Was just at a Men's Shed meeting this morning delegates from various sheds around Southern Perth area meeting.
One of the men was reporting how they had a call from a man, "A Grey Nomad"who had ricked his shoulder and could not fix a simple problem on his RV roof.
None of the Repairers could look at it for him of the local Caravan repair outfits. Desperate. Someone suggested Men's Shed might help. He called a shed (no idea which one) They had a look and being a simple fix (30 minutes he said) They did it for him for a donation. I think they said a cake for morning tea was suggested by the shed members.
Very satisfied Grey Nomad with a problem FIXED.
Happy Men's Shed Morning Tea.
The shed looked on it as a community service for a person who was incapacitated by his shoulder and glad to help him on his way.
The grey Nomad was ready to pay dollars, but was overwhelmed by the help.
He had morning tea with them and told of his adventures along the road.
I am a member of a shed in Perth and they often do jobs for a donation (not specifically caravans).
The sheds are basically self funded although local councils and community organisations often assist.
Weedpharma
Exactly, I put that up to be a reminder if people are really stuck, and need some help. Even in small country towns there are men's sheds that might be useful source of help to the traveler in trouble.
This post has got me thinking. May need to post a new topic; but this may stimulate thought from some: see where it leads.
My short story. Did Central Australia in June from Perth, and needed a 90000Km service in Alice. Quoted $900.00. REALLY.
Off to Repco and $210.00 for parts. Pretended to be washing the underneath of the car; and the service is done. I felt like a criminal.
So. I`m thinking, if I put my hand up to assist travellers in service and or repairs; our a place to DIY. (I`m a Fitter by trade, and have built my Caravan from scratch)
Would there be any interest? I have all the tools, equipment and space, a good coffee machine and could do B@B if required.
Yes I did a service at 90 mile beach . Mainly oil change . Did the same . Pretended I was washing . Lol Dripped old oil off at road house into Broom ., Men sheds are only too happy to help out .
This post has got me thinking. May need to post a new topic; but this may stimulate thought from some: see where it leads.
My short story. Did Central Australia in June from Perth, and needed a 90000Km service in Alice. Quoted $900.00. REALLY.
Off to Repco and $210.00 for parts. Pretended to be washing the underneath of the car; and the service is done. I felt like a criminal.
So. I`m thinking, if I put my hand up to assist travellers in service and or repairs; our a place to DIY. (I`m a Fitter by trade, and have built my Caravan from scratch)
Would there be any interest? I have all the tools, equipment and space, a good coffee machine and could do B@B if required.
Your thoughts please.
Regards.
Hetho.
Not quite certain what you are proposing. Do you mean to set up shop at your home address for DIY Servicing/Repairs ? for travellers. Or do the work on the road in e.g. CP's. I would think you would maybe contravening a few bylaws or Caravan Park rules.
The Men's Shed organisation tries not to compete in any way with local businesses. They will usually do a job for someone as a community service (similar to Rotary or Lions) not for profit lending a helping hand. Good Samaritan type stuff.
Hetho the council and local service shops would go nuts, sadly.
Would be nice to have an "emergency" section in some websites to offer such things though.............
Talking of Men's sheds nearly brings me to tears. At our Rise Church in Northgate, SA. We have quite a large area alongside where we have two shipping containers for storage of outside equipment etc, beside those there is a few acres of land where I suggested we put a "Grumpy Old Men's Shed" to cater for so many widowed men who just sit home, watch TV or get bore out of their tree. We formed a committee and it became obvious that as well as a community shed with TV's, card games darts & anything else that was required for the old guys, there was a need for a training place for teaching the local teenagers, plus anyone else, how to fix cars, motor bikes, lawn mowers and the list goes on. Well, we decided on the size & height of the shed, plus all the amenities, & a kitchen and finished up with a bigger shed. Now all this was fine, we got prices for sheds that size and all seemed to be well, until we started to get approval from the required departments. We have ran up against, council approval, every Govt department that has ever existed plus others, the Greens want an enviramental impact study of the area, The council want to know what type of trees we are going to plant & where. They also want a noise assessment of the area. Folks, this has gone on for two years, and is no further advanced than before we started. We have many other groups of people waiting for it to be built so that they can use it as well, but all this bullsh*t is driving us nuts. And we are still answering miles of requests & studies before council will give approval. It just makes you wonder how far you have to go just to build a shed for people to play in & have a community place that is not threatening or invasive. I am at present reading the book of Job, I hope that God gives me his patience coz we are surely going to need it. Baggie.
