Talented seniors honing their skills

‘‘I came down to see what it was all about and haven't left.’’

There’s a community shed in South Auckland where senior citizens get together to weave their magic.

The Manukau Beautification Charitable Trust’s ‘ Boomer Business’ initiative gives local retired men and women the chance to socialise, practise old hobbies and pursue new ones.

Trust project manager Anita Curlett says members of the group, which is based in Manurewa, completed more than 100 small community projects last year.

‘‘They may have left their jobs and are at a loose end or don’t know what to do next.

‘‘This lets them get together and socialise. They can share their skills and learn from each other.’’

Curlett says the boomers are helping with a range of projects related to this year’s Eye on Nature environmental educational event.

Their recent work includes improving the furniture at a Manurewa retirement village and making bookshelves for a South Auckland Returned and Services’ Association.

They’ve also built a raised community garden that provides food for trust and boomer members, Curlett says.

‘‘We will use it as a teaching garden in the future.

‘‘We want to start woodwork classes for women and photography and cooking sessions for men.’’

Boomer member John van Baardwijk says he got involved due to loneliness when his wife died.

‘‘I came here one day and talked to people and it’s been great. That was six months ago.’’

Van Baardwijk is making a timber rocking horse for his young grandson at the group’s shed.

‘‘I try to come two days a week,’’ he says. ‘‘I do the computer class here on Friday as I’ve got a new [Apple] iPad.’’

Fellow member John Coad says he heard about the boomers from his sister-in-law in mid-2015.

He helped to make the trust’s Anzac Day memorial in Beachlands and he’s among those working on a dolphin sculpture for Eye on Nature.

‘‘I came down to see what it was all about and haven’t left,’’ he says.

‘‘It’s really friendly and a good place to be.

‘‘I help them with the morning tea. They make it and I eat it.’’

The Boomer Business group meets from 9.30am to 12.30pm every weekday except Thursday at 38 Holmes Rd, Manurewa.

It costs $80 per year to join and new members can try it out for a fortnight to see if it’s for them.

Phone 269 4080 for more information on the initiative.