Handcrafting to broader horizons

Tom Parry

TWO local community organisations are reaping the benefits of an initiative that enriches the lives of people living with a disability.

The initiative sees clients of the George Gray Centre (GGC) visit the Golden Beach Men’s Shed, where they assist with building handcrafted items – and develop in more ways than one.

“GGC is all about broadening one’s horizon; we are always looking for opportunities where our participants can learn new skills, gain exposure to a variety of experiences and engage with the wider community,” Quality Assurance Officer at GGC, Sonya Dunn said.

“GGC approached the Golden Beach Men’s Shed back in 2021 to see if we could work in collaboration to provide a fantastic opportunity for people living with disability to learn new skills and develop social and community connections.”

Then-president of the Golden Beach Men’s Shed, John Cassidy took the call, and was asked whether the organisation was interested in hosting such an initiative.

“I said ‘Yes, for sure,’ because we want to be seen as being community-minded – which we are – and it’s worked out very well,” Mr Cassidy said.

As many as 12 participants will visit Golden Beach each Thursday, spending at least four hours with volunteers at the Men’s Shed – located next to the General Store on Surf Edge Drive.

There, GGC clients – with the assistance of their support workers, and volunteers at the Shed – will craft items from recycled and repurposed materials.

Upon being asked about the volunteers at the Men’s Shed, GGC support workers Palale Semisi and Tahlia Schneider had nothing but praise.

“What I like is the people that welcome us here,” Mr Semisi said.

“The people who run the Men’s Shed here are very welcoming… John’s always willing to help us, to supply and provide what we need for the boys to continue in their work.”

Ms Schneider said that volunteers “do a very good job helping us and giving us ideas.”

“It’s just a nice, sharing community,” she said.

The projects undertaken by participants are many and varied.

When visited by the Gippsland Times last month, participants were busy making garden trolleys out of pallets, and had just completed a series of photo-frames made from disused palings.

Ideas on what to build are often sourced from social media, with participants deciding which project they would most like to undertake.

According to Ms Dunn, attending the Men’s Shed has allowed clients to gain many skills.

“They have learnt how to use various hand and power tools, they have developed their problem solving skills, learnt the importance of and practiced following sequential order, built upon their organisational skills and most importantly, learnt about safety procedure and practice,” Ms Dunn said.

“Those that attend the Men’s Shed program with GGC have built friendships and connections with each other and many of the locals from Golden Beach.

“They also get to enjoy one of Gippsland’s main tourist attractions the Ninety Mile Beach, experiencing it across all seasons.”

Mr Cassidy also noted the fondness for the foreshore among GGC’s clients: “When the weather’s warmer, usually after lunch, there’ll be half a dozen that’ll nick off down to the beach and fly kites.”

These reasons – not to mention the baked goods that two elderly ladies “absolutely insist” on providing – have made the Men’s Shed a popular destination for participants.

Ms Schneider said that participants enjoy the occasion “quite a lot”.

“You see them in a different light, compared to when they’re at the (George Gray) Centre or out in town, because there’s a bit more space here, it’s a bit calmer, and they can just be themselves and have a bit of a laugh,” Ms Schneider said.

“Practically every week, you’ll hear something positive from them about it, and they’re just very excited for it.”

Mr Semisi also believes that to be the case.

“They love coming here, and the numbers keep growing, because … the boys go back and tell the other clients and then, when the program changes, another two or three maybe will add their name in,” he said.

Mr Cassidy concurs: “From what they tell me, they reckon this is their best day of the week.”

The popularity of the initiative hasn’t been lost on Ms Dunn.

“As the program is so popular, GGC and the Golden Beach Men’s Shed have been in discussion about running an additional Men’s Shed program, so we encourage anyone that is an NDIS participant, that is interested in attending the Men’s Shed to contact the George Gray Centre,” Ms Dunn said.

She added that GGC was “always open” to working with community groups like the Men’s Shed, right across the Wellington Shire: “We would love any community group that thought their service could enrich the lives of those living with disability to reach out to us at GGC.”

Anybody interested in joining similar initiatives is encouraged to contact George Gray Centre on 5147 2221 or via reception@georgegray.org.au