February 2010 From the Coordinator Dear Members, This is my first newsletter since taking on the administrative duties of coordinator. Firstly, I would like to thank Tony Clifford for his fantastic job as coordinator since the inception of the Shed. The Shed could not have become as successful as it is without Tony s dedication and the support of the Shed Committee members: Ken Ewen, Bruce Carfrae, Peter O Grady, Dick Monks, John Kirkwood, Dave Thom, John Wright (deceased), Martin McCurrich, Louise Geaghan representing Willoughby City Council and Ruth van Herk UnitingCare Aging Northern Sydney Region. I would like to welcome the 2010-2011 Committee members: Tony Clifford, Martin Kuliffay, Bruce Carfrae, Peter O Grady, Michael Walker, Peter Champion, Dick Monks, John Kirkwood, Malcolm Bell as well as Louise Geaghan and Ruth van Herk. Over the past months the Shed has experienced a number of significant changes. The Shed is now open from Tuesday to Friday, with Wednesday as our coed day. In addition the Shed is open longer each day when there are sufficient members present to make it worthwhile. We have developed a Shed Supervisor roster, with Tony Clifford supervising on Wednesdays, Dick Monks on Thursdays and myself on Tuesdays and Fridays. We also have standby supervisors when one of us is away and I would like to thank Bruce Carfrae, Steve Kemp and John Kirkwood for carrying out this duty. In 2010 the Shed will face a number of challenges, one of which is training more supervisors and, as a result, reducing the workload for the existing supervisors and provide greater flexibility in Shed operation. Shed membership is now well over 110 and the recent membership survey confirmed that there is still strong interest in Shed business. As an interesting aside, as a result of the survey we lost about six members; however, we gained a further five new members during the same week. Willoughby City Council recently released a master plan for the Northbridge Park area including the Shed and its surrounds. Two recommendations of the master plan include the establishment of dedicated parking spaces for the Shed and extensions to the Shed building. The committee is developing a submission to council in support of these recommendations. This submission will refer to the rapid increase in membership, the Shed s role in supporting other community groups and local residents, the physical and mental health benefits of working in the Shed, and the need for more space for the ever-increasing problems of the location of machines and storage of materials. A copy of our submission will be circulated to members when it has been completed. Your support of our submission will be greatly appreciated. During 2010 I am looking towards expanding the role of the Shed in the local community. Two ideas are of particular interest; developing a working relationship with Northbridge Public School and opening the Shed on Saturdays for local men and women who are unable to attend during the week. I will keep you updated as these initiatives develop. Thank you for your on-going support, Neville Warner
2009 A year in projects A large number of unique and exciting projects were undertaken by members during 2009. The range of projects demonstrates the diversity of skills and talents of members and their willingness to take up a challenge. Bruce Clark made a pair of hall tables for his mum in Melbourne. Notice how well they fit in the recesses of the hall. The top also match the kitchen bench tops in the adjoining room. Ralph Gyoery constructed his version of the famous Red, Blue chair. The Red Blue Chair was a chair designed in 1917 by Gerrit Rietveld. It represents one of the first explorations by the De Stijl art movement in three dimensions. The original chair was painted in the familiar De Stijl palette of primary colours - that is, black, grey, and white. However, it was later changed to resemble the paintings of Piet Mondrian when Rietveld came into contact with this artist's work in 1918. Rietveld joined the De Stijl movement in 1919. The chair currently resides at the High Museum of Art, Atlanta. Bruce Carfrae is really into making designer bread boards.
Tony Vidler has been exceptionally productive with hats stands for his daughter. No, she is not a hat collector - she is a milliner. Michael Walker is a busy Grandfather. With another grandchild on the way I suppose it s keep on working Michael. p.s. This is only half the collection Brian Duncan has been unlocking his talents with his timber version of the famous Lockwood. A highlight of the Christmas function was the launch of Frank De Tullio s yacht, ably assisted by his grandchildren. and in his spare time turning up a storm when Tony wasn t on the lathe. Frank s test pilot Consider your personal safety when you are using any machine
Barry Collins is also throwing out a few challenges with his combination locks and padlocks. John Thorley, Steve Kemp and Martin Kuliffay showing how you can fill a trailer with a Hen House And in our spare time we have made a range of community projects, including a cabinet for the Golf Club (Steve Kemp et al.), folding table for Northbridge Rotary Club (Tony Clifford, Peter Champion et al.), Physio Rockers (Tony Clifford et al.), Flag Stands (Neville Warner et al.), a side gate for a local resident (Steve Kemp and Martin Kuliffay) and of course the Hen House (below). Martin Kuliffay admiring the Hen House in situ John Thorley and Peter Champion planning how the Hen House will go together The Hen House in use Dick Monks putting the finishing touches to the Chook Entry Thanks must be extended to all Shed members who have assisted in making the variety of community projects that have kept us occupied over the past year. I am sure we can all be proud of what WCMS members have achieved. For the next Newsletter, please keep me up-todate with your projects with photos.
New Equipment We have purchase a wet stone Tool Sharpener to keep our various planes, chisels and lathe tools sharpened. (It should be noted that this is a sharpener and not a grinder. Full instructions for its use are available at the Shed) We have been fortunate to have a Nova wood lathe donated for our use. This earlier model NOVA lathe has a 1200mm table and a powerful motor and is a great asset for the Shed. Sharpener Long bed NOVA lathe A Lathe Thanks to a grant from the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the hard work of our maintenance manager Malcolm Bell, we now have a planer / thicknesser that operates at an acceptable noise level. You are invited to joint us at the Willoughby Community Men s Shed 296E Sailors Bay Road Northbridge Entry via Golf Club car park Tuesday to Friday 10.00 am to 4.00 pm Please pass this invitation on to someone who you think may enjoy life at the Shed