Category Archives: Community Project

Club Activity, Community Project, General Membership

WOSP Toy Handover

Woodworkers of the Southern Peninsula will hand over in excess of 1, 000 toys to a number of peninsula based charities in their annual Toy handover day on Saturday December 9.

The hand-made wooden toys have been made by the 80 member strong club, as part of their annual contribution to families in need on the Southern Peninsula. The program has been a key focus for the well-established woodworking club for over 10 years.

Representatives from charities such as Food For All, the Salvation Army, Western Port Christmas Giving Program and others will accept the toys made for children in need across the Mornington Peninsula.

The charities will be joined by Member for Flinders, the Hon Greg Hunt and Councillor Antonella Celi, as well as Gary Sandford, Bendigo Banks Rosebud, Dromana an Rye Manager and Bunnings Liaison Manager, Alyce Fogarty.

The toy handover day is a culmination of 12 months of work, with many members volunteering a day a week from 9am – 3pm.

On any given day the members of The Woodworkers of the Southern Peninsula can be found in the Boneo Road Rosebud workshop creating art, toys and meaningful connections while they work on charity toys as well as other community projects.

Club President John Bayliss said it was extremely gratifying making the toys, and the group also takes pride in making a difference in the community.

“We have members of all ages and backgrounds joining in, some are experts and others are learning new skills as we are united in our mission to make toys for families who struggle at Christmas,” said John Bayliss.

Toy Handover leader and member John Parrent is always amazed by the results of the effort of members “they’re not necessarily tradespeople – but the quantity and also the quality of what they produce is amazing.”

Life Member Bert Bartlett feels rewarded by the connections as well as contributions he has made, “It’s something to look forward to and you’re doing it for the community – when it all comes together at the Toy Handover it’s fantastic – you know that’s what you’ve been working towards.”

The toy making initiative is as much about supporting one another as it is about the community. Several members of varying ages join to make social connections after relocating or retiring to the Peninsula. The Club has also found its niche in providing opportunities for younger families and people who don’t have ready access to tools at home to also spend time learning from other members and enjoying working on projects in the club workshops together. A community open day will be hosted on Sat 3 February 2018.

Club Activity, Community Project, Fund Raising, General Membership

Fight Prostate Cancer by supporting Movember

Many of us have had prostate cancer or know of someone who has had it. It is not the death sentence it was once. This only the case because of money raised for research into ways of managing the cancer.

I would not be here today if it was not for this research; however I still cannot grow a moustache but I can support someone who can.

Syd is a club member who has also survived prostate cancer and he can grow a moustache. Please support him in his fund raising effort.

Colin Dobson

Together we’ve helped stop men dying too young, funding vital prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention projects. Every bit counts, which is why I’m back for another month of Movember. Will you help me out again?

https://mobro.co/SydJohnson

I’m supporting the Movember Foundation because they’re tackling some of the most significant health issues faced by men.

There are two ways you can contribute to my Movember fundraising:

  1. Donate online at https://mobro.co/SydJohnson
  2. Or, write a cheque to ‘Movember’ referencing my registration ID (486723) and mail it to: Movember, PO Box 60, East Melbourne, VIC 8002, Australia

Learn about the important work Movember is funding and the impact your donation will have: https://au.movember.com/programs/cause

Thanks for your support.

Syd Johnson

Club Activity, Community Project, Toy Making

WOSP Toy Handover

On the 9th December the club, led by the president John Bayliss & the WOSP toy leader John Parrent, will present to a number of charities the wooden toys made by club members in 2017.

The charities including Food For All, Western Port Charities & the Salvation Army make the toys available to struggling families on the Mornington Peninsula.

Expected guests will include Gary Sanford, manager of the Bendigo Banks at Rosebud, Dromana & Rye, Greg Hunt, the Flinders Member of Parliament, councilor Antonella Celi & the Bunnings Liaison Manager, Alyce Fogarty.

Club Activity, Community Project, General Membership, Toy Making

The Toy Team

If you visit the clubhouse on a Wednesday you will see plenty of activity. It appears everyone has a task and it is tackled with a smile & enthusiasm.

At the beginning of the year a plan is established considering the most popular toys, the resourcing to make, paint & store the toys before handover in late November.

John Parrent’s past project management skills is tested in bringing this plan together. The success of the quantity & quality of toys delivered over the past couple of years indicates 2017 should be another good year.

WOSP on a Wednesday is not just a toy workshop, it is a social gathering. It is a friendly community which in many ways provides the heart of the club. The attendees represent 20-25% of the club. A large percentage of the toy workforce also supports the Bunnings BBQ’s, the main income of the club. Conversations at mealtime are friendly & energetic. Discussions focus on the best techniques for streamlining production, prototyping new toys and arguing about whose football team was best.

Community Project, General Membership, Toy Making

Toy Handover

To most December 3 is just another Saturday but for the club it is a celebratory day as it culminates the completion of almost 700 toys by a group of club volunteers. During the year these volunteers donate each Wednesday to toy manufacture. John Parrent excels in the general organisation while Bert Bartlett ensures there is a jig to simplify the making of any toy.

