mens-shed-highfields

Life Flight - Certificate of Appreciation

Mon, 16 Aug 2021 02:10:42 GMT

Meet: Colin McKay

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 23:57:54 GMT

Passion

Woodwork, and assisting in my Men's Shed projects directed by any of our supervisors

Colin McKay

Retired Ambulance Officer and small business operator conducting qualified First Aid courses to various groups and businesses for 10 years after leaving the Queensland Ambulance Service in 1997.

I was born to a dairy farmer, my father, where I lived for 17 years before tackling a myriad of jobs including working as a lubritorium attendant, frame sawyer in a timber mill, laboring for a building construction firm and employed as a Nursing Orderly in a Government Hospital (Wondai) before joining the QATB as an ambulance officer.

Since retiring, I continue to volunteer my services as a JP (Qual) in the Community (currently 47 years as a JP) as well as being an active member (currently President) of the Toowoomba Caledonian Society and Pipe Band, and a member of the Highfields Men's Shed for 4/5 years.

I am also happily married to my wife for 56 years and enjoy living in the Highfields area.

Meet: Malcolm Irvine

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 22:04:13 GMT

Passion

Woodwork

Malcolm Irvine

Commercial Accountant for 40 years in nonprofit and educational fields. I enjoy woodworking in my retirement as well as swimming and bushwalking.

I emigrated from Zimbabwe in 1987 and have enjoyed many years providing management accounts and advice for various organisations.

I am married and have two sons, two stepdaughters and one granddaughter.

At secondary school I loved woodwork but that passion has been on hold all this time. Now I enjoy the woodworking, wood turning and hopefully welding experience I get at the Highfields Men’s Shed.

I enjoy travelling, caravanning and bushwalking.

Meet: John Lidster

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 21:57:06 GMT

Passion

I love my footy and go for the Eels and Broncos.

John Lidster

Migrated up north 9 years ago from Orange NSW after retiring from the wholesale steel business of which I was employed for 30 years.

I am a qualified automotive engineer and did my apprenticeship straight out of school at a Holden dealership. I am married with 2 children, the eldest a daughter who lives at Daisy Hill with her husband and a miracle daughter-after 17 years of marriage, she is the apple of my eye.

Also a son who still lives in Orange with our firstborn grandchild, a girl named after wife's father now 5 and a boy who will be 3 and he is a delight too. I have a brother up here who is not in good health but is a Vietnam vet after 3 tours and now widowed.

I also have 2 sisters, one in Orange the other on a farm at Manildra which is a grain producing town west (near Parkes and Forbes). I love my footy and go for the Eels and Broncos.

Meet: Barry Williams

Sun, 01 Aug 2021 21:42:30 GMT

Passion

Just giving a hand where necessary and enjoying the company, well most of them anyway.

Barry Williams

Born Tully NQ, reared on sugar cane farms in El-Arish , 10 mile goat track north of Tully.

Served apprenticeship as a Boilermaker in the Tully Sugar Mill. Contract cane harvesting for 3 years getting married and tripping around Australia for a couple of years working anything that was available.

Returned to Tully and started our Engineering Works out of rented premises, bought land built our own place and went from there.

Also owned an Automotive Spare Part outlet. Ended up selling the lot and being employed by Mac Farms Pty Ltd ( the largest banana growers in the Southern Hemisphere) as Workshop Manager/ Design Engineer.

Did 10 years and decide to sell everything and retire in Highfields. Have returned to work since on 2 occasions, both for Mac Farms as project manager, one at “GoldTyne” Lakeland the other at “Norbrook” Bucca, ( Bundaberg). Since totally retired.

Men’s shed upcycles art easels for joyful business

Thu, 15 Jul 2021 00:14:08 GMT

New business partners and sisters Melanie Coultas and Michelle Garside were delighted to collect 20 custom-made table art easels from the Highfields Men’s shed this week.

The easels are adjustable and are placed on tables, enabling participants of all ages to actively engage in art activities, particularly those with restricted physical movement.

