The Wanaka Community Workshop regularly benefit from donations of timber from building firms involved with the vibrant construction sector operating across the Upper Clutha.
This week Barry from the MenShed team created a new product from the materials provided.
The result is a range of graceful letterbox’s.
They are now available for sale through our website or drop into the Workshop on a Tuesday or Thursday morning and met the team.
To combat single use coffee cups Maria asked us to make up a Cup Library where clean cups (in this case sourced from Wastebusters Wānaka) could be hung up for use at gatherings, the idea is the dirty cups are put back in crates on the floor then cleaned and put back on the board.
This uses some pallet type wood and we used old aluminum tube from mountaineering tents to make the pegs. The legs can be removed with 4 hand wound bolts so the whole thing can fit in a hatchback with the seats down.
Update: Maria had this to report “Thank you so much for your efforts building and delivering the mug library To our event at the WRC! It’s been a huge success. Wastebusters delivered the mugs and DISHrupt are washing them each day.”
We were lucky to have a beautiful sunny day during the school holidays for the QLDC Sport and Recreation’s Wānaka-based holiday programme visit in September. Everyone went home with a toolbox they’d made themselves and some hug smiles.
Thanks to Allan, Taj, Alan and Barrie for all the mahi cutting the parts, making the nailing jigs and being there on the day. Also to Tegan for organising. It’s encouraging to see our nations young builders honing their, already quite impressive, hammering skills.
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.
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.
Friday 15th September saw Dillastrate and The Emily Alice Band perform in the Wānaka Community Workshop yard.
Rhyme & Reason, the brewery next door, pulled out all the stops to organise an amazing outdoor event combining the outside area of their area with ours to create a safe and secure outdoor venue with excellent music and beer.
The Emily Alice Band played first with a funky set and Dillastrate really came through with a high energy performance that had (almost) everybody dancing with big smiles on their faces.
Hopefully we’ll see more of these gigs. It’s so much fun being outside versus a stuffy bar and with everything finishing up by 10.30pm it played well for those who wanted to ski the next morning. This could be the missing music venue Wānaka has been looking for since … well .. the old town hall closed down in .. 1998?
Live music, there is nothing like it.
Debbie at Wānaka Primary School contacted us regarding building a Food Stand for their Environment Group. Barrie and the team recycled a bunch of pallets into the main body and we made our first attempt at a standard way of reusing bike wheels, something I’ve wanted to do for ages.
Living in a big mountain biking town we have a lot of 26 inch bike wheels coming through Wastebusters, the local recycling center, the challenge is to mount them without welding up tricky frames.
The idea here was to create a plywood arch and attach a scrap piece of metal plate inside each side to act as the dropout. It works pretty good! There is a bit of flexibility in the system we could remove by bracing between the inside of the two wheel arches.
We really look forward to seeing this Food Stand in action, with the sweet Shimano Bearings it’ll go really fast 🙂 Many thanks to Mattias for doing the handles and prop, everybody in the volunteer group who worked on it and Karolina, Merle for painting.
Lets face it, kids generally love mud. The combination makes for great play.
This week the team at the Wo(Men)Shed finished a mud kitchen. It is destined for the local KidsFirst local pre school.
Designed to be located outdoors in the playground the kitchen provides easy access to a shelf, basins and of course the essence of mud – water and earth.
Great stuff.
We were lucky enough to have two teams of smaller builders come to the workshop last week with the Wānaka Rec Centre Holiday Programme. They bought their own hammers and used them with gusto.
Allan had pre-prepared the components for the Small Crate Project we have been developing as a standard project lesson we can offer groups. We’ll have plans and ideas on how to best run this soon. We have to thank the Go West Trust for their funding in developing these resources and delivering them to the community.
In June we had the Adventure Film School, which is adjunct to the Mountain Film Festival in Wānaka, visit our Community Workshop. The students and Ross Mackay, their tutor, were amazing and everyone had a great time.
Check out the video – it really sums up what we are about.
July was a great month for the MenShed team at the Wanaka Community Workshop.
