Echuca Men’s Shed seeks new projects

Based at the Green Shed in Rotary Park, the group takes on a wide variety of woodworking and metalworking projects, from restoring antique furniture and vintage pieces to building outdoor seating, toys, jewellery boxes and household items.

Vice-president Barry Tabb said finding enough projects for members was currently one of the shed’s biggest challenges.

“The biggest problem is keeping the work up for the fellas,” he said.

“We’re trying to generate a bit more work, we are a bit light at the moment.”

One of the group’s largest recent projects was restoring three horse-drawn carriages used for trips around the Port of Echuca.

Mr Tabb said the project provided about nine months of work and kept many members active in the workshop.

“We were fortunate enough to be able to do three carts down the port, which took us through for nearly nine months,” he said.

“They were a major project, and it kept most of the fellas working in the workshop.”

The shed’s projects can range from major restorations to giving new life to household items.

Recent requests have included breathing new life into a worn table and chairs, and cleverly transforming the base of an old Singer sewing machine into a charming outdoor table, finished with a native red gum top.

Members have also built tables and chairs from scratch using local red gum, as well as seven wooden urns.

The shed has produced curved “boomerang” seats for Echuca South Community Kindergarten.

Members are also handcrafting wooden toys for Bupa Aged Care Echuca, with around 80 already completed in time for a special Christmas display.

Mr Tabb explained that customers generally covered the cost of materials, with funds raised through the shed’s work going directly towards running expenses such as insurance, fuel and other day-to-day costs.

With the carriage restoration now complete, the group is hoping more residents and community organisations will bring forward projects that can put members’ skills to use.