Hi all and Happy New Year,
Wellington MenzShed will be temporarily closed while we have a cleanout of the shed and start a search for a new coordinator.
If you are interested in joining the MenzShed movement or may be interested in the coordinator role or have any queries, please contact Steve Jardine on 027 438 4660.
We've been going for about a month in new location.
The address is now AMOS WAY, Hataitai
We've been doing local stuff, repairs, maintenance and exterior blackboard and shelves at the local play center.
Our main focus right now is getting the shed to a useable area, with the help of Bevan and Elizabeth - good going. Slowly but surely we're sorting out the shed layout. We've decided on movable, easy to access for the majority of space if need be.
We've made work benches, from material provided from Bunnings. Thank you Muave, Event Coordinator. We are makinga table saw sled and starting on storage containers on a french cleat system.
It's a matter of utilising best the space available, an enjoyable challenge. Barry Whitfield bought in a few choice items, older but very useful, from his deceased father in law's tools. Many thanks to you and your wife.
We're looking at using the off cuts from the tunnel traps for safe bird nests. This will encourage birds after the pests are gone.
Many thanks to Nigel and the KAPITI MENZSHED who has provided a good number of hand and power tools, among other things. Again thanks. We are looking to be involved with the KAPITI MENZSHED with their Tools to the Pacific Program (to assist in times of emergency over there).
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If any one has gear to pass on, it will be put to good use.
Until next time.
Ross
Coordinator
022 364 1940
Well...well. It's been a time
Menzshed Wellington has a place at Hataitai Bowling Club.
Previously the green keepers shed. The access is via Arcus Way,
It's not a too bad a space, we will sort it. There are issues will wet block walls, Alan D has put his hand up for the sealing of that.
We have to start from scratch as our old benches are being held by the building manager David Cross, of The sisters of Compassion. Something about some people used it to use drugs after we left, so no-one can go in there??
This isn't too much of a problem, we're Kiwis. We'll sort it.
Anyway, we have been asked by Predator Free Northland to make traps. We have completed the first 50 of 100 traps. They aren't too bad to do.
At this stage Menzshed Wellington will be open on Thursday and Friday 9:30-1:00pm with Saturday am as an option, at this stage.
We have been given a round extendable dining table from Ray this has come in very useful.
During the shedless days I had been active with an outreach option. where we went out and did, other than people coming to us.
One job included designing and making a fold up bed for a chap in a small bedsit. The design took a while and in the end thes build was completely different but came out primo.
We have already had requests from some play centers, which is good.
We'll keep informed on those and others of course.
We have been doing a bit of maintenance around the Bowling club,
one was a gate that had to be lifted to open...soon got sick of that.
Another gate just needed a shave...with the grinder.
Finally many thanks to the various Committees who have guided this through,
Most of all Steve Jardine who followed it up from a lead. Good One Buddy.
Until next time
Cheers
Ross
Coordinator
Well it’s getting to that time of the year; we've had a busy time of it as The Shed
continues to grow.
We are pretty busy with IHC, Active and a few other groups utilising the facilities. This takes a good chunk of Wednesday. Cheers to Ron (one of the coordinators) for looking to this, not an easy task.
We were discussing a web site, but at this stage we will be starting off with Facebook
We have been a bit lax with the outwork, as our vehicle is in need of a WOF investment.
We've received more kindy toys to repair.
Ron’s currently refurbishing some wooden prams etc.found in Newtown Play Center’s storage shed.
We’re installing Emergency Water Storage Units at a women’s temporary accommodation facility.
There is flow of walk-ins that can be quite interesting in their requests. Of course “Everything can be done, what can be done”. We’ve only had one this year that was out of anyone’s reach, other than God’s. Alice keeps us on our toes with her requests, Thanks for the beers Alice. “Appreciated”
Newtown Health, Newtown
A lot has happened since the last note.
We now have new associations with Mary Potter Hospice and Wellington/Wairarapa Plunket Association.
The beginning of the year has been quite busy, with a regular influx of people utilizing the Shed.
We are still occupied with the IHC’s Active and Alpha groups, we now also have Te Waka – Whaiora involved.
There still are the smaller jobs such as letter boxes, sharpening tools, repairing handles etc that get dropped in.
We have a chap, David, who has just completed a stack of crazy signs for a wedding and is now making a cool play house.
We have David making a crazy mobile Weta (he volunteers at Zoolander).
We have a few people coming in one evening for tips on DIY. (Thanks Dave)
There is a collapsible table in the design experiment stage, from small to large.
There is Simon making models, he also is repairing ones a woman gave us, that was handy, him.
Ron has done a massive job at Plunket over quite a period. (Too big for the fathers to finish) Good One Buddy.
Ross has started at Mary Potter Hospice, doing their maintenance; this appears to be an ongoing project, while they accumulate for their much needed refurbishment.
Along with the usual suspects dropping in it has been and hopefully will continue to be as it should.
Quarter 2 2014
Cheers
We have had a busy time of it of late, with various requests for assistance, picking up gear, making and repairing toys, cabinets, for various originations and individuals around the Wellington Region.