Team members hosted 24 kids undertaking a holiday program with the Wanaka Recreation Centre. Each went home with a small wooden crate. We also hosted 9 folk from MINT who each went home with a bird feeder.
During July the team completed; the restoration and upgrading of ten Riddling Racks for Quartz Reef Winery, a food bank for Community Networks / Kahu Youth, 15 Weta Homes for Te Kakano Nursery, a Mud Kitchen for Lake Hawea Pre School, a Lakeshore community toy library, the wooden structure of a prototype “poof” and a set a drawers the Seed Library at Wanaka Library.
We are currently working on four “standard design” Lilliput Libraries for Friends of Wanaka Library, a “special design” Lilliput Library, a engineering / metal work table and welding screens for the Workshop, a storage container door for the Wanaka Grebe Program, a “stick library” for the dogs of Wanaka, a produce stand for the Wanaka Pre School.
We are working with the Wanaka Death Cafe with the aim of hosting a series of night schools in September which will involve the construction of coffins.
Within the Workshop we placed an additional fire extinguisher in the tool room and purchased a “pallet buster tool”. The pallet buster will greatly enable the use of recycled timber from pallets.
We sold a couple of stoat traps and received donations of cash and building materials.
We had no work related accidents during the month.
Due to a number of our regular members being on holiday and the impact of various winter ills attendance during our normal Tuesday and Thursday sessions was 80 representing 240 hours or 6 full time equivalents. This attendance excludes team members hosting groups such as MINT and holiday programs as well as attendance at other times.
It is estimated that during July the MenShed team at the Wanaka Community Workshop re-used 600 Kg of material which would otherwise have been dumped.
The Upper Clutha community is a community that reads.
The evidence is that the Wanaka Community Workshop is full of Lilliput Libraries. The libraries each containing a small book exchange are popping up all over the town.
Four new libraries at the Workshop will be managed by the Friends of Wanaka Library.
A fifth is back in the Workshop for repairs following damage caused by being blown down by recent strong winds.
The last library is a one off – designed specifically to reflect the arcitectural features of the building it will be placed beside.
This week the team at the MenShed completed their first Beach Toy Library.
It is a simple idea. An idea borrowed from an example spotted in Tauranga.
The Library contains wooden toys, buckets and spades which kids can access when playing on the lake shore.
With toys going back into the library they are available for the next child.
Mums and Dads may like to donate extra toys to the library.
Death Cafe Wanaka is group that embraces and honours the intricacies, ambiguities and mysteries surrounding how one may seek meaning within the context of death and dying.
This week the MenShed team have been working with members of the Death Cafe to finalise how they can access the Wanaka Community Workshop and construct coffins for themselves or their loved ones.
Over recent weeks the team at the MenShed have built a couple of prototypes.
Both prototypes have been built of recycled materials but each to a different design. One was displayed at the presentation by the Death Cafe at this weeks Matariki 2023 held on the shores of Lake Wanaka.
We are working toward hosting night school classes in September which will be led by members of the MenShed team where members of the Death Cafe can construct their coffins.
Wanaka has had its fair share of inversions of late – a layer of cloud trapped below slightly warmer air above. The grey cloud layer above the town lets little sun through. As a result those of us on the ground feel the cold.
Despite the temperature the MenShed team at the Wanaka Community Workshop continue to design and built a range of community projects. That said the team are wrapped up – base layers, puffer jackets, gloves, hats along with hot drinks.
It’s great to have a dedicated team.
The MenShed team meet at the Wanaka Community Workshop every Tuesday and Thursday from 9am to midday. At this time we get stuff done.
We also gather for social occasions – where little is done.
More a time for friends to gather to enjoy some great tucker and share a few stories.
Our most recent gathering coincided with this years shortest day – mid year Christmas.
MINT is a community agency who works towards forging great lives for those with intellectual disabilities in the Upper Clutha Region.
As part of their regular program MINT regularly attends the Wanaka Community Workshop. At the Workshop the team from MINT work with wood or fabric. This week’s visit was a bit special. The visit was part of MINT’s July school holiday program and the project involved the creation of a wooden bird feeder.
