A new project enabling students to learn valuable woodworking skills while creating inter-generational connections has been launched in Deniliquin.
Deniliquin High School has partnered with the Deniliquin Menshed to provide the opportunity to Year 8 students.
The program sees students visit the Menshed on Tuesday afternoons, with recent projects including making wooden kitchen serving trays.
Deniliquin Menshed president Graham Bishop said five male students have been taking part in the program since the start of this term.
“It has been a good number of students we can watch and help out.
“We like doing this kind of thing, particularly helping people.
“We’ve also recently made things for Navorina and help support others through what we do here at the Menshed.”
Mr Bishop said a similar partnership with Deni High School was in place before the COVID-19 pandemic, with this new program a rejuvenation of that relationship.
The students have been under the watchful tuition of three Menshed members, including Mr Bishop, Ian Roberts and John Tonkin.
Other Menshed members provide support and guidance as required.
Mr Roberts said all involved have been benefiting from the positive interactions.
“It is good for the students to get out and also interact with older people, and for the interaction to have gone both ways.
“They seem to have really enjoyed themselves here.”
Mr Roberts said his own experience at the Menshed has been significant.
“I’ve always loved making things by hand. At school, I made furniture for my woodworking class.
“It makes you proud to see things I made 30 to 40 years ago still going strong and standing the test of time.
“Hopefully we can pass some of that onto the kids.”
Mr Roberts said serving trays are always a good place to start for newcomers to the craft of woodwork - regardless of their age.
“It was the first thing John (Tonkin) got me to make when I joined the Menshed,” he said.
Deniliquin High School principal Glen Warren said it has been a pleasure to accompany the students to the Menshed each week.
“It is an extracurricular activity that provides our Year 8 students with skills and also that connection with experienced hands,” he said.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to continue this program with groups in the future.
“They (the students) get a lot out of it, including skills they can use for future subjects at school.”