By Renee Wood
Yarra Glen Men’s Shed has been successful in receiving a grant from the Valley Community Recovery Committee.
The recovery committee was one of four established by the Yarra Ranges Council to help local community groups recover after the storms and pandemic.
The organisation applied for funding to purchase a new machine to aid in the production of many things including toys which are donated to disadvantaged children at Christmas time.
The committee saw this machine as an avenue to give back to the Men’s Shed that supports so many local men.
The assistance is seen as a way to support the organisation growing into the future after the group suffered a 30 per cent reduction in memberships due to the pandemic.
“The grant program itself was focusing on health and well being, so we wanted to make sure that we were able to support some of the smaller community groups in our various communities bounce back from being locked down,” committee co-chair Jill Edwards said.
The machine is a CNC, a computerised router trimer which uses technology to cut wood to precision, making usually time-consuming projects a breeze.
The group made sure the machine they chose was Australian designed and made to support local industry – coming from Blue Carve.
Members have been making toys for the disadvantaged for 12 years – and in most recent years they have been provided to Mooroolbark Salvation Army.
Members Sid Bouma and Russell Lumsden both love working with wood and have started testing out the CNC.
It will help them save so much time and have great accuracy when making the toys.
Mr Lumsden said, “New technology is moving in and we need to move with it so that when we have new members in the future they will be use to using this equipment.”
Mr Bouma said, “It’s very satisfying to make small toys for the children.”