Over previous days the MenShed team had designed a sturdy bird feeder and fabricated the parts. All the parts were recycled materials donated to the Wanaka Community Workshop.
The participants from MINT each received a kit they needed to assemble.
Over the next couple of hours with a bit of help and support everyone completed their project. Great job!
Everyone gets to take home their work. Lets hope the birds enjoy their new feeding stations as much as we enjoy working with MINT.
Winter arrived this month accompanied by cool temperatures under the inversion cloud layer and the occasional frost.
Attendance at our regular Tuesday and Thursday mornings totaled 102 representing 306 work hours or 7.5 full time equivalents.
We had no workplace accidents – following reminder briefings regarding the importance of wearing safety equipment utilisation has improved.
During June we completed:
We used some 90Kg of materials which would otherwise have been dumped.
We are currently working on:
Events
Team members supported hosting at the Wānaka Community Workshop the Adventure Film School held in association with the Mountain Film and Book Festival. This support included acting and being the subject of interviews.
This month the team held a mid year Christmas event – thanks to Gillian for hosting.
Funding
An application was lodged with Southern Health for a small grant to aid in undertaking events to promote the wellbeing of members. We should know the outcome in July.
Media
We have maintained two articles per week published within the Wānaka Community Workshop website and facebook pages.
This week Wanaka hosted the New Zealand Mountain Film & Book Festival. It is a great event that showcases the natural environment and the people who challenge themselves within it.
Part of the Festival includes workshops for budding camera people to improve their craft.
The Wanaka Community Workshop were used by participants as an opportunity to train and develop new camera techniques. Team members of the Wanaka Community Workshop were interviewed, woodworking skills filmed from all sorts of angles, lighting and sound systems established.
The day was a great opportunity for members of the Wanaka Community Workshop to experience something new – perhaps stars in the making! In addition the Workshop will receive a brief edited video we can use to show what the Workshop is about.
Benefits all round!
The Team at the Workshop this week completed the latest in a growing network of food banks serving communities across Upper Clutha.
The Network has been established by Community Networks our one stop shop for community services operating by the Community Hub. Food banks can be found at the Community Hub as well as the Wanaka Recreation Centre, Luggate and Hawea.
Our newest element of the food bank network will be managed by Kahu Youth at their facility.
Food banks are a simple idea. Those with extra food can simply leave it in the bank where those who need food can pick it up. Its a great idea that helps those families across our community who are struggling with rising living costs.
The Wanaka Community Workshop is proud to be part of our strong and supportive community here across the Upper Clutha.
Lets face it, from time to time kid’s can be messy.
The MenShed team can help with this.
This week we shipped four large wooden box’s. Each is mobile with a set of wheels. The box’s can store stuff. Stuff left about on the floor can be popped in and the box stored away – easy and clean. Job done.
We love it when we can help with life’s little problems!
A quick project we built over the last week is a Wheel of Fortune raffle wheel for Volunteer South.
The excellent Pukka Signs printed up the graphic and applied it to a 1m disk of ACM. ACM is quite good for this sort of thing, stable and easy to cut.
We used some scrap of that interesting thermally treated timber for the mast, recycled alpine tent pole for the pins and repurposed timber for the base. The clacker, made by Charlie, is an offcut of hardwood deck and the clacker retainer shock cord from the tent poles.
Using the drill press we made some really cool washer/supports from the 6mm acrylic retail dividers that Allan came across which we affixed to the ACM on both sides to prevent wear over time.
And here it is finished ..
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
This is the first report for Fabricate so a bit of a summary first:
JANUARY / FEBRUARY
We were commissioned to make bird costumes for Wai Wānaka for the A&P show. We made the Grebe and Tui completely out of the donated material we had at Fabricate.
March
We collaborated with Wānaka Wastebusters for their Slow Fashion Month putting on a combined fashion show at our premises. The team from the workshop helped with the marquee and the stage and were keen to be models on the catwalk. Many of our sewing class students modeled their creations. A great success! Everyone was keen to do it again next year but we were at capacity this year with all the tickets sold so next years is likely to be at a larger venue.
