Wednesday, 18 October 2023

Berwick District Woodworkers Club

Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:44): I was delighted to visit the Berwick woodworkers club to learn more about important community work that they undertake and how essential their craft is to their members. The Berwick woodworkers have a magnificent site within the property of the Old Cheese Factory, which is owned as Crown land and managed by the City of Casey. It is registered as a historical site by the City of Casey. The 30-acre site includes around 10 acres and a mix of buildings that date back to the 1860s and other contemporary buildings and gardens. The original buildings were historically used in the production of cheese from the milking of over 200 cows twice a day.

I met with some of the woodworkers about a plan to significantly increase and enhance this site with even more artistic participation. I also saw some of the 1000 incredible toys the members produced to donate to charitable organisations at Christmas, the high-quality machinery used to make the toys and the many other projects created by the 130 members. Some of those members attend the club almost every day. It is their participation in this most precise craft that fulfils their artistic passion and their need for socialisation and companionship and provides an opportunity to contribute their skills to help others in need. I look forward to our ongoing discussions.