The toys include rocking swans, prams, bikes, garages, helicopters, ambulances & police cars, fire engines, push carts, ironing boards & irons, wheelbarrows, tool boxes, carousels, trams, ride on trucks, doll cradles, quoits. In addition there will be a number of trick boxes plus naughts & crosses games.

The toy will be donated to representatives from Food for All, Salvation Army, Rye Lions & Westernport Charities who in turn will distribute them to children within the Mornington Peninsula. The function will also be attended by representatives from Bunnings, Bendigo Bank & Hillview Quarries, fantastic supporters of WOSP.

Everyone is welcome to attend the toy handover.

Community Project, Fund Raising

Hillview Quarries Defibrillator Donation

Paul Nites donates WOSP a Defibulator
Paul Nitas donates WOSP a defibrillator

Paul Nitas CEO Hillview Quarries visited the WOSP workshop and presented a defibrillator to President John Bayliss. The joint board of Hillview Quarries and the RE Ross Trust provided the grant for the defibrillator.

President John Bayliss said “That a recent health scare involving a member had put the club on notice that a defibrillator as well as members updating their first aid qualifications was urgently needed”. John also said “That their 85 members would feel a lot more at ease knowing that this life saving device would now be on hand should it be needed”.

In response a gift of a hand turned pen & desk set along with a certificate of appreciation was presented Paul thanking him on behalf of the members.

The woodworkers of the Southern Peninsula conduct a range of woodworking skills to both men & women of all ages at their workshop in Boneo Road. A special group the “Toy makers” spend 12 months crafting and painting toys that number between 800 and 1,000 each year. These toys are then distributed to agencies, Salvos, Westernport Giving Program, Southern Peninsula Food for All, and Good Shepherd Australia.

Photo & story Barry Irving

Club Activity, Community Project, Wood Turning

Free Woodturning Demonstration ~ Chris Pouncy

Well known wChris-Pouncyood turner Chris Pouncy, as UK and Southern Hemisphere Sales Manager for Robert Sorby Tools, travels the world demonstrating the best techniques and tools to use on the lathe.

Rather than focusing on set items, Chris tends to show people how to select the right tools for the job and how to get them to work the way they’re supposed to.

The latter applies in particular to special purpose tools, for example, spiralling and texturing tools. Lacing his presentation with humour Chris shows how to hold the tools, how to present them to the lathe, how fast or slow to run the lathe, and covers important safety aspects as well.

Based on his experience, we asked Chris to sum up the most common mistakes woodturners make. He rattled off the following:

When asked the most common mistakes woodturners make Chris rattled off the following:

  1. Running the lathe too slow
  2. Sanding the wood too fast
  3. Sanding the wood without doing checks to effectively move through the grits
  4. Not using sharp tools — the sharper they are, the safer they are
  5. Having toolrests at the right height for best tool presentation
  6. Using the right tool for the job
  7. Choosing the right wood for your project

He can be seen at Woodworkers of the Southern Peninsula, 109 Boneo Road, Rosebud South on 15th July at 12 noon.

Limited Spaces available so RSVP to reserve your place via Greg Millar 0410 280 695 gmillar10@iprimus.com.au

Sausage Sizzle and refreshments available

Community Project

WOSP a Hit at Bunnings

WOSP A Hit at Bunnings

“Bunnings Rosebud & our community are so lucky to have you” said Alyce Fogarty, Bunnings Activities Officer, after seeing our Santa give away the remainder of articles made by the Toys Group.

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Santa with some happy but confused kids not really sure what was happening

It started out as just another fun day selling sausages at Bunnings. Then John Bayliss, Dennis Conner & a few others arrived with tables & toys. After the display was set up many people approached them asking “how much?’. They were both surprised & disappointed when told they were not for sale but were to be given away at midday by Santa.

At midday Santa with his elves, Jose & Bert, arrived. It was rewarding to see the surprise of both parents & children as they realised Santa was GIVING them a gift. One little girl with a dummy in her mouth demonstrated the joy & simplicity of Christmas when she latched onto a pram pushing & pulling until it was free of the other toys.

A couple of parents were so surprised by the generosity of Santa they made a donation to the club.

Another lady made a similar donation after watching the fun & enjoyment provided by Santa & his elves. She did not have any children but encouraged club members to continue what they were doing because “it is something you can be proud of”, she said.

It was fortunate that there were not many children at Bunnings that day as it would have been sad to have to turn children away empty handed. As it was the last child received his present as the crowd dissipated. Santa was able to leave without fuss leaving the remaining club members to continue cooking & selling sausages.

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She was all business after mum said it was OK

 

Community Project

Point Nepean Heritage Shed Restoration

 

The shire has requested WOSP restore this shed
The shire has requested WOSP restore this shed

The shire has asked the Woodworkers of the Southern Peninsula to provide the labour in restoring the heritage listed shed on Point Nepean.

Currently the committee is looking into Shire expectations regarding completion date, availability of access, building materials, etc.

Stay tuned for further updates.