The volunteer woodworking group, known as the Mitre Joint, operates from Anglicare's Oran Park Village and produces around 40 to 50 handmade toys every week.
The workshop was founded by resident Brian (pictured), who moved to Oran Park Village 12 years ago and quickly recognised the opportunity to create a space where residents could connect and contribute to the community.
"I spent my life playing with wood and woodwork and [making] toys, so I was quite interested to take it on. I was the president in the workshop for eight years," says Brian.
The group initially made nesting boxes for local councils before turning their attention to supporting children in need.
Today, they craft trains, tractors and doll beds that are donated to children staying in domestic violence shelters.
"When the family splits and the wife has got to take off, she grabs the kids and they go to a safe house. They don't take any toys with them. They just grab their total essentials, and they might be there for quite a while," says Brian.
"So we decided to help cover that and supply toys. It gives the kids something to do and s
something to own and take home."
Beyond helping local children, the workshop has become an important social outlet for residents adjusting to retirement and downsizing.
"It's a really good bunch of guys to get together, and it's great because it's camaraderie, and it gives the guys something to do. When they first come here, they've come out of a big house, big garden, and then suddenly they've come down to a smaller environment, and the men find they've got nothing to do," says Brian.
The Mitre Joint shows that a simple woodworking project can strengthen both community connections and the lives of local families in need.
