February, 2019

St Leonards Men’s Shed Newsletter 

                                            


February

Hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas New Year break.  We started back at the Shed on Wednesday 2nd of January with a clean up day and the Shed had never looked cleaner and with a lot less dust.  Everyone got stuck in and helped out and we decided that at every Committee Meeting, we would check all the filters and dust bags.  Thought I'd start by giving you an indication of my Christmas presents.

St Leonards Primary School

During early December, Jenny asked could we knock down the old garden shed and install this great strong shed she purchased from Bunnings.  Started the job, shed down and started construction of new shed which had the biggest instruction book we had ever seen.  First things first, get section AB and connect to ...., well where is AB, we had all the sections, studied the box and saw Box 1 of 2, and we only had Box 1.  We packed everything away and broke the bad news to Jenny.  

The revised plan was, Jenny get on to Bunnings and organise the rest of the shed and we would do construction over the school holidays.  Jenny advised two new boxes had arrived, one containing the roller door.  Sounded OK, back we go in January to start again.  Still missing pieces of the shed, many phone calls to supplier and Bunnings later results in our plan C.  Bunnings stick the shed where it belongs, give Jenny back her money, Jenny get a container.  

 

It was ordered, painted to match the existing large Shed, delivered and positioned on site within a week, with no need for any effort from the Mens Shed.  Then we organised for Bunnings to come and pick up the boxes from our Shed, and look what they sent.

 

We helped the driver load the boxes on to the truck they sent, he was very embarrased, because look at the size of the truck, with lifing crane.
     

Bellarine Agricultural Show

We were asked to help build some items for the children to make at the show, part of a childrens adventure trail.  Only a hundred of each required, no problems, lots of the guys got involved and we had them finished a month early.

Some for the ladies, well maybe not.
 
 

Bendigo Bank Golf Challenge

Scheduled for the end of January we had to postpone the challenge as the forecast temperature was for a slightly warm 38.  Last year was a warm day and it proved a challenge in its own right, let alone the golf.  Rescheduled for January 13th, a nice mild 22, we had a great day. 

Kevin did an excellent job on the BBQ and cleaned up for us while we started the golf.  

 
























We all played 6 holes, not necessarily the same 6 holes and there was some very interesting scores on the cards.  Simple gave himself a one stroke handicap per hole, so his 27 ended up 33.  Jum scored a handy 33, Bruce and Shae both finished with scores of 32, but winning the day was Nathan with a great score of 30.  Bergs went around in a comendble score of 41, but what made it great was he used a 3 wood for every shot, tee, fairway, rough and putting.  If there was a prize for number of lost balls, son trevor won hands down losing at least 4 balls.

 The putting competition was finished before Geoff returned to defend his trophy and was won by Shea.  It is purely coincidental that both trophies were won by our Bendigo Bank sponsors. 
 

 The only player to reach the half century was Dave Chadwick (thought he was playing cricket) who takes out the newest trophy for top score.  Our thanks to John for the trophy presentations.

Meeting with Council

I had been told there was a chance to catchup with Sarah Henderson to talk about funding opportunities and at a previous committee meeting, Bob Evans had suggested we look at getting Solar Panels fitted to the Shed.  Before starting any investigation into who and how much, based on previous experience, I first decided to make sure the Council would allow us to undertake this project.  After a number of phone calls and left messages, I received a return call and a promise someone else would contact me the next week.  Phone call received and a meeting setup.  During the meeting I explained how we had not had any recent success with Council requests, for storage facilities and maintenance requests, also told them how long the front enterance had been blocked off.  Well, a week later, approval to carry out the Solar panel project and some recommended companies to use, and that the facilites people had been contacted about the water damage in the shed.

Although there were no press present, John and I did meet with Sarah Henderson where we outlined our requirement for the solar panels and did happen to mention we had seen her in the paper when she gave Ocean Grove Mens Shed money for their installation.  Lets see how we go.

And look what happened the following Friday.  As we had no champagne, the boys cracked an extra stubbie to celebrate the grand opening.

  Football Tipping

Well, only about a month before the season begins and I'm in the best position for a long time with great anticipation for my Demons.  As usual the tipping comp will be happening, open to members and their families.  Everyone welcome, we will take anyones money.  $5.00 entry, comp is only for the home and away season, done via the AFL website and winner takes all.  Best of luck to everyone.



