Join everyone in our warm and cosy meeting room  for fresh baked scones, jam and cream with friendly companionship. All existing members as well as any prospective members are welcome.  If we are lucky, we may even have some of Greg's delicious savoury scones.

All members are welcome to join our Art Group and explore their own artistic talents, try a new medium, have a go or just watch, chat and learn a little as other members experiment and create. No previous experience is necessary. We are a very informal group with a range of talents and abilities but just having a go - absolute beginners to "old" masters!

David Fisher will be leading our discussion this month, when we reflect on this fascinating historical epic. I will  need to rely on my notes to remember some of the place names, but the Taklamakan desert, Ch'ang and Kashgar are now part of my lexicon. Perhaps some in our group have visited the area and have personal knowledge of it. I once took an overnight train from Xi'an (modern day Ch'ang) to Lhasa in Tibet, but only recall vague impressions of an arid and frozen landscape since a lot of the journey was after dark. Which parts of this narrative did you find most interesting or controversial?. I look forward to our discussion on Tuesday afternoon next week, from 4:30. I had some feedback about the difficulty of accessing this book, which is not easily available in libraries and not on audible. An electronic copy can be downloaded from the internet archive, but that may not suite everybody. Pease consider access when nominating titles in the future.

Woodworking Machinery Induction (Blue Dot) – Phases 1 & 2 All Members who wish to use the woodworking machinery in the Machine Room will need to complete Phase 1 & Phase 2 of the Woodworking Machinery Induction Training. Please Note that Members must have completed the Red Dot course before enrolling in this Blue Dot course? This Course will be conducted in two Phases over two consecutive weeks (9am - 12pm) so you must be able to commit to both sessions before purchasing a ticket. Each Phase will be approximately a three hour duration. There will be a maximum of 3 persons for each Session. The Cost of this course (for both Phases) is $20.  If after booking, for some reason you cannot attend the training, please advise Michael Cahill on 0459062090 as soon as possible, so we can arrange another session for you.  If you cancel or are a “no show” on the day you will lose your $20 fee so please, only book if you can commit to the two consecutive weeks. Payments can be made online by secure credit card.  Once you have completed both phases of the Woodworking Machinery Induction your Membership Badge will be updated to replace the Red Dot with a Blue Dot.  This will reflect that you have completed all the necessary Woodworking Training and are ready to undertake any Woodworking projects in the Shed. 

To maintain your Blue Dot Woodworking Accreditation you will need to, you will need to undertake a Verification of Competency (VOC) Assessment as follows. Woodworking members aged under 75 years will be assessed every 24 months Woodworking members aged 75 to 84 years will be assessed every 18 months Woodworking members older than 85 years  will be assessed every 12 months You will be assigned a simple task which shouldn’t take more than about 30 minutes. This is not a test of your craftsmanship; it is simply a demonstration that you can competently use the machinery unsupervised without endangering yourself or others.  You can book your VOC Assessment by clicking on your preferred VOC Assessment date below. The Rostered Supervisor for the day will oversee your assessment and he will either deem you "competent" or refer you to a Trainer for further assessment or training. If you choose not to do the VOC Assessment,  you will no longer be able to use the Machine Room equipment unsupervised.

Golf Simulator opportunity Attention all Shed golfers and would-be golfers. We have something special for you.  Peter Telford, a Shed member and all-around great SCMS supporter, has kindly offered to host an afternoon event for a small group of Shed members at his golf simulator in the CWA Pavillion, which is inside the Showgrounds just down the road from the Shed along the railroad tracks. When – Friday 25 July 1.30 – 3.30 pm Where – CWA Pavillion (Market Supplies written on the building) Cost: Free Format – Groups of 4, with scheduled tee times at 1:30 and 2:30.  If there is extra demand we may be able to convince Peter to add one more tee time at 3:30.  You need to book in for a free ticket so we know numbers.  If you have a preferred tee time please email me directly at david@davidbeard.co and I will do my best to accommodate you. Spectators welcome!  Even if you don’t want to play but are just curious about how a golf simulator works (or want to come along and heckle the golfers!), you are welcome to come and watch.  Please register so we know numbers for catering as Peter has offered to provide some drinks (since it is Friday afternoon!). First in best dressed, so get in quick and grab one of the spots for this unique event.

