Well what a great finish to the football season, firstly well done to Cheryl and Dean for coming equal winners in our football tipping competition, Dean finishing the last round with 9 winners to draw level. Of course congratulations to the West Coast Eagles winners in a great contest in this year's grand final. You can only imagine how happy it was in the Bath household.
Clarification
In the last newsletter you were introduced to Fred "The Man of Steel" and I was quizzed on why that name. Well, it could have been because of the following:
Have these two men ever been seen in the same room?
Only their mother can tell them apart.
Or it could have been that Fred works with a lot of Metal.
Donation
John was very surprised when he called into the St Leonards Pharmacy and was given a donation of $300.
We thank the Pharmacy very much for the donation.
The dog house has been well received by its rightful owner, much to Dave's disappointment. It turns out the entrance had to be large as poor pooch is blind.
The dog was so impressed he told his owner to join, welcome Kevin Callinan, or as he so well described you can call him by his nickname, "Simple".
Lions Raffle
Every year we talk about the Lions Raffle. Tickets are $2 each, $10 for a book. We would like everyone to get at least one book, every ticket we sell the Lions Club gives us the $2 to add to our coffers. Our new treasurer, "The Count" received a cheque for $500.00 from the Lions, a big Thank you to the Lions. Winners were as follows:| Prize | Ticket No | Selling Organisation |
| 1 | 11637 | Drysdale Soccer |
| 2 | 5959 | Anglican Parish |
| 3 | 12014 | Drysdale Soccer |
| 4 | 6748 | Anglican Parish |
| 5 | 157 | Bellarine Woodworkers |
| 6 | 8359 | Drysdale Sports Fishing |
| 7 | 14130 | Winged Horse |
| 8 | 6169 | Anglican Parish |
| 9 | 5209 | Anglican Parish |
| 10 | 8783 | Portarlington RSL |
| 11 | 2057 | St Leonards Bowls Club |
| 12 | 11812 | Drysdale Soccer |
| 13 | 3118 | Winged Horse |
Bendigo Bank Grant
We applied and were successful in getting a grant from the Bendigo Bank to implement some safety work in the Shed, by installing other droppers and getting rid of the power point from the floor and installing a major safety switch to cut all power in the Shed. John, Dave, Phil and I attended a presentation of the big cheque at the Curlewis Golf Club where all successful candidates received their cheque.
Someone had to get up and say a few words, and as I was the best dressed it fell to me.
The photo below show us receiving the cheque along with some Bendigo Bank representatives, and the gent on the right wore two hats, that of a Bendigo Bank Director and as a Mens Shed Member, Rob Barker.
We had to hand back the presentation cheque and have a simple presentation of the cheque at the Shed. Shae Hunt, Senior Branch Manager - Portarlington and Nathan Warren, Branch Manager - Drysdale were going to present the cheque to John and then join us for a few quiet beers. But John insisted only Shae hand over the cheque.
Technology
Someone had to get up and say a few words, and as I was the best dressed it fell to me.
The photo below show us receiving the cheque along with some Bendigo Bank representatives, and the gent on the right wore two hats, that of a Bendigo Bank Director and as a Mens Shed Member, Rob Barker.
We had to hand back the presentation cheque and have a simple presentation of the cheque at the Shed. Shae Hunt, Senior Branch Manager - Portarlington and Nathan Warren, Branch Manager - Drysdale were going to present the cheque to John and then join us for a few quiet beers. But John insisted only Shae hand over the cheque.
Technology
From what Mick tells us, this could well be Mick and Maree.
Neville Richards Spring Bowls Challenge
It was that time of year again, only this time we invited the partners to participate. Three brave souls joined us for another great afternoon.
First there was Bob's wife Lorraine showing how to bowl from a great height. Notice Lorraine's stick, Bob wouldn't let her use "The Craw".
Then we saw the fierce determination of John's wife Barbara getting ready to smash John's bowls off the rink.
