mmg.com.au

Early signs of Christmas spirit were on display on Saturday at the local wood turner’s club.

More than 700 wooden toys were donated to charity as part of an annual gift to the community.

The Wood Turners of the Goulburn Valley have been making the children’s playthings for 21 years, and this year produced the toys in record numbers, up from 500 last year.

Club life member Norma Harrison, who has been involved in the project since it started in 1992, said her peers worked hard.

‘‘Over the year we have toy workshops and there’s a toy department,’’ Mrs Harrison said.

‘‘We just thought it would be a good idea.

‘‘It makes you feel really good. It’s a necessity really, that needs to be done.’’

Wal Read, Roy Eliason and Mel Swan with their work.

The toys, which included cars, trucks, boats, doll cradles and tic-tac-toe sets, were donated to local branches of St Vincent de Paul, Marion Community and Family Care.

St Vincent de Paul’s St Mel’s branch member Chris Halpin, whose organisation will distribute its portion of the toys to the community, said the donation was a wonderful contribution to make at this time of year.

‘‘It’s just magic... I have a car full of them, it smells like Santa’s sleigh,’’ Mr Halpin said.

‘‘It’s a sign of the times that some kids go without at Christmas so for the club to make this one of their objectives is affirming.

‘‘We make up hampers at Christmas for needy families that we’ve identified through the year that are in need, and (the toys) are a very important part of the hamper for the children.’’

This story featured in the November 20 edition of SN Weekly.