Category: Wanaka Community Workshop Monthly Reports

We had a great August. With spring just around the corner we had a few members off sick with winter maladies but enjoyed some beautiful sunny days at the Workshop.

Projects Completed

• Mud Kitchen for Kidsfirst
• Food stand barrow for Wānaka Primary with bike wheels
• Gerald’s Welding Bench progressed to almost finished. This is an impressive bit of infrastructure with a roof and shield wall
• Fabricate delivered 40 packs of toweling clothes to Wastebusters
• Finishing the batch of 6 Lilliput Libraries and lots of painting
• More work on the Next Chapter Lilliput Library
• Sue made more progress on the wheeled boxes for Hāwea Flat School
• Signage frames for Wāi Wānaka
• Repair Lego Box from Hāwea Flat Kindy
• Wheel of Fortune Ver 2 for Volunteer South

Hours

• Hours worked in the Woodwork Shop – 383 hours
• Hours worked in the Fabricate – 142 hours

New Members Welcomed

We signed up 11 new members this month and are getting close to the magic 100 paid up members. We’re finding people only in the area for 6-12 months are really enjoying the facility and we’re inducting a new crop to replace the wonderful people we’ve had here over the winter.

During May 2023 the MenShed Team met at the Wanaka Community Workshop each Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to midday. Our average attendance was 14 and over the month the volunteers contributed almost 360 hours – equivalent to 9 full time person weeks.

We had no work related accidents or near misses.

Over May the team completed:

• Bookshelf for Wanaka Plunket
• Picnic tables for Bike Wanaka
• 15 weta hotels for Te Kakano Community Nursery
• Exterior door for the Salvation Army shop
• A coffin for the Wanaka Death Cafe
• Wooden work bench for the Workshop.

These products utilised some 310kg of material which would have otherwise be dumped in the landfill.

We also distributed pallet chairs at each of the bus stops serving Wanaka as part of the trial of a community bus service.

Continuing Projects

We continue working on the following projects; six standard lilliput libraries for Friends of Wanaka Library, Korimiko and Wanaka Pre School, a lilliput library of a unique design for Next Chapter book store, mobile storage box’s for Hawea Pre School, a food bank for Community Link – Networks, Riddling Racks and Dog Kennel for individuals as well as a metal engineering work bench for the Workshop.

Events & Working With Other Organisations

In addition members of the MenShed Team outside of their normal workshop times supported the day to day operation of the Wanaka Backyard Trapping trap library, hosted MINT at their monthly practical training, supported the Wastebusters Repair event at the Workshop, meet with members of the Death Cafe regarding their use of the Workshop to build coffins, meet with members of the Upper Clutha Home Schooling group regarding their use of the Workshop, meet with representatives of the Backcountry Trust regarding fabrication of water tank stands for a number of backcountry huts.

Donations & Support

During May the Workshop received a range of donations including building materials including wood, paint and associate tools. We were also advised that Wheels a Wanaka, an event supported by members of the MenShed Team has donated $5000 to the Workshop.

Finally thanks to JimBob for providing baking each week to enhance our morning tea. Great job JimBob!

Attendance

Attendance during normal Wo(Men)Shed Tuesday and Thursday sessions in April was 92. This is equivalent to 274 hours or almost 7 full time (40 hours) equivalent weeks. Fabricate was also busy working on projects in preparation for the fabric shredder arriving.

In addition to our normal MenShed sessions, members of the MenShed team were present at the Wanaka Community Workshop most days each week. Attendance totaled 39 representing some 95 hours or just over 2 full time (40 hours) equivalent weeks. This included periods supervising MINT, Kahu Youth Grounded team and Aspiring Wanderers as well as supporting the day to day operation of the Wanaka Backyard Trapping “trap library” via the drop off and pick up of traps. 

This month MenShed members:

• Briefed the Inter-agency meeting hosted by Community Link at the HUB involving a range of government & community agencies concerning the operation of the Wanaka Community Workshop.
• Briefed members of the Wanaka Death Cafe regarding a night school class to construct coffins.

Health & Safety

• This month we reported our first accident – a foreign body entered the eye of a member engaged in grinding steel. 
• First aid was given and this was followed up by visits to a doctor.
• A briefing emphasising the importance of suitable eye protection and looking out for each other was subsequently given to all members.