APRIL 2023
We received two pallet loads of fabric curtaining that had been destined for landfill from the Crystal Palace. We were happy to find new homes for this. Some lucky locals were keen to grab some of this fabulous velvet with the majority going to another group community organisation for tents at music festivals.
Evening Sewing classes for the Sew a shirt Class with seven students run by Sue and Claire. Plus Saturday morning Group sew sessions where people can bring the projects they are working on and have company while they work on their projects.
Wastebusters ran a Repair Revolution day at the workshop, they bring their sewing team and a repair team to fix all sorts of things. Assisted by our Workshop team.
Fabricate workshop days: Tuesday’s and Thursday mornings. We made a set of pin cushions for use in the sewing classes and sorted donated materials and components.
MAY 2023
NB: We realise that we need to improve the recording of hours that the area is used. We will try improve recording of hours to include the total number of hours that the area is used.
Remember whatever you need for your project – check us out first. Most is available to members for a donation.
Run By Sue and Claire: Learn to Sew a shirt. Five nights, seven students.
Wanaka Wastebusters – Repair revolution
Although at the moment turnout has been small we have achieved a lot this month.
Store Room Makeover
We have reorganised the fabric store room. The old shelves removed, replacement shelves installed, fabric sorted, boxed, labeled.
Fabric Measure and Sort
Started a new system where the donated fabric is sorted into type and longer pieces labeled with the length. Knits and specialty fabrics are separated off so the display shelves display the longer non-stretch pieces catagorised by length. Other fabrics are in type or project labeled boxes.
We now have separate boxes for upholstery pieces, leather, polarfleece, knits, lace, chiffons, silks. Denim patches, Merino patches, neoprene patching and lots more
If you are looking for notions there are boxes of zips, laces and cords, lace, elastic and velcro, beads, not forgetting knitting needles, patterns, thanks to our wonderful donors our thread collection that was quite small last year has expanded to a fabulous display of every colour!
Remember members can use these wonderful supplies -there is a small charge or donation please.
Stuffing Projects
We have been preparing projects to use the our homemade ‘stuffing’ produced by the new fabri-gator.
We made prototype patterns for Yoga Bolster, bench cushions, footstools.
We are now sorting the larger fabric pieces and labeling with the length. So its even easier to find a piece suitable for your project.
The Fabri-gator has arrived today 6th June 2023!!!
At long last the machine has arrived and we had to have a play!
This machine with convert all our fabric scraps into usable ‘filling’ for other projects.
Lots of things to work out now including. Whether for some projects we need to sort fabrics… does the material type affect the weight much?
Watch this space for more on this exciting project.
After we used up all the larger size timber in our stack for the Bike Wanaka – Lismore Park Picnic Table we decided more Picnic Tables were in our future. But what to make them from?
A quick email blast out to Wānaka scaffolding companies and we had an immediate response from Bramwell Scaffolding who went through there scaffold plank stack and took out the ones not up to code. Freaking awesome!
We now have a stack of planks that we will be turning into tables, and also using to make a Training Doorway for the local Fire Department (see image below). Recycling waste into useful things for the community. It’s what we do.
Every two years our community hosts Wheels at Wānaka, the largest event of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. Its a great event that attracts people from across New Zealand.
This year the Wanaka Community Workshop was a charity that benefitted from the success of the event.
Thanks to the organisers, participants and attendees the Wanaka Community Workshop received $5000 from the 2023 Wheels at Wanaka.
We shall put the donation toward the cost of upgrading the dust extraction system within the Workshop.
The system will improve the health and safety for our volunteers and members. It will also enable us to run machines longer allowing more community projects to be undertaken.
We are proud to be part of the strong and supportive community which Wanaka and the Upper Clutha is.
Furthermore Wheels at Wanaka 2023 was a great event which a number of our members supported as volunteers. Looking forward to the next one!
