This Day in History: 2010-02-23

Jim Chown, MLC, representing the Premier of Western Australia, the Hon Colin Barnett MLA., launched the Toodyay Men’s Shed. Corporate Sponsors, including Makita, Bunnings and Real Estate Institute of WA, contributed funding, equipment and tools to the organisation, which was set up to run as a hardware library. REIWA donated a total of $10,000, which included staff donations, towards the purchase of equipment and machinery. Mr. Chown presented the Toodyay Men’s Shed with a commemorative cake that was hand-made by Sneska Saliba in the shape of a Tool Box filled with tools, including a hammer, screwdriver, tape measure, and paint brush.
The President of Toodyay Men’s Shed was Jeff Roberts. The organisation had around 50 members, which is expected to increase to over 100 by the end of the year.

Sources:
Toodyay herald, Mar. 2010, p.12.
Avon Valley gazette, 6 Mar. 2010, p.9.