PENOLA Men’s Shed members have picked up power tools and continued to complete community work after returning to the facility after a forced closure.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the doors to close in March resulting in members remaining home due to state and national COVID-19 restrictions.
Since returning to the Mens Shed, members have picked up where they left off to complete a range of community projects.
Penola Men’s Shed president Ian Tregenza said members had remained in high spirits and eagerly awaited each others company during the lockdown.
“Since being back we have done a lot of community work including making seats for the Penola Scouts Group and we made a few smaller seats which were purchased by Beach Energy and donated to Penola Primary School,” Mr Tregenza said.
“Since then the school has called us up and asked if we could make them more.”
Mr Tregenza said the school was planning to fundraise to help build seats, however Mens Shed members sourced enough timber to construct the seats free of charge.
“They are easy to make because they are so small and we also received a lovely thank you note from the students which we have on display in our kitchenette,” he said.
“Anything we can do for the community at no cost, we will do it.”
Mr Tregenza said a number of retired members were pleased to be back at the work bench.
“The group gives us something to look forward to and gives us a shared interest,” he said.
“There are some real benefits like doing things for the community, but also the comradeship of the members as there is always a bit of banter going on all in good fun.”