Weta are giant flightless crickets unique to New Zealand.
They are generally active at night with most of the small species being carnivores and scavengers while the larger species are herbivores.
Because they can cope with variations in temperature, wētā are found in all sorts of places – alpine areas, forests, grasslands, caves, shrub lands and urban gardens.
Weta are common across the Upper Clutha – some of our local species are restricted to Central Otago.
Unfortunately weta are preyed on by introduced mammals such as rats and mice. Some species including those here in Central Otago are now endangered.
Over recent weeks the team at the MenShed have been working to help our weta. They have been building nesting box’s – a safe haven for weta to call home.
The box’s will be placed within areas where Te Kakano Nursery, our local community environmental agency, are planting trees and bushes to strengthen or re-establish natural areas.
Just the sort of place that appeals to weta.
Our network of Lilliput Libraries serving communities across the Upper Clutha is about to expand.
Each library operates on a trust and exchange system. People can browse, borrow, take or leave a book.
What’s not to love?
These little boxes of literature popping up on our streets are each looked after by a volunteer guardian. There operation bolsters community and the opportunity to read and recycle books.
The MenShed team at the Wanaka Community Workshop have six libraries under construction. Over the next few weeks look for them in a street near you!
Homeschooling is full time education out of the traditional school classroom. It is an education option that a number of families across the Upper Clutha have chosen for their children.
As the name homeschooling implies education is undertaken mostly at home but also within the community.
This week families who homeschool visited the Wanaka Community Workshop to discuss ideas and option around how the workshop could be used to teach a range of practical skills – woodworking, sewing etc.
The team at the Workshop welcome the opportunity to work with members of the Homeschool community. Together we are sure we can make a positive difference.
Death Cafe Wanaka is an opportunity to meet as a community for the purpose of talking about life’s toughest topic.
The Cafe meets regularly to embrace and honor the intricacies, ambiguities and mysteries surrounding how we seek meaning within the context of death and dying.
The MenShed Team are working with members of the Death Cafe to respond to practical issues associated with death.
The response we are working on is a coffin – a coffin that families can, with support, construct at the Wanaka Community Workshop.
The coffin will be simple and inexpensive – a pine box, recycled timber, untreated wood. It will also be clever. The design will permit the coffin to be easily stored “flat packed” or used as a shelfing unit or wine rack.
Our team are currently working with the Death Cafe on how the process may work. It is an exciting project and while the topic is difficult, like tax, it is unavoidable.
Winter is comming.
For the Tiger Worms resident within the compost bins located at the Wanaka Community Gardens life can be tough during Winter.
This week following a request from Grow Wanaka, the volunteers who manage the Wanaka Community Garden, the MenShed team have been building “lids” for each compost bin.
The lids combined with some sacking or old carpets will help keep the worms warm over Winter.
The aim is that the Worms will emerge in Spring in the numbers and with the energy to continue their great work creating nutrition for the plants within the Community Gardens.
The produce from those plants has made a real difference for many families across the Upper Clutha.
The volunteers – and the worms – are great contributors to our community.
Wanaka is a special place.
This month research students from the University of Otago were in town seeking to understand what makes our community tick.
The students sought advice and comment from many. The MenShed team hosted them twice – once for the interview, the second for a hand in completing a few projects.
Nothing like practical aspects of study!
It was great to have them visit. Worthwhile too if we can bottle what makes the Wanaka community special and pass it on to places elsewhere.
Almost two years back the Wanaka Community Workshop first opened with a wood working shop. A year later Fabricate, our textile and sewing work shop opened.
From then to now both the wood shop and the textile shop have added new equipment and capability.
This month we started work on the beginnings of a metal working capability.
The first step has been the construction of a new steel work table complete with a range of vices and grips. The table will be suitable for cutting and welding of hot metal.
We still have a way to go – our metal working tools need to be checked and tested, safety gear and processes put in place. But we have started.
The new metal working capability will widen the range of projects the MenShed team and other users of the Workhop will be able to undertake.
Its great all round.