Have you tried telling that you are going to give it all away and the amount of money and benefits the Councillors have lost and how you will bring in a TV crew to tell all of Australia.
That often does wonders as they don't want their names splashed in the media for the wrong reasons.
You might be surprised what might happen, next they will be begging you to go a head.
About time the greenies pulled their head in.
I know after the 2009 bush fires in VIc they went very quiet because much of the damage came form the massive amount of undergrowth due to not being able to burn off etc.
Just after the fire they cut down just about every tree in sight and I know some places where they removed every tree on their property where before it was dense shrub. They got in quick while the greenies were laying low.
Hope you have some success in the long run. Be sure not to invite the local Councillors to the opening if you do get it through.
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11 Mtr house Boat based at Mannum hoping to travel up the Murray as far as I can get then drift back again
I'm a member of the Nambucca Heads Men's Shed, and put in some time there WHEN we're at home, our shed has all the tools/equipment that would ever be needed to carry out almost any repair. Plus some "toys" you wouldn't expet to find like a Laser Engraver, CNC Router, Milling Machine, Lucas Mill and 3600 rip Panel Saw with scribe blade. I love going there to help out and use the equipment to do my own repairs/modifications to our motor home after our annual winter migration.
Our shed is in the light industrial area which I suppose would have helped negate a lot of issues Baggie mentioned. Made some great friends there too and I'm sure if any GN turned up seeking some help, the guys would bend over backwards to help out and I recon any shed around the playground would be the same.
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Steve, Di & Ziggy We named our Motorhome "Roadworx" because on the road works "On The Road Again" Ford Transit with 302 Windsor V8 conversion, C4 Auto, 9 Inch Ford Diff All Lighting L.E.D., 260 Amp/h AGM, 530 Watt Solar + Kipor Backup Gen.
I got two mens sheds hre in Mannum.
The normal one which I have just discovered and intend joining. They have LOTS of good wood, large slabs of red gum that no one wants and they want out of the shed as well as a couple piles of tree limbs etc just waiting for a turner LOL.
WOOO is me I am waiting for all my lathe tools etc to be collected but I am about to be like a pig in a SH*T hole.
I also have access to a large shed where all the Lithium setups are getting done and the last owner left lots of good toys so have access to metal lathes, power saws, milling machines etc so the best of both worlds.
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11 Mtr house Boat based at Mannum hoping to travel up the Murray as far as I can get then drift back again
Talking of Men's sheds nearly brings me to tears. At our Rise Church in Northgate, SA. We have quite a large area alongside where we have two shipping containers for storage of outside equipment etc, beside those there is a few acres of land where I suggested we put a "Grumpy Old Men's Shed" to cater for so many widowed men who just sit home, watch TV or get bore out of their tree. We formed a committee and it became obvious that as well as a community shed with TV's, card games darts & anything else that was required for the old guys, there was a need for a training place for teaching the local teenagers, plus anyone else, how to fix cars, motor bikes, lawn mowers and the list goes on. Well, we decided on the size & height of the shed, plus all the amenities, & a kitchen and finished up with a bigger shed. Now all this was fine, we got prices for sheds that size and all seemed to be well, until we started to get approval from the required departments. We have ran up against, council approval, every Govt department that has ever existed plus others, the Greens want an enviramental impact study of the area, The council want to know what type of trees we are going to plant & where. They also want a noise assessment of the area. Folks, this has gone on for two years, and is no further advanced than before we started. We have many other groups of people waiting for it to be built so that they can use it as well, but all this bullsh*t is driving us nuts. And we are still answering miles of requests & studies before council will give approval. It just makes you wonder how far you have to go just to build a shed for people to play in & have a community place that is not threatening or invasive. I am at present reading the book of Job, I hope that God gives me his patience coz we are surely going to need it. Baggie.
Surely this is Normal Planning Procedure
-- Edited by elliemike on Wednesday 5th of October 2016 11:15:11 AM
Our men's shed is tiny and a bit crowded, however we have all the Gear in the way of power tools and machinery for woodwork. I enjoy using the hand tools for woodwork (Slow Woodwork) I still sharpen all my own saws and hand planes chisels etc. I can use all the machinery and still do on shed projects. But other than milling up the timber in the machinery I like to do the rest of the work by hand. Good Sharp tools are a great pleasure to use. Yes even the Brace with all the bits get a workout. I have my own workshop at home as well so really other than the Companionship and the Craic I have no need to got to my Local Men's shed (walking distance )
Just finished a new set of Handles for my wood Chisels
