Shedders’ games tables ready to roll at camp

THIS Tuesday, it will be all fun and games at Blackwood Special Schools Outdoor Education Centre.

In recent days, the Bacchus Marsh Men’s Shed has delivered nine handmade games tables to the camp, and Tuesday is their launch day.

Shedders have been invited to attend a lunch while some of the camp’s visiting students will be tasked with putting the tables to the test.

“We have spent the last six months or so building them,” Bacchus Marsh Men’s Shed president Ian Winduss said.

“We have built nine all with different themes loosely taken from plans drawn by students.”

While some of the students’ ideas and designs were a little too difficult for Shed members bring to life, the men were able to produce a “cross between a pinball table and mini golf”.

“They’re all different styles,” said Winduss who drew on his own background as a sheet metal worker by trade.

“There’s one based on dinosaurs, one based on bikes, another one with a castle in the middle of it.

“The last one was delivered last week at the Blackwood camp and they’ve got a fair bit of room and a fair few sheds so they’ve put one in each shed.”

Winduss said Shedders brought their own skills to the project, some drawing on backgrounds in carpentery and woodwork.

“We used just about every saw we have,” Winduss said.

“We’ve got a band saw, jig saws, fret saws, hand saws. We’ve got the lot.

“There was a lot of woodwork and a bit of metalwork in it and it was definitely a trial-and-error thing.

“The school bought and delivered all of the materials for it and we customised the designs to make them work.

“We have had a really good response from the camp. We make a lot of things for charity and repair things like chairs and tables but it’s the first time we’ve made anything like this.

“This was probably our biggest project, and we all enjoyed it.”

They’ve already had a request from another youth group keen to secure a similar games table or two.

The Bacchus Marsh Men’s Shed currently has about 50 members and is always keen to welcome new ones, Winduss said.

“We’re doing up a few old chairs at the moment and one of the guys is making a few rocking horses to sell at the next garage sale we have.”

The group meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at the Shed at 229 Main Street, Bacchus Marsh, and anyone thinking of becoming a member is welcome to “just roll up”.