Melanie and Michelle recently launched ‘Joyful Arts, Music and Mindfulness’ with the aim to offer arts, crafts, music, performance and mindfulness activities across the Darling Downs and South-West Queensland.

They decided to contact the Men’s shed to see whether they could make the easels locally.

Secretary of the Highfields Men’s Shed David Prout explained that the men enjoyed working on a different challenge.

“We were sent a couple of photos of what Michelle and Melanie were looking for, so we drafted several designs and did some testing before settling on the final look,” he said.

“We were able to re-use materials that we already had in the workshop, which is always satisfying.”

Managing Director of Joyful, Melanie Coultas said that the Men’s Shed commitment to repurposing used wood products wherever possible, aligns with their business values of recycling and sustainability.

“We are keen to work with local service clubs as much as we can, particularly those that use eco-friendly and recycling methods,” Ms. Coultas said.

“We are planning to offer our services right across South West Queensland to bring a bit of joy into people’s lives no matter their abilities, particularly those in more rural areas who don’t have easy access to the creative arts.”

The Men’s Shed has been actively making and repairing items for community use over the past decade.

“So far this year we have constructed a variety of items including myna bird traps, bee hotels and bird houses, as well as repairs to furniture,” Mr Prout said.

“We have over 50 men that attend over the course of a month, so it’s great that we are able to provide varied and interesting items to work on.”

For more information, contact Melanie Coultas on 0424 766865

PRESIDENT’S REPORT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 13 MARCH 2017

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 04:58:35 GMT

Welcome to the 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM), as this meeting opens it is appropriate that we reflect on the recent passing of Bill Wormwell in January this year. Bill was our fourth member to pass away since our interception in 2012. Previous members that predeceased him were Richard Nairn, Claude Whillock and Gordon Barnes. Bill enthralled many of us with his stories of time spent in the bush and cattle droving. Bill will be sadly missed by his family and many friends. I know that Robert Stammers was especially close to Bill, often going fishing with him. On behalf of the shed members, I have expressed our condolences to his family.

I also welcome all our new members who have joined since the last AGM. Our current financial membership has increased dramatically. I am advised by the Treasurer Peter Wilson that our financial position is quite sound, however there is the proviso, that we do have a number of accounts coming up in the near future and that we still need to judicious as to how we spend the finances.

The main focus of the executive during the reporting period was to ensure that all the necessary requirements were met to have Toowoomba Regional Council Property Services approve the sheds’, building compliance and accordingly issue the relevant paperwork to occupy the building permanently. I am pleased to report that this was achieved. The focus now will be on improving our shed and the surrounding landscape. There are a number of tasks which will need to be prioritised, for example a storage shed for the timber, enclosure of the patio for the metal work area and the installation of the dust extraction system.

In addition you will have noticed that several items of machinery and tools have been purchased to upgrade the standard of our existing equipment. This replacing or upgrading equipment will be an ongoing theme throughout the life of the shed and will only be achievable by the continued support of all members to actively participate in raising funds either through applications for grants, completing repair jobs and/or making items for members of the public, or conducting events such as BBQ’s at Bunnings etc.

I would like to congratulate all members on a job well done over the last 12 months, most notably those members who worked tirelessly on the task of demolishing internal fitting and structures at the old CJR Plumbing Building for Metro Pty Ltd, which raised considerable funds for the Shed. Which enabled the shed to purchase some of the fore mentioned machinery. On behalf of all members, I thank you.

Very shortly I will declare all positions on the executive committee vacant, but before I do, please be aware that a new position of Welfare Officer has been created. It has become

apparent, particularly over the last 12 months that such a position is vital to keeping all members informed of the welfare of members in order to visit and/or assist them in whatever way possible during times of absence, illness or hospital stays etc. To a degree, some members have kept us informed, about those members who have not been able to attend for whatever reason, but unfortunately some have slipped through the cracks.

All positions of the executive committee are now declared vacant. Nominations for re-election or election for the newly created position of Welfare Officer, will now be called for:

President

Vice President

Secretary/Assistant Secretary

Treasurer/Assistant Treasurer

Shed Coordinator/Assistant Shed Coordinator

Welfare Officer

I would ask that you extend your appreciation to all members that have stood down for a job well done, to allow the re-election to proceed and to congratulate those that are elected. If nominated for the position of President, I am willing to accept that nomination.

