…. DIY  Fathers Day with a twist

Setting up for the DIY

Bunnings from Rydalmere approached the Parramatta District Men’s Shed Inc.  to assist run a DIY evening for Fathers day. The Idea was for our volunteer members to pool their vast expertise and help the children of Dad’s to make a simple item for their Dad.

BUT … Dad (or in one case POP) had to do all the dangerous work!!!!, whilst under supervision from our volunteers.

Choosing the product and materials??

As with any project … it all starts with the selection of the product, the materials to make it from and the tools needed to make it. Our volunteers helped with the choices … in this case it was a “Bungee cord” rack to hold all sorts of odds and sods … like sunglasses, earphone cords from mobile phones, ties …….

Drilling holes for the cord

Then it was time to start the real work, with some careful tuition from our volunteers,

Volunteers instructing

our keen students under the help and guidance of “POP” and “Dad”, showed great talent and a precision most experts would love to see ….

Threading Bungee cord

Age seemed to be no barrier with this young family keenly watching as our young professionals worked tirelessly to their end goal.

A little bit of cutting a dowel

and hey presto …. that was so much fun …..

even POP had a great time with his grand daughter

…. some quality time together.

LOOK “POP” success ….
Hope DAD loves this????

THANK YOU BUNNINGS for a great night …. our volunteers also had a lot of FUN

PDMS Inc wins GRANT from Parramatta City Council ….. Once again our Shed has been successful in obtaining a grant from Parramatta City Council’s Community Grants 2016 program. The grant allows our Shed to purchase a “Computer Numerical Control 3d Router Kit”.

The major reason for requiring this equipment is to produce templates and cut-outs to satisfy requests from the “Flintwood” disability center. Flintwood and PDMS Inc have a long established arrangement where our Shed provides products for the disabled members at Flintwood to finish off (sand, paint etc). This is yet another one of our Shed’s community involvement programs.

Our Shed has been making all sorts of products for Flintwood over the last year …. here are some of the finished  items:

Cup Holders

Xmas Trees

Equipment is expected to be delivered and installed by the end of August and we are hoping to have it on display for our next:

Shed OPEN DAY …. on 19th November 2016 …

For more details on this equipment please look at the video HERE and HERE

THANK YOU PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL

A collaboration between PDMS Inc and Parramatta College:

Parramatta District Men’s Shed (PDMS Inc.) is proud to announce that Parramatta College have teamed up to bring a new course to the Parramatta community. Lessons will be conducted at our Shed by our Volunteer Men.

The intent of the program is for those who want to learn :

“basic woodworking techniques, which tools and adhesives to use, and the different types of wood you can use. You will learn to sand and finish your project. At the end of the course you will have made a basic project such as a basic box or spice rack. Small materials cost.”

Click Parramatta College T3 2016 Woodworking Flyer for the Parramatta College advertising flyer

The course is designed for the complete novice both women and men, young and not so young ….. it will be a fun time using our Shed’s tools and equipment and most importantly the great SKILLS of our volunteer MEN.

Bookings :

are made through Parramatta college …. visit their website or call 02 9687 2072

Minster AJAKA

The Hon John AJAKA Member of the Legislative Council
Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Multiculturalism, and Minister for Youth visited Parramatta District Men’s Shed today  to learn of the work, and lend his support and congratulations to the Parramatta Men’s Shed.

“Men’s Sheds are filling a much needed social connection while maintaining skills developed over a life-time. The Parramatta Men’s Shed provides opportunities to create and build, while socialising and contributing to the community. Men’s sheds certainly tick all the boxes of my portfolios”

Member for Parramatta, the Hon. Geoff Lee MP, has been a strong supporter of the Men’s Shed.

“Parramatta District Men’s Shed has not been slow in reaching out to the broader community. The members recently completed a joint project with Parramatta City Council, WIRES and Karabi in building possum boxes. The Men’s shed have also recently designed and built Bottle Labeling jigs for use by the Beehive Industries Co-operative.”

Announcing Parramatta District Men’s Shed First Open Day.

 SEE the Parramatta Advertiser article HERE

Today, the President of the Parramatta District Men’s Shed, Doug MacKay, announced that the Shed will be holding its first Open Day – on Friday, 19 June.

Doug invited anyone who has ever wondered what exactly it is that men get up to in one of these Community Men’s Sheds, to come along and find out first hand.

For a little over two years the members have beavered away setting up their Shed; they’re proud of what they have achieved and now they think it is time to share it with the public, Doug said.

Along the way, we’ve also managed to help other people and groups in our community, which is something our men are equally proud of.

Our open day is being held in conjunction with Men’s Health Week to highlight the important role that men ‘s sheds play in improving the health of men in local communities; and Australian Hearing will be offering free hearing test as part of the day’s activities, Doug also announced.

There’ll also be free sausage sandwiches, tours of the Shed, and items the men have made will be on sale; and if you are interested we might even give you a bit of an insight into the rich history of the site.

So if you have ever wondered what a men’s shed is about, or if you are thinking about joining a men’s shed just let us know you are coming and we’ll throw another snag on the barbie!

The details:

The Date:            Friday, 19 June, 2015

Time:                     10:30 am for 11:00 am and it should be all over by 2:00pm.

Place:                    Parramatta District Men’s Shed Inc.

Building 23

1 Fleet Street

North Parramatta NSW 2151

Parking:          There’s plenty – off street!

Grill’d LOCAL donation

“Grill’d” burger bar in church street Parramatta runs monthly “LOCAL” competitions. Grill’d donates a total of $500 to three local organisations each month, with $300 to most liked organisation. The clients choose the winners by dropping bottle tops into three jars represneting each organisation. In the month of January PDMSInc was one of the contenders.

Thanks to our kind supporters who frequent Grill’d and purchased meals there (for which they recieve a bottle top) and voting for our Men’s shed. PDMSInc were fortunate enough to be nominated the most favoured for January …… read the Grill’d notification here

HOW GOOD IS THAT ……… thank you Grill’d and our followers ……. whooo hooooo.

This donation will go towards some equipment for the shed members.