THE Mount Gambier Wood Turning Club has recently joined its Victorian counterparts in making wooden pens to send to Australia troops currently deployed overseas.
Pens for the Troops is an initiative orchestrated interstate, which started with a small shipment of 34 pens to Iraq in May 2008.
Since then, the project has seen more than 10,000 pens sent to Australian troops overseas.
The community based project, which aims to show respect for troops serving overseas, was recently adopted by the Mount Gambier Wood Turning Club.
Club member Peter Cunningham said the group dedicated a meeting earlier this year to making pens for the troops.
“A total of 28 pens were made and some of them have already been sent overseas,” Mr Cunningham said.
“The pens were made on a woodfather and most were made from Australian Timbers such as Redgum, Kauri and Jarrah.”
Pens were originally sent to deployed Chaplains for distribution, but now section commanders receive and distribute the pens.
A letter from the Commander of Task Group Afghanistan was recently sent back to Australia, thanking everyone involved with the pen making.
“As Commander of the Task Group I can assure you that all of the Australians deployed in Afghanistan appreciate the sentiment of these thoughtful gifts from home, which have reached Kabul, Bagram and as far as Kandahar,” the Commander wrote.
“On behalf of all members currently deployed in support of Operation Highroad within Afghanistan, thank you to all personnel who took the time to craft these pens.
“I am sure they will be treasured for many years to come.”