And here is David's wife Heather showing how its done. Great action. The girls played very well and everyone was very disappointed when they just got beaten by John and Dave.
First there was Bob's wife Lorraine showing how to bowl from a great height. Notice Lorraine's stick, Bob wouldn't let her use "The Craw".
Then we saw the fierce determination of John's wife Barbara getting ready to smash John's bowls off the rink.
And here is David's wife Heather showing how its done. Great action. The girls played very well and everyone was very disappointed when they just got beaten by John and Dave.
John told me to go to the other end and take a photo of all the girls. Not sure what he meant.
Following an elimination final, these four highly skilled bowlers battled out for Final honours.
With Bob "The Craw" Evans and Kevin "Simple" Callinan the eventual Winners. We then all retired into the club rooms for a well deserved drink. Thanks again to Neville Richards sponsorship.
Circus Oz Chair
Fred, Marie and some St Leonards
Probus members, visited "Behind the scenes at Circus Oz in
Collingwood!" They sat in the Melba Spiegeltent which was built in Belgium
in 1910. It then travelled across Europe until 2006, when it arrived in
Australia and was renamed after Australia's famous opera singer. The wooden
sides, floor and stage are all dismountable and are packed up for
transportation purposes. As well, the tables and chairs, can be easily folded
and stacked.
Fred realised that the folding
chairs matched his already-made folding table (June 2017 Newsletter) and was
able to borrow one to copy in his shed at home. As usual, the outcome is a great quality product!
AGM
We held a very quick AGM, where the current committee was re-elected un-opposed and Geoff Blum joined as an ordinary member. The Working Bee at the school was raised and everyone informed.
School Working Bee
The Working Bee, as discussed at the AGM and advised in the minutes was held and we completed all that was planned.
A path was laid in the front garden and the seat was repaired and repainted.
The old paths we put in over Christmas did not bind as well as expected so these were raked out and the same sand the Bellarine Bayside used on the new pathways between the boat ramp and the Bluff was laid. Much Thanks to Bellarine bayside for their donation. Notice Bruce's two new stop sign's that were re done on metal pipe and concreted in place. Wonder if they will last any longer than the first attempt.
Below left was the start of the work on the long jump - triple jump pit. The boys shovelled out some compacted dirt, put in a border and the painted a white line (on left) to mark out the runway.
No it wasn't a Committee Meeting, it was the working bee. Apologies to Bob who wasn't there at the time for the photo.
Russell joined us and helped do some of the painting. Notice Dave straddling the White line, he wasn't really qualified to stand on the boards so Bruce placed his foot on the board so we were Ok with the Union. Bruce is fully qualified and has a standing on boards ticket.
Some people will do almost anything to get out of a working Bee. Check what these two got up to, someone looking very sheepish.
Humans in Geelong Expo
As we had a story in Humans in Geelong web site we were invited to have a stand at the Expo held Sunday 7th October. It went from 10am - 3pm and we were there before 9 to setup.
We all had to gather around the stage for the official opening at 10 o'clock and were still standing there 30 minutes later, far to many officials talking. Two members of the local aboriginal community performed a Welcome to Country ceremony and it was excellent, the lady spoke very well and the guy playing the huge digeridoo was really good. We had a number of enquiries about music stands, some bird boxes, easels etc (no sales at this time) but by far the biggest question was, " How much are the guitars ?"
We had templets of this game of Tic-Tac-Toe for the kids to make. Thanks to the Ocean Grove Golf Club for supplying the Tee's. The kids seemed to really enjoy using the screw driver and drill to put it together. But the look of enjoyment on some of the parents faces was great. One Father videoed the whole experience.
However, the highlight of the day had to be one of the visitors who made Dave's day.
Stone Henge Mens Shed
It was an unusual request that the Shed received, but the guys took it on regardless.