We have had quite a few new people in and through the shed for various different reasons.
Some offering their expertise to call upon if needed, ranging from photography, IT technology, joinery, plastering and building.
We are grateful to those, Thank you.
Some of the jobs
• Lockable tool cabinet - Kindy
• Repairing trolley handle so the kids won’t tip over
• Make improved trolleys
• Replace missing large puzzle pieces
• Make climbing boards
• Kids to scale saw horse
• Stands for some festival
• Gravity Karts 3 & 4 wheeled
• Quite a few name plates – IHC
• Bird Baths
• People in for various repairs (Bikes, Cases, Vehicles etc)
• Pick up furniture for client (Health Board)
• Side tables – for elderly
• A custom sized dining (to fit under shelf) – for elderly
• Build up height of lounge chair – for elderly
• Recycling Station
• Refit bathroom to storage with wall to wall shelving
These were for Newtown Play Centre, Miramar Play Centre, Clifton Terrace School, The City Mission, Fringe and Island Bay Festivals, IHC, Pensioners.
We have two lots of IHC groups of peoples and their care-givers utilising the shed, with another group starting this week.
• In the interim (between writing and now) we have made stairs for a woman who has a child without stomach muscles. ( She was granted care assistance, but care-givers are not allowed to lift their charges). Funding did not go that far. They needed stairs to get to the change table; they had to be moveable and able to be put under the cot when not in use.
• We are currently stripping an unused outside room to be made into an overnight caregiver accommodation for a chap who has had a stroke.
• We are actively involved with people/clients from Pathways, Active, Idea etc.
• We have just received expression of interest from Local Host (WCC funded – the homeless situation)
• Shelving for Plunket
Hi Folks
Thought I would give you an update on what’s been happening at the shed. The numbers are on the rise and we continue to get enquiries from both individuals and other organisations who feel their members would benefit from utilising the shed.
The Sheddies have been doing odd jobs for the manager Philippa, at the Soup kitchen, such as repairing the outdoor benches; they are also in the process of constructing a large wooden tool chest for the sisters who have the community gardens in Island bay; the second lot of educational toy have been finished and returned to Hataitai Play Centre - the staff and parents are over the moon and another plate of homemade cookies was presented. I was lucky enough to be there and got a sample chocolate chip this time just like mum used to make, we have taken a third box of equipment that is in need of some TLC away.
I had a call from Clifton Tce school who wants us to build them a recycling station so they can separate paper, plastic and glass so Ron and I went up and measured up their job and met the staff, one of whom has an 80 year old father who is a retired watchmaker and also likes to make toys, and has made one every year out of wood and donates them to the likes of Women’s Refuge, He has done this for the past 50 years - anyway he is keen as mustard to go to the shed so I have been in touch and given him all the details It just so happened that as we were on the phone the time turned to midday and his whole house started chiming from all the clocks he must have - it was funny as I could hardly hear him for about thirty seconds.
Ron has been working with the City Mission and continues to help with different projects. At present he is in the process of turning a bathroom into a storage room with wall to wall shelves, as they need as much space as they can find, to store the xmas hampers they give away to our less fortunate in the community, with Christmas around the corner .
A teacher from Kilbirnie primary school has been in touch wanting to get one off the Sheddies to come and take a class of 5-6 year olds and show them how cogs and pullies work, and also set them a basic task to complete. We have a retired builder who is in negotiation with the teacher.
Ron was telling me everyone is getting along well to the point when the sun showed its face the other day they had a whip round and had an impromptu BBQ.
So things are ticking over really well, anyway till next report
bye for now.
Regards
Steve Jardine
On Saturday, June 16th 11am – 2pm, Menz Shed Wellington will be holding an Open Day and sausage sizzle.
Menz Shed Wellington, has been created to meet the needs of older men in Wellington, with a particular emphasis on meeting the needs of those who are socially isolated.
Menz Shed Wellington is up and running, with a mix of men using the facilities to pursue their own hobbies, enjoy companionship and to participate in community projects.
Menz Shed Steering Committee
June 2012
· Ph: 027 438 4660
· Email: menzshedwgtn@gmail.com
· Web: menzshedwgtn.blogspot.com
We had an artist who has been painting Murals around Wellington to try to curb graffiti approach us about painting a Mural on our roller door, as it had been tagged and looked unsightly With the Sisters blessing we gave him the go ahead and that has been completed and looks great. We have some Sheddies building planter boxes out of pallets we had been given by Bunnings. Some old fashioned wooden Jig Saw puzzles owned by Paparanga Kindergarten had pieces missing which the Sheddies have replaced and painted. A Sheddie has started doing some traditional Maori carving. Another Sheddie who has all the right tools and is cleaning up Paua shells and carving out animal and butterfly shapes to make Mobiles for babies cots. Another job is coming up for the Wellington City Mission - they need shelves built. They were so pleased with the food donation box that Ron, one of our coordinators made, we are going to be getting all their jobs. The donation box is so bright and impressive at the supermarket that the likes of the SPCA had a new box made because ours made theirs look shabby. So it’s all go atTHE SHED.