Glenn Schache, as President of Whitianga Menz Shed is feeling very proud of what the team and the business and wider community have accomplished.
The Informer has been following the building project and visited in recent days. The MenZ Shed looks great – so very well-finished and without debt and so busy.
Glenn is very clear about the role of the Menz shed. “This is much more than a place for enjoying building, repairing and creating things. This is about a community that uplifts people and provides a relaxed and non-pressured environment for men. It’s a place to chat and build friendships. Also men who now don’t have room for a home workshop can still use and share their creative skills.“
Glenn Schache has nursed this project like a mother hen through all its stages and difficulties and every day has been worth it.
Morning tea is a wonderful opportunity for friendship and relaxing; Andy Santos preparing a pattern on the laser machine (donated to the MenZ Shed).
Glenn was not part of the MenZ Shed when it started in 2018. It was then operating from the red shed owned by Peninsula Roofing and Scaffolding, Richard and Diane Vetter, the owners of Peninsula Roofing, had readily donated the use of the shed. Glenn was working there t the time and would assist in creating extra space for the men coming to the Menz Shed. It had become rather crowded and more room had to be found by adding containers on the footpath area. Glenn became a part of things.
Glenn came to Whitianga 36 years ago. “My wife’s family had a bach at Simpson’s Beach which we eventually bought off her. We came really to live a different life out of the rat race.”
From the start Glenn never wanted for a job. He was a builder and there was lots of work on offer. An interesting turn of life, Glenn relates. “I had worked with Jeff Riddle in Auckland. We were builders together on many projects. About four years after me, Jeff came to live here and it was as if we picked up where we left off.
“Jeff Riddle is a very fine builder having done a large number of excellent builds in this town. He has been instrumental in the building of this MenZ Shed.”
Don Jesson and John Berryman take a break from building; Glen Schache, President, looks forward to the opening Saturday, 18 April
From left – Jeff Riddle, Fred Bonkavich and Fred Brinsden – all members of the site crew
Brian Mearns, the former President had been travelling on his vacation and looking at other MenZ Sheds. He visited Keri Keri to look at their operation there and came back with great enthusiasm, which was infectious- “Let’s build our own shed!”
Brian encountered significant health issues and Glenn became the President of the MenZ Shed. However Brian’s dream and enthusiasm was not lost on anyone , particularly Glenn.
“We started with a clear plan and a well-managed build,” says Glenn .
“This land is owned by TCDC. It is part of the Sheriff Block. We have taken over the head lease as the Scouts have left and the Lions Club shed will become part of a sub-lease to the Menz Shed.
“Our budget, carefully worked out to a completed and operating shed was $691,000. We had a very good team. The whole project has taken us 13 months .We had $63, 000 of our own funds that we had built up through fund-raising and sales. A gift of $150,000 from a donor that I cannot mention got us to the one- third threshold we needed to begin funding applications.
“We received $100,000 from Lotto; $50,000 from Trust Waikato and $20,000 from Pub Charity.
“The difference between $400,000 we had, and the cost of the shed being $691,000 is all due to the overwhelming generosity of businesses and individuals in those businesses. Ray Blackler of Roadworks donated his equipment and time to the project, Peninsula Concrete – the laying of the concrete base, all donated. The scaffolding for the build was supplied free of charge. Grant from Peninsula Roofing and the manufacturers of the roof itself -little or no charge. The same with Dean from Steel and Tube. That is why we have printed their name son our Honour board because we don’t want the community to forget their generosity.”
“Collectively this community project is the result of a lot of people doing a lot.”
Sandy Sanderson with his perfectly operating, model making machine lathe. Sandy had cast all the parts. It had been his final year optical instrument apprenticeship project. This was in 1980. This machine was designed for a home environment – almost silent. Sandy has fully intended to use it a lot but with close neighbours a lathe can be extremely noisy. This project had earned him Apprentice of the Year. He was apprentice of the Year in England
John Berryman was putting the finishing touches to a Starling Box. His professional life had been as a Counsellor and Social Worker.
Ron Aylan- Parker is a Canadian and worked in several countries with police and government and in radio and television. None of these professions were about making things or fixing things. Ron had made some beautifully finished wooden boxes.
There was a system in Canada run through Canadian Universities where, once your had graduated, you could apply for service overseas. There was a job with the police in Zambia and none of the other graduates wanted it. Because English was the national language there, I thought I could give it a go, so off I went to Dar es Salaam in what is now Tanzania.
It was there he got his first taste of broadcasting, editing and reading the news.
He also hosted a TV programme ‘Police Call ’focussed on finding lost and stolen items; some very large.It was a challenging but excellent experience for Ron then returned to Ottawa to work in Public Service for a number of years. Carpentry has always been an interest. Teaching carpentry to 4 year olds.
