SALAMANDER Bay Men’s Shed members downed tools and dined at Nelson Bay Bowling Club to celebrate 10 wonderful years of operation.

Guests of honour included members of the original committee, Dave Sams, Baden Milne, Mark Freeman and Bob Freeman,   and special guest David Helmers from the Australian Men’s Shed Association.

John Weaver, Men’s Shed chairman, welcomed both members and guests, gave a rundown on the current status of the Shed, which has experienced membership growth and recently been the beneficiary of grants and tool donations.

To complement its recent growth, the Shed is adopting an outward looking stance, seeking to work with, and support other community organisations.

Recent projects include the manufacture of seats for Boat Harbour’s whale watching lookout, bird feeders for Anna Bay Public School, child-sized tables for Salamander Child Care Centre and maintenance work at the Yacaaba Centre.

The guests of honour were presented with framed certificates of appreciation for their service to the Men’s Shed.

Former chairman Alan Sams gave a brief history of the past ten years.

Alan especially thanked Honey Dymock for baking a superb birthday cake to mark the occasion.

Alan and two other members of the original committee remain active members of the Shed.

John told News Of The Area, “With such experience amongst us, we encourage the public to contact us to assist, for a nominal cost, in their projects, not only for the work place, but for home projects too.”

“We are a bunch of blokes, which for many reasons are together, we support one another, we want to move away from the public perception of ‘you have to be a wood maker, or craftsman or retired to attend, we are here for men of all ages, if men want to come, read a newspaper and have a cuppa we welcome them, we need men to understand, everyone is welcome.”

 

By Mandy Ellis