Screen dreams – the teamwork built on timber

Adam Gregson, left, and Rod Wickes from the Mount Eliza Men’s Shed.

Over the past six months, Mornington Timber and Decking and the Mount Eliza Men's Shed have joined forces to manufacture timber screens in a community collaboration that’s proving to be a win-win situation.

The partnership began when Mornington Timber and Decking director John Gash offered his surplus timber and offcuts to Adam Gregson from the Men's Shed, enabling it to be used in Men’s Shed projects rather than be thrown away. When John received several customer inquiries about purchasing pre-made timber screens, he recognised the opportunity to involve the Men's Shed on a larger scale. Men's Shed members now engage in their passion for creating by crafting beautiful timber screens and earning much-needed money for their projects, while Mornington Timber and Decking is provided with quality, long-lasting products for its customers.

Mornington Timber and Decking handles the customer inquiries for screens and supplies the necessary timber and screws to the Men's Shed members, who then set to work fabricating the screens and offering installation services where required. This collaboration has been invaluable to the Men's Shed, enabling it to obtain resources and equipment that were previously beyond its reach.

Demand for screens quickly grew, and John realised the potential of carrying stock in various sizes. There are now racks of ready-made screens at his premises on Carbine Way in Mornington. A wide variety of wood, including Queensland blonde and Darwin stringybark, is used to make screens in various sizes and colours according to each customer’s needs. With about 200 screens already produced and demand still high, the service is now offered throughout the Peninsula and Greater Frankston areas, ensuring customers receive quality products delivered and installed with care.

The Men's Shed concept is a space where men can come together, work on projects, share their skills, and provide support to one another and the community at large. Adam, a former cabinet maker and builder, leads the Men's Shed initiative with Mornington Timber and Decking, bringing his decades of expertise to the project. It currently has 23 members but only nine are active participants, largely due to space constraints in the single-car garage workspace. Despite the limitations, the Men's Shed contributes significantly to community projects, including the construction of outdoor learning centres for schools, decking installations, and the establishment of street libraries.

A mutual desire to support the community is a driving force behind the partnership and exemplifies the power of such teamwork. By leveraging their skills, resources, and passion for all things timber, Mornington Timber and Decking and the Mount Eliza Men's Shed have created a meaningful and sustainable impact with benefits that will be enjoyed all around the Peninsula.