20 December, 2022
Legacy benefits from ‘Toy Boys’ at Burpengary
ABOUT 120 people flocked to the Burpengary and District Men’s Shed on Thursday December 8 for the men’s shed’s annual Christmas toy giveaway.
Members of the men’s shed, Legacy Australia, Ingenia Lifestyle, and the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) Burpengary Green Wattles came together for the event while proceeds went towards Legacy Australia.
The attendees enjoyed morning tea, before batches of handmade toys were stocked into vehicles for transportation to Legacy Australia.
A raffle raised nearly $300, donated by Ingenia Lifestyle to the men’s shed, which then donated it to the Burpengary Green Wattles.
The Christmas toy giveaway, which has run since 2017, has previously supported Ronald McDonald House, chaplains, and Caboolture Domestic Violence.
About 10 members of the Burpengary and District Men’s Shed, known as the ‘Toy Boys’, have spent much of their Tuesdays and Thursdays constructing items such as wooden toy trucks, trains and other vehicles.
Burpengary and District Men’s Shed president Rodney Hansen said the annual event was about helping others, especially children.
“We want to see the children get something special, and homemade,” he said.
“The old blokes love it.
“They see the end result, where it goes, and they get a real kick out of it.”
Rodney said events like these also built networks and community connections, particularly with several different organisations involved.
Community services manager of Legacy Brisbane, Claire Lyon, said there had been an increase in veteran suicide in recent years.
Claire said Legacy supported the families that came through the door, and that there were a lot of young families on the books.
Claire said Legacy received many amazing donations from the community, and that the youngest child was six months old while the eldest person was more than 100 years of age.
“It’s great that we have donations of homemade toys, and it’s great to come to events like this to promote Legacy,” she said.
Claire said Legacy was always looking for volunteers and that there were nearly 250 Legatees.
“They really are the backbone of the organisation,” she said.
