John Bucknell. Ace wood-carver, teller of martini-dry jokes, and always up for a story over a cuppa and an Anzac or two. A few years back, JB brought his bedraggled pond yacht into the Men’s Shed. This little boat, about 50cm long, made of timber and various bits of tin, had been made by an inmate at Pentridge Prison in the 1960s and gifted to six-year-old John through his father, William, a warden at the gaol.
But now? Oh dear. The mast and rigging were askew, the steering was missing vital parts, and the sails were limp and tired.
With John’s memories of sun-filled days at Coburg Lake and how the yacht had once been, and assistance from the Pentridge Museum Trust, we at the Shed restored the little boat to its former state.
We used string from an old sugar sack, eyelets from a rescued mailbag, pillowcase cotton for the sails, old galvanised iron for the rigging ‘bowsies’, and rescued copper from a gutter for the steering gear – we even matched the paint that adorned the hull and keel with the colour used inside the prison walls back in the ’60s.
The lovely little thing cut a fine jib sailing around Stanny Creek lagoon in a blustery southerly!
And, after John’s family renewed their friendship with the yacht, they very kindly donated it to the Prison Museum, where it is now on display. The National Trust will also be displaying the boat in the future.
So, what is the lesson to be learned? Whatever is old can be new again; what is broken can be mended; things worth doing are worth doing well.
Especially a life. Your life. Come visit us at the Men’s Shed and see what we can do for you.
On Saturday, May 6, the Men's Shed in Helensburgh celebrates 30 years of Men's Sheds in Australia (and seven years for our Shed!) with our first Open Day of the year. A week before Mother's Day, come see what the Men's Shed is all about, and how we help improve men's health by giving our blokes something meaningful to do while serving the 2508 Community. BBQ, drinks, cakes, and more, take a Shed Tour, grab Mum a pressie, and chat with our friendly members.
Helensburgh Men’s Shed – Serving the 2508 Community since 2016. Visit helensburghmensshed.org.au, email info@helensburghmensshed.org.au
199A Parkes Street Helensburgh 9am-3pm Mon to Wed. Shed Mobile: 0478 892 485