We all had to gather around the stage for the official opening at 10 o'clock and were still standing there 30 minutes later, far to many officials talking. Two members of the local aboriginal community performed a Welcome to Country ceremony and it was excellent, the lady spoke very well and the guy playing the huge digeridoo was really good. We had a number of enquiries about music stands, some bird boxes, easels etc (no sales at this time) but by far the biggest question was, " How much are the guitars ?"
We had templets of this game of Tic-Tac-Toe for the kids to make. Thanks to the Ocean Grove Golf Club for supplying the Tee's. The kids seemed to really enjoy using the screw driver and drill to put it together. But the look of enjoyment on some of the parents faces was great. One Father videoed the whole experience.
However, the highlight of the day had to be one of the visitors who made Dave's day.
Stone Henge Mens Shed
It was an unusual request that the Shed received, but the guys took it on regardless.
Member Profile
As you know, each newsletter we introduce one of our members and complete a profile. Last newsletter you met Fred "The Man of Steel" Knox. And in a first for the newsletter there was a bio rather than the usual questions. This newsletter we meet Denis “The Phantom” Minogue, who I asked to do a bio and he kindly agreed.
Although I have been around the shed from the very start I have taken on the role of “The Phantom”… bit of a ghost. My wife Anne and I live in Flemington and don’t spend enough time in St Leonards. We bought a holiday house in Henty Street in 2005 and meander down from time to time.
MENS SHEDS
Because of my involvement with the Victorian Mens Shed Association I took an interest in the development of the St Leonards Shed. There was a representative from St Leonards at the very beginning of the men’s shed movement in Victoria but it took some years before the shed was funded and eventually built in 2014. Ken Alexander was the driving force at the time.
Because of my involvement with the Victorian Mens Shed Association I took an interest in the development of the St Leonards Shed. There was a representative from St Leonards at the very beginning of the men’s shed movement in Victoria but it took some years before the shed was funded and eventually built in 2014. Ken Alexander was the driving force at the time.
I established the Keysborough Mens Shed in 2004 and was part of the first gathering of shedders at Lakes Entrance in 2005.
Then in March 2007 in Sunshine the Victorian Mens Shed Association was formed and I was elected the foundation Treasurer.
A very successful one –for the three years I was treasurer we managed to raise $2000 from subscriptions and donations and spent no money!
In 2012 I was appointed the VMSA Admin Officer and began to draw up a list of sheds and produced the first VMSA Newsletter. I retired from that position in 2014.
PREVIOUS LIFE
For thirty one years I was a not very holy Roman Catholic priest and worked in Geelong and Western Suburbs. Not one to toe the party line I joined the priest’s union and served as Treasurer and then President of the National Council of Priests of Australia. I left priestly ministry in 2002 somewhat disillusioned with Church leadership.
For thirty one years I was a not very holy Roman Catholic priest and worked in Geelong and Western Suburbs. Not one to toe the party line I joined the priest’s union and served as Treasurer and then President of the National Council of Priests of Australia. I left priestly ministry in 2002 somewhat disillusioned with Church leadership.
After a year unemployed I secured a role as manager of an adult learning centre in the Dandenong region where we commenced one of the first men’s sheds.
WEDDING & FUNERAL CELEBRANT
When I left ministry I was able to continue my role as a celebrant by becoming a Civil Marriage celebrant in 2006. The most interesting ceremony was when the groom had a grand mal fit half an hour before his wedding. As he fell to the ground he split open his head and was bleeding. The ambulance arrived and the paramedics wanted to take him to hospital. At this stage the best man fainted. When the bride arrived we calmed her down and after a couple of hours the groom and best man sufficiently recovered to tie the knot and resume the subdued festivities.
PRESENT PREDICAMENT
I married the beautiful Anne in 2003. Anne was a Catholic school teacher and educational leader for over 30 years. Because of her long suffering arthritic condition she had to take leave from teaching five years ago and has now retired to attend to making me porridge and stirring the pot! She has been a constant companion at weddings, funerals and men’s shed meetings. Unfortunately, we have to spend time in Palm Cove Queensland where we can recover from the Victorian cold weather.