Supporting Our Schools

What we did in 2025

Rye Primary Bike Maintenance

This program continued through 2024 and 2025, led by James Rennie, engaging more students nominated by the teachers. The Mornington Peninsula Shire had again backed the program with a generous donation.

As part of the “training”, selected bikes are broken down and reassembled. New components are added as required.

The finished bikes are again offered to the respective charities.

Hooded Plover Shelters

The Shed first helped these fragile little birds in 2018 and then again in 2023. Simple timber shelters were donated to Parks Victoria and were eagerly deployed on our beaches.

We are again involved in generating more shelters, working with the kids at St Joseph’s Sorrento and Parks Victoria.

Thank you to Bunnings and Mornington Peninsula Shire for the donation of materials.

Engaged at Eastbourne Primary

Welcome to the Eastbourne Primary through our Intergeneration programme, funded through our grant from the Mornington Peninsula Shire.

We provided Bird Box and Microbat Box kits, beautifully designed and made by David at Studio57f1.

We made an offer of an outdoor learning table (to a new design), which is now happily in use at the school.

Writing Tables for Eastbourne Primary

The guys put together quite a few units to help the younger kids with writing tables.

Wicking Boxes for Rye Primary

In 2024, the Shed was asked if we could build Wicking Boxes to replace sustainability garden beds lost during building works.

2025 presented another opportunity for the team to get together for the build and installation. Many hands are involved with this project!

The principal at Rye Primary jumped at the offer of 4 boxes to be built using some of the funding from a Mornington Peninsula Shire grant held at the Men’s Shed.

Some Recent Projects

2023 Rye Primary Bike Maintenance Program

The program run by Jim Rennie, with the help of Mark Ferguson & Alan Seward, at Rye Primary School, and funded through a generous grant from the Mornington Peninsula Shire, ended on a high note. Students rode their well-maintained and repaired bikes with gleeful enthusiasm in the school playground. All agreed that they had thoroughly enjoyed working with the instructors, saying that they had learned a great deal of practical value.

One of the students, who did not possess a bike, was gifted one of the 4 bikes built during the program, with the other 3 bikes to a charity organisation.

There was very pleasing feedback from both the School Principal and the Assistant Principal. They especially praised the way in which the program positively engaged those students disengaged in usual, routine classroom programs. They were voluble in their praise of Jim, Mark & Alan & their commitment, stating that their contribution is highly valued.

2024 Buddy Benches in Sorrento

The staff at St Joseph’s Sorrento asked if we could design/build a “Buddy Bench” to replace an old worn-out seat.

Well, they now have 5 benches around the main playground. Painted white initially, they are now decorated by staff and students.

The project quickly extended to provide benches at Sorrento Primary and the Sorrento PreSchool. Again the benches will be decorated by the kids.

We love our local schools that share ideas like this. It keeps the Shed members busy!!

2019 Wicking Boxes

The Shed was asked if we could make boxes for St Joseph’s Sorrento. We duly obliged and happily constructed 2 units.

It wasn’t long before additional units appeared at the Sorrento PreSchool.

Always good to visit the schools and see the boxes fully planted and producing vegetables for the kids to take home (or enjoy during class time!!

2024 More Wicking Boxes for St Joseph’s

In 2024, the Shed was asked if we could build some more Wicking Boxes to replace sustainability garden beds lost during building works.

Another opportunity for the team to get together for the build and installation. Many hands are involved with this project!

The biggest challenge was lifting these very substantial boxes onto a trailer and then deliver at the school.

Wicking Boxes planted at St Joseph's Sorrento

2023 Bird Box Assembly at St Joseph’s

Great to have David and Gilly there to guide the kids in putting some kits together, that they had designed and created.

10 bird boxes installed on the Whitecliffs foreshore.

2024 Sorrento Primary Art Project

Sorrento Primary asked if we could create a mix of 40 skateboard and surfboard units for painting as part of a year 6 graduation project. Yes, we can do that and the kids did the paintwork.

2023 Buddy Benches at Tootgarook Primary

We responded to a call to help kickstart a garden area development with some benches. We had the design and soon 2 new benches installed

2024 Outdoor Learning Tables at Sorrento Primary School

As part of the “Biodiversity and Outdoor Learning” area development at SPS, we responded to a request to design and build an “outdoor learning table” for the SPS, and help take lessons into the revamped gardens at the school. The 1st table is already looking good on site.

A 2nd table has been built, funded through a Mornington Peninsula Shire grant and Bunnings donation.