Another great year for the Men’s Shed and a new President and Secretary

At the recent AGM of the Lorne & District Men’s Shed, founding President, Allan Walls handed over the reins to Bob Sinclair who has been elected President with Bill Youl taking up the position of Secretary.

Allan Walls was the man who got the Lorne Shedders off the ground six years ago and in his final report as President he said that he was confident that the Shed was in good hands. He said he would like to especially thank Don Baldwin for the magnificent job he did as Secretary.

The committee will remain pretty much unchanged and consisted of immediate past President, Allan Walls, also Don Baldwin, Alvin Svikers, Max Pitt (Vice President), John Barber as Treasurer, St John Sutton, Gary Fenton (Vice President), Robert Preece, John Bliss and Tony Peddie.

Allan said that highlights for the year included:

  • Construction of a fleet of T37 model yachts which cumulated with a very well attended regatta on the Erskine River, a community event which is to be repeated in the warmer months. Sponsors included the Bendigo Community Bank, and the Lorne Angling and Aquatic Club.
  • Visits to the Lindsay Fox Car Museum at the Docklands and Anglesea Proving Grounds
  • A magnificent Christmas Dinner hosted by St John Sutton and Bev Osborne at their home on South Ridge.
  • At the request of Lorne Community Connect and under the guidance of Chris Wood, the Shed constructed 10 Artist Easels which are now in use for Life Drawing classes at the Community Connect Centre.
  • We continue to do small and sometimes larger jobs for our friends at the Lorne Op Shop. If we are able to help, we do.
  • Whilst these projects were underway incoming President Bob Sinclair ably assisted by John Bliss, Alvis Svikers, Gary Fenton and other Shedders took on the enormous task of constructing the architecturally designed panels for the soon to be renovated Lorne Historical Society façade. This fabulous renovation will be attributed mainly to the tireless efforts of the Lorne and District Men’s Shed.
  • Our most senior Shedder, Leo Collins, who with assistance from Alvis Svikers, finished the restoration of the metre-tall Owl for the Lorne Hospital Garden.
  • The Bendigo Community Bank conducted a seminar on “What’s happening in the Financial World“.  This seminar was well attended with visitors from Anglesea, Winchelsea, Apollo Bay, Lorne and surrounds. A large contingent of Bankers were on hand to present, including the Founder of Community Banking, Lorne Shedder, Rob Hunt. Fair to say the social room was full.

Allan also told members that the Shed now had a nine-year lease with the Surf Coast Shire. “This was no small task and secures our tenure for years to come,” he said.  “There are 115 of us. Thank you for your support and friendship for the past six years. I know many good friendships have been formed, we are in good shape, we are a well-respected organisation in our Community – in fact I think we are Australia’s best Men’s Shed,” he added.