All for charity

We were driving through a fairly rural area in Berwick in the outskirts of Melbourne. A roadside name board says ‘Old Cheese Factory’. We notice a few vehicles parked in a spacious car park inside the premises. Is the factory still turning out cheese? If so, can we pick up a few packs? We are curious. We drive in.

We walk in to an old building. It is closed. We go round. It’s empty. There isn’t even old machinery inside. We are disappointed. We walk back and see a board in another building saying ‘Woodworkers Club Inc.’ A notice on the door reads: ‘Members handicrafts available. Please enter’. It was really the Club Office. An old gent greets us with a broad smile. “Come in. I am Paul,” the friendly guy introduces himself. He explains how ‘oldies’ with a passion for woodworking turn out toys to be given away free to numerous charities during Christmas. 

“Shall we have a look?” he asks us and takes us round.

It turned out to be quite an interesting tour. A handful of elderly men were busy with numerous activities connected with woodwork. “Most of us were in the carpentry trade,” Paul explained. “Rather than lazily spending our time at home, we come here and leisurely do this work.”

We found them to be keen craftsmen. They are very conscious of the quality of the products they turn out. So they take great care in everything they do. They are also mindful of safety in handling the machinery. They are experienced hands alright but know that age is against them. They are a determined and committed lot. Among them was one in a wheelchair busy painting. 

Appreciating the work they are doing, they are several benefactors helping them. For example, their largest supplier of wood is an undertaker who regularly supplies them with planks that remain after making coffins. Normally they would have been thrown away.

The Club has a number of well-defined aims and objectives. Its main aim is to bring together people interested in all facets of the craft of woodwork. While promoting an appreciation and understanding of working with wood, it aims to provide awareness which will encourage members to improve both their theoretical and practical skills. ‘Never too late’, they feel. In fact when we went round in the office admiring the finished toys, we saw one person busy looking through the internet and jotting down notes.

A key objective of the Club is to support local charities through the production and distribution of children’s toys.

The Club was started with six people forming a little group 30 years ago. In mid-1986 they used to meet in various places before they got a permanent home in the old cheese factory. The members converted the old machinery shed into a workshop. They have gradually expanded over the years and today have a meeting hall, kitchen, office/library and storeroom. They have purchased a storage shed which is used both to store wood and an area to paint toys.

The Club currently has over 100 members.

“Most of our wives drop in us the morning and pick us up in the evening. They prefer to see us get out of the house so that they can get a break,” Paul said jokingly. 

One thing was clear. Age is no barrier to keep yourself occupied in doing some useful work. As the Sinhala saying goes ‘Hitha ethnam patha kudaada’.