Wee Waa men’s shed recently welcomed four visitors from the group’s Gunnedah branch to their Friday meeting, with members exchanging stories about restoration projects, handy tools, and town happenings while munching on a delicious morning tea.
Gunnedah’s Graham Murrell, Rick Thomas, Lawrence Opperman and Dan Birkett were given a tour of the shed’s treasures and demonstration of how the group’s cotton press (kindly made by member Robert Kahl) makes the bales for Australian Cotton Classing Services, who supply various outlets with the iconic cotton bales including the Narrabri Tourist Information Centre, Wee Waa Post Office and newsagency.
The Gunnedah and Wee Waa members also visited Cotton Seed Distributors for a site tour.
Rick Thomas said the Gunnedah group organised their trip to the Cotton Capital because he used to live in Wee Waa and through his friend Bruce Gray, he had heard about some of the impressive projects the town’s members have been involved with, such as the restoration of a cotton picker and railway tricycle.
“I met Bruce through Apex in the 1970s, it was a wonderful group and you made friends for life being part of it,” Mr Thomas told the Wee Waa News.
“It’s been a real pleasure coming back here today.”
The men’s shed movement has been a huge success in country communities across Australia.
The initiative was established to improve the health and wellbeing of blokes by providing a comfortable place – a trusty shed – for men to feel included and connected.
A men’s shed is a community-based, non-commercial organisation where members can get stuck into a variety of activities including woodwork and other manual crafts.
Wee Waa members meet twice a week at their beloved shed, located at the showground.
The group is always looking for new members to work on projects or just stop by for a cuppa and a chat.
The Wee Waa group will be on the move next, travelling to Boggabri in April to catch up with the town’s men’s shed members.
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