By Derek Schlennstedt
THE practice of creating and building an object from wood is a gratifying experience that involves stepping back and seeing a completed work, completely crafted and fashioned from your own hands.
At Ben’s Shed in Yarra Junction, young students from local schools have learnt the woodworking skills needed to create tables, chairs, chests and more.
On Tuesday 29 November, Ben’s Shed held an annual certificate presentation day for students involved in their woodwork program.
Acting as a last semester send-off, the annual presentation day is the culmination of the students’ woodwork projects for the year.
The presentation day included a raffle with prizes, a barbecue and receiving of certificates of excellence.
Ben’s Shed supports over 60 school students from local primary schools each year, and has become an important hub for the community with many schools taking part in the woodwork programs available.
This year students from Launching Place, Wesburn Primary School and Millwarra Primary School attended the presentation day, also attended by many home school students.
Millwarra Primary School is in its eighth year of utilising the woodwork program, and Rod Barnard, principal at Milwarra Primary, says the shed is a fantastic hands-on experience for the students.
“This is a marvellous experience for the students and they get the opportunity to do a number of projects while they are there during the year. Some of the projects are a stool, pencil case, toolbox, bird feeder and a treasure chest,” Mr Barnard said.
“These activities are so good for the children’s self-esteem and the relationships that they build with the men at the shed are priceless.”
Ben’s Shed runs programs aimed at teaching children about tools and the basics of woodworking.
Jazmine a student from Millwara Primary School says she enjoys going to the shed to learn woodwork skills and has recently built a treasure chest for her mother.
“When I took my treasure box home, my mum squealed because she really liked it and it was pretty. I stained it dark brown and the top was really smooth,” Jazmine said.
“I haven’t put anything in it because I don’t want to damage it, but Mum has shown it to everyone,”
Ben’s Shed also offers other programs and current president of Ben’s Shed Phil Ashely says the location has become a community shed acting as a hub for everyone
“We run a range of programs, there’s a day for the ladies, a range of school programs and a day for those with disability.
“Of the five days that we are open, three are devoted to other groups that aren’t men. It’s more of a community shed than a men’s shed,” Phil said.