This coming year holds a lot of promise and excitement in the forthcoming months

On behalf of all members, I would like to extend our appreciate to Metroll Pty Ltd and Aussie Outdoors Shed and Patio’s for their support in being our major sponsors; without which we would not be in the position we are today.

I now call upon Terry Ledbury to take the chair, whilst the re-election for vacancies takes place. Thank you.

Richard Creagh

Annual General Meeting 13th March 2017

Tue, 14 Mar 2017 05:20:11 GMT

Annual General Meeting 13th March 2017

Highfields Mens Shed Inc.

Annual General Meeting 13th March 2017

Minutes

Meeting Opened 10am with a welcome by The President, Richard Creagh

Present attached

Apologies attached

Resolved Apologies be accepted and leave granted

Minutes of AGM 14/3/2016 – already posted and read by the Secretary

Moved Rob Mitchell Seconded Terry Ledbury

“That the minutes of the AGM held on 14/3/2016 be signed and filed as a true and accurate record” Carried

Business arising from the minutes – nil

Treasurers Report – Attached

Question from Jim Watson on the weekly cost of keeping the Shed open

The Treasurer did some quick calculations and stated it cost $100+ per week to keep the Shed open and operational. The Assistant Treasurer stated he collected about $40 per Shed day from Member contributions which left a weekly deficit of about $20 – 30.

Moved Peter Wilson Seconded Graham Milson

“That the Treasurers report be signed and filed as a true and accurate record of the Sheds annual financial position” Carried

Presidents Report attached

Moved Richard Creagh Seconded Eddie Johnson

“That the Presidents Report be received and adopted”

The President was thanked by acclamation

The President declared all Management Committee positions vacant and vacated the Chair

Terry Ledbury took the Chair and called for nominations for the position of President

President Richard Creagh Nom. Tim Lincoln Sec. Ross Routley

No further nominations – Richard elected unopposed

Richard Creagh as elected President resumed the Chair

Vice President Les Wildman Nom. Tim Buckley Sec. Rob Mitchell

No further nominations – Les elected unopposed

Secretary Rob Mitchell Nom. Eddie Johnson Sec. Peter Wilson

No further nominations – Rob elected unopposed

Treasurer Peter Wilson Nom. Rob Mitchell Sec. Eddie Johnson

No further nominations – Peter elected unopposed

Assistant Secretary No nominations To be appointed

Assistant Treasurer Jim O’Brien Nom. Rob Mitchell Sec. Peter Wilson

No further nominations – Jim elected unopposed

Shed Co-Ordinator Eddie Johnson Nom. Rob Mitchell Sec. Les Wildman

No further nominations – Eddie elected unopposed

Assist Shed Co-Ordinator Tim Buckley Nom. Rob Mitchell Sec. Eddie Johnson

No further nominations – Tim elected unopposed

Welfare Officer Noel Wilcox Nom. Rob Mitchell Sec. Terry Ledbury

(subject to Noels acceptance)

Committee x 2 Mike Robinson nominated but declined

Paul Hartas Nom. Eddie Johnson Sec. Mike Robinson

Terry Ledbury Nom. Mike Robinson Sec. Gordon Robinson

No further nominations Paul and Terry elected unopposed

Auditor Contador P/L Nom. Peter Wilson Sec. Terry Ledbury

No further nominations – Contador P/L appointed

General Business Notice of Motion – displayed on notice board prior to meeting

Moved Peter Wilson Seconded Eddie Johnson

“That The Highfields Mens Shed Inc. attendance fee be increased from $35 to $40 commencing 1st January 2018” Carried following some discussion

Meeting Closed 10.40am

Next AGM 12 th March 2018

Certificate of Appreciation

Fri, 04 Nov 2016 05:01:58 GMT

For your valuable support and help with the 50th Anniversary of the commissioning of Cooby Creek Space Tracking Station.