A local hero has raised $120,000 for Wynnum Manly District Men’s Shed through a decade of garage sales.
In a display of community dedication, Ann Westlake has raised funds through the power of garage sales.
Mrs Westlake said she had been holding garage sales for nearly 30 years but had dedicated the past 10 years to raising money for the Wynnum Manly District Men’s Shed.
“You meet really wonderful people, and we often have people ringing up asking when the next one is,” she said.
“We sell anything from furniture, tools, pot plants, you name it.”
Her contribution to date is approximately $120,000 and leftover items from the garage sale are donated to overseas charities for refugees.
Mrs Westlake said people failed to realise how much money it took to run a men’s shed.
“They just spent $50,000 on a machine alone which is very significant,” she said.
“They are constantly buying things and unfortunately they do not have the funds for it.”
Wynnum Manly District Men’s Shed President David Westlake said the money raised by his wife was put towards a new ute.
“We desperately needed a Ute as we need to pick up a lot of gear for the garage sales as well as constantly helping pensioners with cleaning, deliveries and taking loads to the dump,” he said.
Mr Westlake founded the men’s shed and has recently been re-elected as president for his tenth year.
He said he started the shed with his friend Barry Mair who was given only 12 months to live.
“He told me he wanted to leave a legacy by starting a men’s shed and that is exactly what we have done,” he said.
“It started off with only six men putting in $5 each to get a bank account and the rest is history.”
Mr Westlake said he planned to grow the Men’s Shed with an additional pavilion to accommodate people with disabilities, music groups and a place for computers, a pool table and a 3D printer.
“I also want to include a small gym with a few treadmills and exercise bikes,” Mr Westlake said.
He said shed members were currently learning guitar and without this additional pavilion, were having to sit in the yard to practice.
“It would be great to have a proper music room for the boys as well as a sick room for people to lie down in an emergency scenario.”
