News for the general club membership
December is a big month for the club. Sat 9th is the celebration of 12 months effort in making toys for Christmas. The toys will be given to a number of peninsula charities who will distribute them to families that have a need.
BBQ at midday followed by the toy handover. See you there?
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.
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?
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:
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
The club is preparing an Open Day on Saturday 3rd February 2018. The purpose of the Open Day is to advertise the club’s activities and attract new members.
It is proposed to display a gallery of member work pieces as such the committee requests all members to assess their achievements and make them available to the display. You may even consider putting a price on your articles and see if they will sell.
Wood turning demonstrations will be scheduled throughout the day. Volunteers are required to demonstrate the making of whistles, pens, spinning tops & perhaps a bowl or two.
In addition other displays will include picture framing, intarsia & pyrography. On the open day we will canvas the ideas of Saturday morning sessions and short courses for picture framing, pyrography & intarsia courses.
Additional attractions will be a classic car display and perhaps some product suppliers.
Planned advertising is through radio (Classic Cars contact) and flyers to Seawinds, local men’s sheds, banks, shops, villages for seniors, friends & family of members, the tourist bureau, etc. The council will be approached for permission to have sandwich boards around Rosebud.
Discuss the open day with others and see how you can help. Share your ideas.
Your committee for the 2017-18 period is:
The club is very fortunate to have access to Dani Raulli’s skills. Recently she reviewed the club activities and generated a short video outlining WOSP and its activities. The video can be seen in the below & in the ABOUT US section of the site. Thank you Dani
The membership form has been updated to request Emergency Contact
The clubs session leaders have donated their time to help you complete your planned activity. However the session leaders have different skills and you should be aware of their skills should you require specific assistance.
Ron Higgins has been the Monday evening session leader for a number of years and has a broad range of skills, although he likes to specialise in wood turning.
Roger Stebbing is an artist whose portraits & landscapes require frames. So he developed his picture frame making skills & is prepared to share them with you on the first Monday evening of each month.
The club is often requested to undertake some specific activity. Dennis Connor always takes the lead in these cases. His general carpentry skills are excellent.
Gordon Waddingham loves to assist members wanting to wood turn. He has a number of projects for beginners that are simple & inexpensive but will assist you in developing your turning skills.
Gaven Davis is a retired chippy who loves woodturning well. If you view his past projects you will be challenged to improve your own skills.
Dennis, Gordon & Gaven are available on Tuesdays. They also have access to jigs that will assist you making some attractive bread boards & trays.
In a past life Rob Oram was a fitter & turner. Rob possesses imagination & initiative and has the innate ability to assist with any project you wish to undertake. At the request of one member wanting to make a jewellery box Rob made available his own router & finger joint jig. So if you want to make a jewellery box then Ron is the person to see on Thursday evenings.
Although Colin Dobson is in his first year as a session leader he gets enjoyment in helping members learn the skills of using the wood turning chisels correctly.
Of course on Wednesdays are toy making days. As many toys need to be mass produced Bert Bartlett is the man to see about making jigs to make your job easier.
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.
Club Membership is only $60 per year. In the first year there is a once off administration fee of$45 which includes the provision of your name badge. The cost for participation in the workshop is $4
So after outlining the cost you are likely to incur, the following benefits are available to you.