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Together, Dookie Primary School and Dookie Men’s Shed are building a better future

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Nailed it: Dookie Men’s Shed secretary Anthony Williamson with Year 6 student Olivia Hernan and Year 4 student Lyla Madden-Brown. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

John Heywood first penned the phrase many hands make light work, but it’s some Dookie locals who are proving it to be true.

Since Term 2, 2023, Dookie Men’s Shed has partnered with Dookie Primary School to provide a unique educational experience for its students.

In each session, the Men’s Shed members hand over their tools of the trade to the eager craftspeople-to-be.

That’s not to say the Men’s Shed members clock off after that – far from it, actually.

Under their guidance, students have been acquiring practical skills in measuring, sawing, hammering, and whatnot to develop their technical abilities.

The News photographer Rechelle Zammit visited the Dookie Men’s Shed on Friday, March 1, to capture the constructive action and the valued intergenerational connection between the two parties.

Hammer time: Year 4 student Jax Payne-Croston and Year 6 student Lukas Hilbig on the tools. Photo by Rechelle Zammit
Cut above: Year 4 student Tassy Gregory and Year 5 student Amelia Shields came, saw and conquered, with the help of Dookie Lions member Ron Sidebottom. Photo by Rechelle Zammit
Out of the woodwork: Year 4 student Ryot Walker’s project starting to take shape. Photo by Rechelle Zammit
Sharp as a tack: Year 6 Olivia Hernan (middle) hit the nail on the head under the supervision of Dookie Lions and Men’s Shed member Peter McManus and Year 4 student Lyla Madden-Brown. Photo by Rechelle Zammit
Make the cut: The real contractors on-site were students like Year 4 Tassy Gregory, while the adults stood readily by. Photo by Rechelle Zammit
See to the saw: Dookie Men’s Shed treasurer Gary Gray had his work cut out for him when demonstrating how to use a hand saw. Photo by Rechelle Zammit
The Crew: Dookie Men’s Shed and Dookie Lions Club members (back), with Dookie Primary School students and staff member Cheryl Morrow (right). Photo by Rechelle Zammit