing plenty of preparation, while the next two show preparing to start, with Kevin checking his transport.
 

These photos show and Alain having his first ever swing of a golf club and Dole Dave being the first teeing off.

The winner of the golf challenge was
Mal Carlson

                       and “The Trophy Hunter”, Dave Chadwick won the putting comp.

Melbourne Cup Sweep

Even when he’s away he still rules, the winner of the sweep was Ray Bowtell with Almandin, second was Dole Dave with Heartbreak City and third was Monica Venvillewith Hartnell.  The sweep was conducted very professionally with Chris drawing the horses and Bruce drawing the associated names.  We were down to the last couple and Chris, in his own use of the Australian language asked did we put his name in the draw as it was yet to be called.  He then said, not that it matters because he’ll finish dead last anyway.  Well, that’s why he is the Customer Liaison and Complaints Manager because he’s always right.  Last was Chris with Rose of Virginia.

Christmas Dinner

Our inaugural Christmas dinner, held at the Portarlington Golf Club was a great night with everyone enjoying some very nice food and company. 

The booking was for 43 but due to the bug that was doing the rounds, we had 38 in attendance and everyone had a very enjoyable evening. 

The club did a great job and the venue was a good place for this type of get together. 

Feedback from everyone was it was something we should do more of and if you agree please provide some feedback on any other places would be somewhere people would like to go.   

Apologies for the quality of the photos, I was trying to have a quiet beer at the time.

 
Christmas Lunch

Our usual members only lunch will be held on the 16^th December.  The standard chicken, ham and salad (and maybe a drink or two) will be complemented by Christmas puddings already purchased from his favourite supermarket by our Customer Liaison and Complaints Manager.

Sweet Revenge

What a surprise. 

Digger brought in an old bird house and asked “Wishing Well” Bruce would he like to help restore the bird house.  It took about 5 seconds for Bruce to give his answer, as seen above.  After they made up, work began on the new items and a very good job they are doing on the new product.  (See Digger for orders)

Company Truck

Most of the projects we undertake require a trip to Fagg’s to pick up timber and then deliver the finished product to the lucky recipient (School, Club etc).  No of this would be possible without our Company Truck.  Much thanks to Bruce for allowing us the use of his new truck.

  

October BBQ

Our new Masterchef took control of the catering for this BBQ, did a great job providing the hungry masses with Steaks and Snagg’s and didn’t he look a treat in the colourful apron.

The Chair with the Horrible Name.

  John wanted to make an Adirondack Chair

and asked had we seen any patterns, it so happened that I had already cut out some templates for a chair.  John and his apprentice went to work and there it is.

Member Profile

Each newsletter we introduce a member and complete a profile, this month we’re pleased to introduce our Treasurer and Football Tipping Mystro “Bob Evans”.  Bob does fantastic work as Treasurer always making sure that we have everything we need to enable us to enjoy our time at the shed.  Any new members, please take no notice to the complaints heard during coffee/tea time bemoaning the fact that there are never any decent biscuits and that Bob won’t spend the money on cream biscuits, it’s all just playful banter.  The fact he won’t let Chris buy butter for the BBQ’s, well that’s another story.

Name                               Robert “Bob” Evans

Partner                            Lorraine

Children/Grandchildren      2/5
   
How long have you lived
in St Leonards?                 3 years

Before St Leonards           Warrick, Qld

What did you do before
Retiring?                         SEC - Super Electrician

Football Club                    Western Bulldogs

Notes / Reminders

1.     The shed will be closed between Christmas and New Years Days.  If you look in the calendar tab of the Web Site you should see relevant dates.