At 11.30am after morning tea on Thursday, 24 July, Dr Vivienne Dawes has kindly offered to provide a free basic sewing class in the Conference Room. Dr Dawes will show us how to sew on a button and mend a hem.  She  will also talk briefly about the range of surgical sutures and their uses.   Make sure you have your reading glasses with you for threading needles! The class will be limited to a maximum of 6 members, so book your free ticket early to avoid disappointment.

Join everyone in our warm and cosy meeting room  for fresh baked scones, jam and cream with friendly companionship. All existing members as well as any prospective members are welcome.

Our guest speaker this month is Ros Thomas, an acclaimed journalist, author, and advocate whose work has touched countless lives. With a career spanning over two decades, Ros has dedicated her efforts to shedding light on critical social issues and bringing about positive change. Her insightful writing and commitment to storytelling have made her a respected figure in the media landscape. The Loneliness Project is one of Ros Thomas's most significant initiatives aimed at addressing the pervasive issue of loneliness in contemporary society. This project seeks to explore the depths of loneliness, its causes, and its impact on individuals and communities. Through a combination of research, personal stories, and expert insights, the Loneliness Project aims to raise awareness and foster connections among those who feel isolated. The Loneliness Project has already made a significant impact by bringing the issue of loneliness to the forefront of public discourse. Ros Thomas's vision is to create a more connected and compassionate society where individuals feel supported and valued. By addressing loneliness head-on, the project aspires to improve mental health outcomes and strengthen community bonds. Ros Thomas and the Loneliness Project exemplify the power of storytelling and advocacy in tackling societal challenges. Through her dedication and passion, Ros continues to inspire others to join the fight against loneliness and build a world where everyone feels a sense of belonging. For more information on Ros and the Loneliness Project you can listen to her interview on ABC Radio on 26 th Feb 2025 or read an article on the Loneliness Project in the Australian Weekend Magazine on 15 th Feb 2025. This should prove to be a facinating talk so please register with a free ticket and come along and be informed. Don't forget to stay a while after the talk to share in some Shed fellowship with drinks and nibbles available and to participate in the 2025 inititive for a Door Prize for some lucky participant which will be drawn at approximately 5:45pm

The training on the Laser Cutter in June/July continues this morning for all already registered attendees.

Stephen Keenihan, as a proud South Australian, will present a special collection of shiraz wines from the McClaren Vale.  The Alpha Crucis Winemakers Series 2016 explores the influence a winemaker has over a single vineyard. Six top winemakers were tasked with making a wine autonomously, in a style of their choosing from super premium shiraz sourced from the Heritage Vineyard at Chalk Hill. The winemakers had full control which starts in the vineyard. Each winemaker was allocated 6 rows from the vineyard, they selected the harvest date and the grapes were sent to their winery for processing. The wine is then made by the winemakers, without any influence before being bottled separately allowing both the quality of the vineyard to shine through as well as the personality of each winemaker. As previously advised, this is a special event, with a reduced price of $10, so tickets are limited to one per person (i.e. no guests, or non-members of the Wine Group).   If any spare tickets are availablecloser to the date of the meeeting, we will then allow guests.  First in, best dresssed.

We are scheduled to prepare another Homeless meal in cooperation with Matilda Bay Rotary Club. Now that we have entered the cooler period, we will be cooking a more hearty meal comprising of a nice Meat Stew or a Shepherds Pie, depending on the type of produce that will be dropped off by MBRC. Anybody is welcome to drop by our kitchen and say 'Hello' to our team. Best regards, Werner.