mmg.com.au

A ‘lift’ has been installed to help members with walking difficulties to get to the upper level of the facility.

It allows everyone easy access to the tea room and ‘lounge’, both 1.2m off the ground.

The members built stairs, both internal and external, which have been used since the organisation started about two years ago.

But about six months ago, it was realised an alternative entry to the shed would be needed. The club has recently accepted memberships from a number of men who use motorized scooters.

It takes the number of members using the ‘gophers’ to five.

Several committee members got together and looked at the possibilities to accommodate these members.

A ramp was investigated first, but for it to work efficiently it would need to be 60 feet long.

When that idea was turfed, Ian Dickins suggested a motorized ‘lift’.

Mr Dickins, who is a very lateral thinker, went to a local second hand machinery dealer, Ian Scott, to discuss the idea.

Mr Scott said he had the masts off a fork lift the Menshed could have, and donated them.

Mr Dickins then got to work on building a lift, buying steel tubing and flat sheet and constructed a platform which would easily accommodate the largest of ‘gophers’ in the district.

A suitable electric winch was purchased for a very reasonable cost and the lift was installed at the Shed in early December.

David Gorman was the first of the ‘gopher brigade’ to use it.

The Berrigan Menshed meets every Thursday morning at the rear of 23 Chanter St from 9am to noon. New members are welcome to come along.

For more information, please contact Tony on 58851068.