Former RSM, John Henderson, would have been so proud of the event on 14 April 2018 which saw the launch of the fabulous new Woodies shed at the Montville Sportsground on Balmoral Road, Montville.
Mr Henderson did not live to see the completion of a project that began in 2015 but no doubt he was looking down at the ceremony and feeling pretty pleased. It was a wonderful start to the new and quite different life of this Australian Army shed which once was destined for Vietnam but did not quite make it. And this has been a godsend for the Woodies who acquired it through the help of Mr Henderson.
A planning meeting in 2015 was convened to discuss the expanding needs of the growing membership of the Guild. A bigger workshop was needed and, in particular, a peaceful space for the quieter and more intricate disciplines within woodworking. They also knew they wanted the Woodies to be a guild that could teach the skills of woodworking so a space for teaching was required too.
When the Government decided to get rid of surplus Army sheds, hopeful applications were sent in from all over the country. But there were only so many sheds and very many applications. The Woodies missed out – until Mr Henderson somehow had a word in the right ears and the Woodies found themselves in command of six crates! Within those crates was a pre-fabricated steel shed stamped July 1971. All that was needed was the manpower and skills to put it together.
As John Muller, President of the Woodies, said at the opening, the commitment and willingness of the Woodies’ community to work as a team and to get involved is not to be understated. The members pooled their considerable skills and got on with the job.
John also thanked the Sunshine Coast Council’s Community Grants Program and Councillor Jenny McKay for grants for the construction of the slab, electrical and other associated costs and assistance with the many roadblocks along the way. He also thanked the Montville Village Association, in particular, President Deb Davis, and Max Standage, who came to the rescue with the offer of the old tennis court in the sportsground so that the shed could be erected.
The old shed has been re-arranged and better working spaces set up. There is a dedicated lathe area, with new lathes.
Jenny McKay officially opened the John Henderson Shed with assistance from Maria Henderson, John’s widow. It was a very moving moment watched by over 100 people, including Andrew Powell, Member for Glasshouse.
The Woodies, now in their 22nd year of operation, have a membership of 166 men and women ranging in age from their 20’s to their 90’s. Some are tradesmen but the majority are non-skilled with a passion for working with wood. A large number of hobbies are carried out by the members, including wood turning, toy making for the Salvos, wood carving, pyrography and many other personal projects. The Guild also performs work for worthy organisations.
The shed is open Mondays to Saturdays inclusive from 8am until around 11.30am.
If anyone is interested in finding out more about what the Woodies do, seeing their work space, or chatting about possible membership, please do go visit them one morning from Monday to Saturday. They are always happy to have a chat. And look here at their website: http://www.blackallrangewoodies.org.au/
By LT