Rural
29 November, 2023
Skills sharpened at Kilcoy Men’s Shed
Interested Kilcoy residents attended hands-on trade skills courses with TAFE Queensland at the Kilcoy RSL Community Shed recently.
TAFE Queensland carpentry teacher, Mick Scott, shared decades of experience with the group during interactive sessions on a range of topics, from identifying the most suitable pieces of wood for specific uses, to safely using a lathe to shape a design.
“It was great to see the level of confidence that the attendees had gained by the end of the two days,” Mr Scott said.
“Their new-found knowledge about wood types and tools will provide them with the foundations to keep learning and making their own projects at home.”
Participant Murrough Benson enjoyed the opportunity to explore a passion with other like-minded people.
“Mick took us through all the tools, clearly explaining their uses as well as all the safety precautions that should be taken when working with them,” Mr Benson said.
“On the practical side, he demonstrated very clearly how all the tools should be used and made sure all course participants had ample time to practice their skills, providing lots of encouragement and correcting us, as necessary, in a very supportive way.
“Mick led a very enjoyable and highly informative couple of days.”
TAFE Queensland Manufacturing Faculty Director, South West Region, Col Batzloff, said the organisation was pleased to partner with the Kilcoy RSL to offer short courses in woodworking and welding, following an expression of interest from the community.
“We welcomed the opportunity to provide these courses for residents in the well-equipped facilities at the Kilcoy RSL Community Shed,” Mr Batzloff said.
“We’re already working with the committee at the Kilcoy RSL for further dates in the new year due to continued interest.”
The two-day woodworking course covered areas including safely using a range of hand tools, constructing timber joins at a 90 degree corner, correctly sharpening chisels, understanding wood composition, as well as using lathes and chisels to remove bark, and turn wood into different designs.
The partnership also saw introduction to welding one-day courses held in October and November this year for interested residents to gain foundational skills in welding safety.
TAFE Queensland engineering teachers, Allan Bock and Tony Loibl, took the participants through their paces in the gasless wire welding process for DIY projects.
For more information or to register your interest in a short course, please contact the Kilcoy RSL on (07) 5422 0564 or email info@kilcoy.rslqld.net.au