 Bowling Club

The Bowls club asked Bob could we make 4 picnic settings for their family day.  The pressure was on but the machine that is our Shed pumped them out in plenty of time, made and delivered within two weeks.  The only minor issue was when Bruce headbutted the fruit tree at the Bowls club, fortunately, the bowls club is taking no action against us for tree damage.

 


And a couple to close

Member Profile

As you know, each newsletter we introduce one of our members and complete a profile.  Last newsletter you met Alain "Mango Man" Gilette who did a great job sending in his profile, this month its  Jim "Jum" Chadwick.

I was born in Lancashire, England and have one older 

brother Tony and one younger brother David (the adopted one).

   

We emigrated to Australia by ship when I was 9 years old (no, the ship didn’t have sails!). We lived in the Norlane hostel behind the Ford Motor Co. for about six months until a house became available in the almost new and upmarket suburb known as Corio.

In 1968 I became an apprentice Fitter and Turner with the Ford Motor Co., progressing to Toolmaker and then, with extra studies, to Designer

 

When I was 20 the urge to travel took hold in a big way. In 1972 a friend and I toured Great Britain, Europe, Morocco, East Berlin and Scandinavia for about 16 months in a Kombi van, which I think was the norm in those days.

 

In the first photo I’m the one on the right looking like a porno pimp. I don’t look happy in the photo on the right because the van had thrown a piston and was destined for the junk yard.

Arriving back in Oz I accepted a job at Barwon Water, same day as David (the adopted one).

After about 3 years I moved on and in 1977, being a Kombi owner again this time a camper, a road trip to Perth was planned with 4 other vehicles.

 I lived in Perth for 10 years, marrying and having two beautiful children, Pia and Brent. We moved back to Geelong because children should have the love and company of grandparents. They are both married now and we have 2 adorable grandsons.

My working life was mainly contract work consisting of Mechanical/Piping Designs and Plant Layouts in the Petrochem and Aluminium Smelter industry. The majority of this was with Viva Energy (Shell Refinery) and Worley Parsons (Refining and Aluminium Smelters)

Somewhere in all of this I took up road cycling, riding approximately 300 kms a week I found it to be very relaxing, in a strange sort of way. Riding around the coast in the very early hours I have seen some of the most spectacular sunrises. I enjoyed entering rides for charity and fundraisers with one of the biggest being the ‘Murray to Moyne” This is a 530 km ride from the Murray River to Port Fairy to be completed in 24 hrs. At one stage I thought I might give road racing a go. In my first race (come to think of it, it was my only race) the circuit was 48 kms over 4 laps with the first leg being into a stiff head wind. In that first 3 km I thought I was doing extremely well as all of the other riders seemed unable to counter my explosive speed and pass me, my confidence grew for a podium finish. It was when we turned into the second leg out of the head wind that one by one (or maybe it was the whole bunch as a unit) passed me and all my big thoughts of a podium finish quickly became small and distant, very much like the bunch of riders now in front of me. I realised then that the other riders in the bunch were just using the big guy at the front as a wind break. Cycle racing wasn’t for a big guy like me so, being single again, I traded the cycle for a Harley (lycra never suited me anyway) and became a ‘HOG’ which seemed a logical transition. If I don’t get any wise cracks about that I’ll be extremely disappointed.

Christina and I met just over 8 years ago and have travelled extensively including to New Zealand numerous times to visit her three lovely girls. Since then we have traded the Harley for a caravan (we can’t have a caravan AND a Harley ...... apparently ! !), renovated and sold our house in East Geelong and built a lovely new home in St Leonards. We are in the process of upgrading our caravan which should happen soon because we would rather not be south of the NSW boarder when winter arrives.

Retiring to St Leonards is fantastic. We have joined the local Bowls Club and met so many lovely and friendly people. On sunny days we can sometimes be seen driving around in our favourite toy, a 1968 Triumph Roadster.

I have taken a great amount of inspiration from the Men’s Shed and built my very own Man Shed where, because I like Blues music, I am enjoying my new found interest/hobby of building cigar box guitars.