These last 12 months have gone very quickly, and we seem to have, as a club, accomplished a great deal of work around the workshop and in the club itself. So, what have we accomplished this year?
First and foremost is that we were very fortunate to receive grant through the auspice of the V.M.S.A. from the Victorian Government. This money along with the balance from our own funds we were able to purchase a custom-built new dust extraction unit and ducting to all machines. I was told later that this unit was the last piece of the plan for the workshop. We have had quite a few compliments on our workshop layout and the ducting as well as the extraction unit and the difference from 12 months ago.
We have invested in quite a few new machines in the last 12 months, 3 lathes, a new thicknesser and a jointer/planer as well as a new table saw (we all know the problems we had with the saw stop with the brake firing out at the drop of a hat). We are now able to start looking at what machines need to be replaced or needs to be upgraded.
For many years Paul Kohl has been the leader of the pen making group and has decided to stand down as the leader and will be handing it over to Katie Hardiman, don’t worry Paul will still be around to help with the running of the group along with resin work. Thank you, Paul, for your work over the years.
To those members of the committee who are not seeking re-election to the new committee on behalf of the members I say a big thank you for your commitment to the club.
We are in the first stage of introduced a new training program on the safe use of the machines in our workshop, with a team of members who will be able to carry this out most probably on a Saturday afternoon. This will be up and running in the very near future.
We have had several club commissions from the local area for the members to make the latest on is for the Show Society, a profile cutout of chickens, approximately 500 of them, a fly-fishing rod display rack, a set of steps for the racing club, an honour board for the A.D.F. at Latchford Barracks as well as several items done on the Wood Wiz. To name a few of the projects that members undertook to make, thank you to the members who undertake these projects as they help our club’s finances.
Now to the important part of my annual report, who to thank, firstly the members who turn up to at the Cottage each week not forgetting the members who set up and man our stall at the Farmers Market every Saturday morning, to the members who volunteer for club activities whether it is Bunnings BBQ, the Wodonga Show, the working bees which help keep our club running efficiently a Very big Thank You from the committee and myself.
To the committee thank you for another successful year.
To you our members thank you for being a member for without your support and membership we wouldn’t have what we have today.
Martin Lawley—President