Rosalie Rea, left, with Te Awamutu Menzshed member Terry White, centre, and Te Awamutu RDA funding coordinator Aileen Davies pictured with the new donations box.
Te Awamutu Riding for the Disabled (RDA) has a brand new, hand-crafted rimu donations box thanks to its very own “expert wood turner”.
Or so they now call him.
RDA head coach and manager Rosalie Rea and funding coordinator Aileen Davies were beaming as they visited the Te Awamutu Menzshed headquarters to be presented with the special gift made for them by member Terry White.
“We’ve previously been using an ice cream container as our donations box,” Rosalie said.
“This is just amazing.”
Terry was happy too.
“This is exactly the kind of project I like completing,” he said.
“I love working with my hands with wood – and seeing the different colours come out as you finish something off and put the right oils on it.
“I’m a bit of a perfectionist, but I’m not an expert. It’s just a bit of fun,” he smiled.
Terry – who has been part of Te Awamutu Menzshed for about a year – said shed members undertake a mix of commissioned, or paid, work and projects that are donated when they’re finished.
Additionally, shed members regularly undertake a vast number of repairs on a myriad items.
Terry said he was pleased to present the donations box to the RDA as a small token of appreciation for the work its volunteers do in the community.
He’s completed similar projects like hand-made jewellery boxes before, and said he’s open to being approached via the shed to make more.
Rosalie and Aileen confirmed there were a number of contexts they can now use the donations box in.
The organisation’s annual open day held in July at Kihikihi Equestrian Park arena was the perfect example of where they would have used it, and can put it to use next year, Rosalie said.
Te Awamutu RDA holds riding sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays – and is fully booked, with a roster of 40 riders.
