Sandgate and District Men’s Shed President Ted Lewis means it when he says recycled timber is the lifeblood of his group.
Every scrap of wood Mr Lewis and his fellow members get their hands on is repurposed and put to good use; from repairing flood damaged furniture to leading pyrography sessions as a therapeutic activity for brain injury patients.
The group also sells some of the wooden products they make, with funds going to cover the costs of their workshop including maintenance and repairs of equipment and the shed itself.
So, when Origin Energy offered to donate 50 slabs of Camphor Laurel timber obtained from its Sandgate Gasworks Remediation project, The Sandgate and District Men’s Shed were eager to accept.
Origin arranged for the wood to be milled into various sizes and delivered the timber slabs to the Men’s Shed.
As a not-for-profit organisation, Mr Lewis said the Men’s Shed relied on community donations like Origin’s timber contribution to maintain Shed activities and operations.
“After the extreme weather event earlier this year, our group has been busy supporting our community by repairing and replacing furniture and bench-tops at flood-affected properties,” Mr Lewis said.
“This puts pressure on resources, so we are always grateful whenever donations are made. Without a doubt Men’s Sheds would be unable to exist without people and organisations supporting us this way.”
Mr Lewis said Camphor Laurel timber had been used by the Men’s Shed in the past to build timber signs for the Brighton Health Campus.
Origin Sandgate Remediation Project Manager Matt Jeffs said he was pleased to be able support the Men’s Shed as additional benefit of the Sandgate Gasworks Remediation Project.
“The remediation project involves remediating the former industrial site, then returning the unused land to a more beneficial purpose,” Mr Jeffs said.
“Supporting the communities where we work is an important part of what we do at Origin and as this project continues, we will look to make further donations like this down the track.”
For more information about the Sandgate and Districts Men’s Shed visit sandgatemensshed.com.au