Electric safety tagging

The mandatory electrical safety checks for many of our electrical tools and equipment have expired. 

I suggest the workshop should establish a commercial relationship with a firm which visits the workshop say twice per year to check our equipment. This approach is similar to that adopted for the building safety check.

Dust extraction

Our primary dust extraction system was reviewed this month. A report on means to improve performance is expect in May.

Projects completed:

• A lilliput library for the Friends of Wanaka Library.
• A lilliput library for Wanaka Pre School
• Four Petanque scoring boards.
• Two Riddling Racks (Quartz Reef).
• Magnetic picture frames for the May MINT program.
• Two Morepork/Owl nesting boxes.
• Two display cases – ferret, stoats. (Wanaka Backyard Trapping project).
• Depot for Recycling at Mt Aspiring College (Kahu Youth project).
• Two work tables for the Workshop.
• Steel work table for the Workshop.
• Rack’s for chisels and clamps for the Workshop.
• Fabrication of kits (box’s, crates etc) for assembly.

We are currently working on the following:    

• Children’s bookshelf for Plunket.
• One work table for the Workshop.
• Lids for worm farms at Grow Wanaka.
• Four Lilliput Libraries.
• Weta Hotels for Te Kakano.
• Repair of Riddling Rack’s for the Quartz Reef vineyard Bannockburn.
• Picnic Table for Bike Wanaka.

Prospective projects include:

• “Night school” class for members of the Wanaka Death Cafe to build flat pack coffins.
• Second picnic table for Bike Wanaka.
• Install a door and window into a container used by the Wanaka Grebe Program.
• Distribution of seven “Pallet Chairs” to support the second trial of the Wanaka Community Shuttle Bus Service.
• Pallet Chairs for the Cardrona Ski Field shuttle bus service.

Events

• Hosted MINT workshop – crates & box’s with poker work drawings.
• Hosted Aspiring Wanderers (people experiencing alzheimer’s) – crates & box’s.
• Hosted Kahu Youth Grounded Team over multiple days.
• Members volunteered at Wheels at Wanaka in support of the charity status of the Wanaka Community Workshop.
• Hosted / set up for Repair Revolution – event managed by Wanaka Wastebusters.

Marketing / Communications

• Regular stories published on the web site and Facebook site – we achieved two a week. 

Donations / Grants

• Over this period the MenShed received donations of a range of timber, tools & equipment and construction hardware. This included funding which was used for the purchase of additional battery powered tools and clamps for the Riddling Rack project.
• We have identified two fund raising efforts that we are going to kick start. A major upgrade to our dust extraction system and purchasing an electrical appliance tester and training for two members.

Disposals

• A drill press which was donated and surplus to requirements was sold.

Members of the MenShed met at the Workshop during the mornings of every Tuesday and Thursday through the month. Attendance by members at these sessions totaled 85 – about the same as last month but down when compared to the March 2022..

Outside of these hours members of the MenShed:

• Supported Kahu Youth and MINT programs.  
• Repaired and maintained equipment. 
• Tidied wood storage and cleaned the workshop.
• Disposed of rubbish generally via removal for disposal through the domestic Council service.
• Introduced / briefed prospective members of the Workshop who “drop in”.

During our morning tea each week the team greatly appreciated cakes and biscuits baked by Jim Bob. Great job Jim Bob!

We also shared garden produce – peaches, pears, apples and a range of vegetables. A 35kg pumpkin grown by Barrie’s was distributed and converted into a range of pies and soups by members.

Thanks to an initiative from Gillian members of the MenShed team gathered for a shared “pot luck” dinner this month.

Health & Safety

No accidents to report.

We have decided that as of he middle of April we are bringing in an accreditation system for training on the machinery workshop tools and that a Supervisor will be necessary at all times in the workshop when tools are in use. See the notice on the Health & Safety cupboard for details.

We need to “check and tag” electrical equipment.at the workshop. This includes donated equipment as well as equipment whose safety tagging has expired or is nearing expiry.

Community Projects

This month the MenShed team completed the following projects:

• A corn hole game board for Queenstown Lakes District Council.
• Four corn hole game boards for sale.
• Seven seats built from pallets for use at the Wheels at Wanaka event.
• Two Ruru / owl nesting box’s for sale.
• Fabrication of 6 Vege Box’s for assembly and decoration by MINT during their April program.
• Cycle Rack for Wanaka Community Garden’s.
• Education Display Board for Wai Wanaka.

