Riviera is gifting its timber offcuts to the Labrador Men’s Shed. Find out how they are recycling them to make toys, Santa sleighs and cubby houses that put smiles on sick children’s faces.
“You look at this timber in terms of waste,’’ says Labrador Men’s Shed secretary Len Thomson. “We look at this same timber as gold.’’
Every Monday, religiously around 6am, someone from the Men’s Shed pulls up into Riviera’s Coomera headquarters carpark driving an empty ute.
About an hour later, after enjoying a steaming hot cup of tea, they leave with enough timber scraps that, over time, are distributed to 13 Men’s Sheds across southeast Queensland.
The ute is filled with ply offcuts, walnut scraps, and leftover oak that Riviera’s discerning craftspeople have either discarded or have deemed to be not of high enough quality to use on our luxury motor yachts.
The Men’s Shed members take these offcuts and turn them into toys that put smiles of sick kids’ faces; stepping boxes for Gold Coast University and Robina hospitals; possum boxes for Wildcare; patrol boxes for Parkwood Scouts; Santa sleighs; giant cubby houses; chopping boards; and elegant jewellery boxes, among other things.
“We make a lot of things for the hospitals. A lot of toys that kids can play with in hospital and then take home.” Merv Holliday
These stepping boxes are used at Gold Coast and Robina hospitals to help patients get in, and out, of bed.
Everyone needs a new cutting board at some time. These are just some of the many made.
“Sometimes Riviera’s craftspeople, because their standards are so high, will reject a piece of timber because there is a slight flaw in the grain,’’ Men’s Shed Labrador president Merv Holliday says.
“That timber is potentially some of the best raw materials that we will ever get to work with.
“We make a lot of things for the hospitals. A lot of toys that kids can play with in hospital and then take home. Last year we built a Santa sleigh with wheelchair access, and now we are putting together a brightly coloured cubby house for the sick kids to play in. It is very rewarding being part of projects that help people get through difficult times.’’
For those who don’t know, the concept of Men’s Sheds was founded in Australia back in the 1990s. There are now more than 1200 Men’s Sheds throughout the country.
“Men’s Sheds are about health and wellbeing for men,’’ Merv explains.
“A Men’s Shed offers a welcoming, non-judgemental environment where men can work at their own pace on projects for themselves or for the community.’’
The Labrador chapter was opened by former Gold Coast Mayor and athletics legend Ron Clarke in August 2010 with just six members. Today, more than 130 men, aged between 20 and 94, spend their days at the facility spinning yarns, learning new skills, and enjoying a sense of post-work life camaraderie.
“Most of the people come here because they have heard about Men’s Sheds through word of mouth. Or perhaps their wives and daughters have pushed them towards us.” Len Thomson
“We are a broad church. We have some highly skilled members … and some dummies,’’ Len says. “Most of the people come here because they have heard about Men’s Sheds through word-of-mouth. Or perhaps their wives and daughters have pushed them towards us because they might be struggling to find a real purpose after retiring.’’
Riviera’s Manufactured Components Production Manager Bradley Weigel says the relationship with Labrador Men’s Shed works well for both parties.
“This is timber that we would otherwise be sending to waste,’’ he says. “So now, we are taking something which would normally go into landfill, and with the help of the Men’s Shed, recycling it and giving it a new lease on life.
“It’s a win-win for both parties.”
To help strengthen the relationship between Men’s Shed Labrador members and Riviera, the company recently hosted 45 Shed members on a tour of our world class Coomera headquarters so they could also get a close-up-and-personal view of how we use the timbers on our award-winning motor yachts.
