Tea Gardens Men's Shed build Planter Boxes

All year round members from the Tea Gardens – Hawks Nest Mens Shed have been building and repairing many items for the community and some local businesses, and Christmas time is no different.

Back row: Amy Rodgers [Kelly’s Bakehouse]; John Rumble [Hawks Nest First National]; Julie Hammond [Holiday Coast Credit Union]; Men’s Shed members John Sells, Colin Ayers and Grant Hickey. Front row Leigh Allen [Progress Ass]; Norma Glenn [U3A].

Recognising the Ice Cream Shack at Tea Gardens as a contributor to the community, and upon hearing of a wish to give the signage outside a little bit of a facelift, TGHNMS member Victor Logie thought he could add something specialised to the exterior and help attract potential clientele.

Victor designed and made ‘timber spirals’ out of an idea that just popped into his head one day.

Speaking with Myall Coast News, Victor said, “There are 40 individual pieces of timber in each spiral. It took me a while to get my head around what I wanted to make and how I was going to make it.”

Also benefiting from the TGMS Members, the pathway outside the shops in Hawks Nest have been given an uplifting make-over with the installation of several plant boxes and plant box.

Men’s Shed member John Sells said, “We were commissioned by the local Progress Association to construct these planter boxes and seats. They’ve taken about 100 man hours to build from mostly recycled timber.”

Seven community groups have worked together so the Tuloa Avenue shops in Hawks Nest would be more interesting.

The Holiday Coast Credit Union grant became available for the HN/TG Progress Association to install the planter boxes and plants.

Leigh Allen from the Progress Association said, “The shop owner, John Cameron, wanted to do something along this line so a combine application was made to, Council.”

“After discussions with the shop keepers and sorting out the best placements for the boxes, Tea Gardens/Hawks Nest Men’s Shed constructed and installed the planter boxes,” said Ms Allen.

“Jenny Woodward also provided and planted hybrid plants of locally found natives,” said Ms Allen.

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington MP was also spotted enjoying the seats and planter boxes recently, telling Myall Coast News, “These are just fantastic, the Tea Gardens Mens Shed members provide excellent services like these all the time, and they should be applauded for their time and skills.”