Projects Underway

• Refurbishing 18 Riddling Racks for Quartz Reef Wines.
• 3 small workbenches, 2 equipped with a refurbished vice.
• 2 Lilliput libraries for Friends of Wanaka Library.
• 4 Petangue scoring boards for the Wanaka Petanque Club.
• Weta Hotels for Te Kakano Nursery.
• Refurbished dog kennel and associated run.
• Range of crates, vege box’s, bird feeders.

Supporting other Groups

This month members supported the Kahu Youth “grounded team” in their project at the Workshop to build two waste recycling systems for the Mount Aspiring College. 

This project will continue in May and June.

Members also fabricated a project for the April MINT workshop.

Events

Wanaka A&P Show – Members of the MenShed supported a range of community and environmental groups with their display at the Wanaka A&P Show. This included preparing and delivering equipment including ites previously made at the Workshop.

Re-fasion – Members of the MenShed supported the Wanaka Wastebusters managed event involving a fashion show held at the Wanaka Community Workshop. This support included erection of walkway, marquee etc.

Donations

A big thanks to the Wanaka Lions
This Month the team benefited from a $850 donation from the Wanaka Lions to the Workshop which was used to purchase two battery power drills together with a range of wood clamps and hand tools.

And another to BMC Engineering
BMC, a local civil engineering firm, came through with a donation out of the blue which has been very well received.

The equipment is being used for the repair of Riddling Board’s as well as replace worn out / broken gear.

We also received cash donations for a number of small repairs as well as donation of building materials.  

Workshop

The team this month undertook a number of initiatives to improve the workshop. These included:

• Improved layout and tidy of the Project Room.
• Completed revised layout for the rear wall to provide for the lathe and table saw following the removal of their equipment by the Wanaka Woodworkers Guild.
• Painted the kitchen and relocated to the kitchen office / administration functions.
• Painted the first aid / health & safety cabinet.
• Creation of a lockable cabinet for key MenShed tools.
• Signage for the defib machine placed on the external walls of the Workshop.
• Built and erected a “name” board to provide for the name tags of each MenShed Member.

Marketing and Sales

• Creation of a location within the Wanaka Community Workshop website where items for sale may be placed and sold.
• A number of DOC 150, DOC 200 and rat traps sold.
• Purchased new design rat trap mechanisms.
• Completed discussion with Freshlink Supermarket for the placement of products for sale. It is expected this will take place in April.

Looking ahead

A letter of support was provided to MINT following discussions around the potential to expand our current program should MINT be successful in an application for additional funds.

Team members have meet with the Wanaka Death Cafe and as a result we are planning a joint initiative along the lines of a “night school” class where over a period people will be able to build “flat pack” coffins.It is expected the night school classes will first take place this winter.

Following discussion with Community Link at the Community Hub, a briefing will be provided to the April Wanaka “Inter Agency” meeting of government / community agencies regarding the activities of the Wanaka Community Workshop. 

Issues we’re looking into

• Safety checking and tagging our electrical equipment.

Prepared by Ian – He is a real trooper.

Attendance

Attendance during normal Tuesday and Thursday sessions totaled 94. This represents about a 10% increase compared to the same period last year.

In addition to our normal MenShed sessions, thanks to Allan Harvey we had a MenShed presence at the Wanaka Community Workshop most days each week. Attendance totaled 23. 