For over 20 years Bike Wānaka has been supporting the development and growth of mountain biking across the Upper Clutha region.
Bike Wanaka have created a place where there is a ride for everyone. From beginner cross country riders through to die hard downhillers
The MenShed team are working with Bike Wanaka to create facilities for that time out after cycling.
A time out for eating and a drink.
A time for telling stories and a laugh.
Built from recycled materials the picnic table will soon be located adjacent to one of our regions iconic cycle tracks.
We are proud to contribute toward Bike Wanaka and their work in creating a great community.
Plunket has long been New Zealand’s largest support service for the health and wellbeing of children and their families. From their Clinic in Wanaka, Plunket’s serves families across the Upper Clutha.
This week the MenShed team completed a book shelf for Plunket.
Built of re-cycled materials the book shelf is a small contribution to aid the great work Plunket and families undertake to benefit kids across our community.
Last week Repair Revolution returned to the Wanaka Community Workshop. It was great to have it back.
Repair Revolution is an event managed by Wastebusters and supported by the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Repair Revolution brings together a range of volunteers who apply their skills and experience to repairing items residents bring in. All sorts of items – computers, clothing clocks – anything.
By repairing items the household budget is stretched. Repaired items are not dumped but continue in use.
The Wanaka Community Workshop is proud to be associated with Repair Revolution and the movement to reduce items going to landfill.
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:
Health & Safety
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:
We are currently working on the following:
Prospective projects include:
Events
Marketing / Communications
Donations / Grants
Disposals
Never let it be said MenShed team are not versatile.
This month the Wanaka Community Workshop was transformed to host Re-fashion – a fashion show cut differently.
With the support of Queenstown Lakes District Council, Wastebusters Wanaka and Fabricate led the transformation. The aim was to show what can be achieved with recycled and upcycled clothing.
The MenShed team helped with the set up and select few walked the catwalk.
We can achieve great outcomes for our environment and look stylish as well!
The Wanaka Community Workshop regularly hosts Kahu Youth – in particular the team known as Grounded.
Grounded are youth who are focused on improving our natural environment.
The team are aiming to enhance recycling at Mt Aspiring College – Te Kura O Tititea.
To achieve this the team are building two depots to locate at the school. Each depot permits waste to be separated such that it can be more effectively recycled.
Jim Bob has been a resident of Wanaka throughout much of his life. Being a builder there are few places across the Upper Clutha which have not benefited from his skill and experience – houses, shops, community and farm buildings.
Today the MenShed team benefits from Jim Bob’s skill – and his stories!
This week Jim Bob completed a number of work tables.
Each table has been crafted from recycled materials. A couple include an up-cycled and repaired vice.
The work tables will enable more people to use the Wanaka Community Workshop – conviently and with greater safety.
Great job Jim Bob!
The best evidence as to the strength of our community across the Upper Clutha is the number and range of community organisations associations and clubs.
The newest is the Wanaka Petanque Club.
The Club has established itself with a new outdoor terrain or court located in Three Parks near the entrance to the Recreation Centre.
The MenShed team recently completed four scoring boards for the Club. Its great to be involved right at the beginning of a new recreation facility serving our community.
The MenShed team have challenged members of the Wanaka Pentanque Club to a game complete with the old sip of one of our regions great red wine.
Looking forward to it.
The MenShed Team at the Wanaka Community Workshop make traps – traps targeting pests such as stoats and rats.
It came as a surprise therefore when we were asked to create housing for a stoat.
It became clear when we found out the animal was expired, dead – stuffed in fact.
The aim is to create a display showing the animal which threatens our endangered species across the Upper Clutha. The display is a tool which will be used by Wanaka Backyard Trapping to educate adults and children about the animal their traps are targeting.
Community groups such as Wanaka Backyard Trapping which are engaged in pest management are making a real difference – a positive difference for our natural environment.
The Wanaka Community Workshop are proud to be associated with the change.
Some 18 months ago the Wanaka Community Workshop was a new element in our community. Its great therefore that the Workshop can now play a role in welcoming new members to our community.
