By Callan Date
THE Berwick Woodworkers Club chiselled, cut and sanded for months in preparation for a special gift-giving session on Monday.
And the children at the Narre Warren Learning Centre were the lucky recipients.
The youngsters, aged between one and four, were all smiles when they were given the handcrafted toys as part of a Christmas celebration day.
Eight club members made it to the presentation and watched in joy as the children tested out the brand new rocking horses, cradles, tea sets and building blocks.
Berwick Woodworkers Club official Rick Hoare said the toys received a solid road-test straight away.
“They were at them like mad things. They were well-behaved but they were ecstatic and they got straight into the toys,” Mr Hoare said.
He said the members were surprised by the innovative ways the children played with the toys. “They were using the toys in ways we never thought of. Some kids were pulling each other around on the cars and all sorts of things.”
Members of the Berwick Woodworkers Club donate their time every year and make more than 400 toys to give to several local organisations.
Mr Hoare said they had already started preparing toys for next year’s Christmas give-away and were always happy to welcome new members into the fold.
“Everyone is always welcome. Males and females, you just have to be over the age of 16,” he said.
The woodworkers clubrooms are at The Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick, and are open on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 9am and noon.
For more information contact James Hayes on 9702 1814.