During February

• MenShed members received initial training concerning the safe use of the new thicknesser / planner machine.
• MenShed members received training concerning both Safe Setting and clearing of a DOC Trap and Calibrating.
• This month we received formal advice that the Upper Clutha Woodworkers Guild do not wish to utilise the Workshop for their meetings. In response Guild members removed their equipment and materials.
  We have been working with the Guild for over a year and given that we now have clarity MenShed members have tidied up the area of the workshop occupied by our lathe and it is now operational.
• The high level of utilisation of the Workshop’s equipment by travelers fitting out their vans for accommodation has continued. Our experience is that vans are purchased upon arrival in Christchurch then relocated to Wanaka for upgrading.
  I suggest we should consider what membership rates should apply to such activity. 
  We have had relatively inexperienced users break gear (e.g. band saw blades) and change alignments of the planner / thicknesser. The latter has led us to lock the equipment for hours outside the normal MenShed period.
  Currently the charge for a part year full membership is often $30 which seems very low for the work undertaken. 
• We have sold a number of items via Facebook local Marketplace and have been working with a local organic supermarket to have products for display / sale over a period of month during March / April.
• The Wanaka Community Workshop website has provision for sales. An area for improvement concerns ensuring any orders lodged via the website are known to MenShed members who are in a position to supply products ordered.
• Members have been meeting / working in collaboration with a range of community and environmental groups with respect to a display at the 2023 Wanaka A&P Show. 
• Members have met with MINT regarding their 2023 program. This has the potential to expand given successful funding applications by MINT.
• A number of members have volunteered for the Wheels at Wanaka event in recognition of the Wanaka Community Workshop being selected as a charity beneficiary of the event.
• MenShed members also support the day to day operation of the Wanaka Backyard Trapping “trap library” via the drop off and pick up of traps. 
• From March the environmental sub group of Kahu Youth will utilise the Workshop on Monday afternoons. MenShed members have been asked to support their activities.
• Barrie continues to significantly aid the Workshop through the removal and disposal of waste timber. Barrie removes some 1-2 trailers per month which would otherwise be costing $200-300 to dispose of. Other members remove smaller amounts which are disposed of via the Council domestic service.
• Two blog stories weekly have been published via the Workshop website concerning activities of the MenShed team.
• The team continues to benefit (and enjoy) a regular flow of great cakes & biscuits cooked by Jim Bob.
• Finally the MenShed have benefited from an extensive range of produce (fruit and vege’s) grown and shared by members.

Membership

Members have been contacted with respect to their 2023 membership.

Gwilym is / has established a new database of members linked to the Workshop website.

“Business Contacts” and other non member contacts will continue to be held in the shared Google database.

Health & Safety

• No accidents to report.
• Electric safety tagging: The mandatory electrical safety checks for many of our electrical tools and equipment have expired. With the death of Graham we no longer have a certified electrician as a member willing to undertake such checks.
  I suggest we need to establish a commercial relationship with a firm to visit the workshop say twice per year to check our equipment. Alternatively we seek a firm or person able to undertake this activity as a “in kind” sponsorship of the Workshop. Wanaka Wastebusters may be able to help with this.

Completed Projects

• 15 Geko Hotels for Te Kakano plus 8 for sale.
• 5 bench seats constructed of recycled pallet wood together with 2 refurbished seats prepared for Wheels at Wanaka Event.
• Three cornhole game boards for sale, each with 4 cloth bags supplied via fabrication.
• Range of fruit & vege crates together with small and large wooden crates / box’s for sale.
• Repair / restoration of piano stool for individual.
• Repair of two Riddling Rack’s for a local winery.
• 5 easels to display signage for Wai Wanaka for use at 2023 A&P Show 
• Fitted a wheeled platform together with appropriate electrical connection which made the new thicknesser / planner machine operational.
• Shelving within the private Project Storeroom.
• Fabrication of small project kits (e.g. planters, box’s tool box’s etc) suitable for easy assembly during future events. 

Projects In Progress

• A lilliput library for the Friends of Wanaka Library.
• A lilliput library for Wanaka Pre School
• Repair of 20-30 Riddling Rack’s for the Quartz Reef vineyard Bannockburn.
• Magnetic picture frames for the March MINT program.
• Morepork nesting box for sale.
• Two small / mobile worktables, one for the Workshop the second for sale.
• A MenShed “name board” .
• A MenShed cupboard.

Prospective Projects

• Further lilliput libraries for Friends of Wanaka Library.
• Fashion Show led by Wastebusters / fabricate scheduled for the workshop 23 March. At the time of preparing this report it is unclear what if any requirements for MenShed members are associated with the event beyond the loss of a normal period of work to provide for the set up of the event on Thursday 23 March.

Events

• Hosted Wanaka Backyard Trapping Volunteer Event.

Marketing and Communications

• Regular stories published on the web site and Facebook site – we achieved two a week in December but less in January.

Donations and Grants

Over this period the MenShed received donations of a range of timber, tools & equipment and construction hardware.