The Workshop enables folk to practically establish themselves in their new home. They may involve creating some furniture or storage units.
Workshop Members also provide an initial network that new arrivals can build and expand from.
Given the issues our community has in filling jobs important for the health of our local economy it is important that new arrivals settle in quickly.
Its great that the Wanaka Community Workshop can play a part in aiding this.
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:
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:
Projects Underway
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:
Marketing and Sales
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
Over Easter Weekend our community hosted Wheels on Wanaka – a significant event dealing with everything on wheels.
In order to aid folk getting around the large site in Three Parks a shuttle bus service is provided. The MenShed team supported the event by converting wooden pallets into seating for each of the bus stops.
It was great to see them being used by many of the thousands of visitors to the event.
Supplying the seating was not the only contribution to the event by the MenShed Team.
Gerald (with a huge smile on his face) prepared and drove a classic tractor. Others helped set up the site erecting tents, fences, signage together with tables and chairs.
The MenShed benefits from being part of our community and its great to give back.
The Wanaka Community Workshop is also home to Wanaka Backyard Trapping – well at least their trap library.
The trap library permits members of Wanaka Backyard Trapping to borrow various types of traps targeting pests such as stoats and rats.
Each week members get a chance to learn how to best use the traps. This is not only about where to place the trap but also how to set the trap.
Inside the wooden box the DOC 200 mechanism is powerful. One needs to be mindful when setting the mechanism.
Given the great training offered by Wanaka Backyard Trapping the traps are doing their business making a positive impact on our local environment.
Thanks to the Wanaka and Districts Lion Club, the Wanaka Community Workshop have commissioned a range of new tools – battery powered drills, wood clamps and hand tools.
The Lions Club and its members play a key role in ensuring our local community remains strong and vibrant.
Through their support the MenShed team operating from the Wanaka Community Workshop will be able to expand the range of projects undertaken.
The strength of our community in Wanaka and across the Upper Clutha makes our place special.
It’s a great community to be part of.
This week the Wanaka Community Workshop hosted members of the “Grounded Team” of Kahu Youth.
The team are using the Workshop to build new infrastructure for Mt Aspiring College.
The new build takes the form of two recycling bases. Each base will be capable of holding three wheelie bins providing for the separation of rubbish.
The design was complete and all the members of MenShed Team had to do was help with some cutting and moving the heavier bits about.
The skills shown by Kahu Youth was great to experience.
The project is now well on its way. We are looking forward to working with Kahu Youth into the future to create some real change in our community.
Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in New Zealand. It can happen to anyone – anywhere.
In an emergency easy and quick access to a defibrillator can make the difference between life and death. Its scary but the chance of survival decreases by 10 percent for each minute that passes without defibrillation.
Thanks to the Go West Trust a lightweight, portable defibrillator is now placed on the external wall of the Wanaka Community Workshop.
It’s available 24-7.
The device is smart too.
In use the device analyses the heart’s rhythm and if necessary, delivers an electric shock in order to help restore the heart’s natural rhythm.
It comes with visual and voice prompts enabling people with little or no training to use the device.
Great for a time when stress levels are high.
Thanks to the Graham and Olive West Trust, those who work and visit the neighborhood in and around Gordon Street now have access to a life saving service.
The Upper Clutha is home to a couple of night time avian predators – the native Morepork or Ruru and the Little Owl.
The Morepork can be heard (and sometimes seen) in bush areas within the built up areas of Wanaka.
Little Owls can be seen around dusk and dawn on the edge of bush areas or farm buildings.
While both the Morepork and Little Owl are not threatened in our district they can benefit from support. Recently the MenShed team have been using recycled materials to complete “box’s” to provide safe nesting for the birds.
The “box’s” will encourage birds in locations where populations of mice threaten other species. The accommodation is thus part of a natural pest control approach.
Moreporks and Little Owls are not tidy – their nests become deposits of bird poo, rotting meat, feathers and fur. Not the greatest! As a result the nesting box’s have a flap which allows for easy cleaning at the end of the season.