Activities

A wide range of activities suitable for men of all ages, interests and levels of experience.

Monday	Shutterbugs photography group (9am) · Golf at Keperra Golf Club (afternoon) · Woodies
Tuesday	Talkfest – coffee from 9am, meeting at 10am · Walking group · Woodies · Shed Shop 8:15am–12pm
Wednesday	The ‘Steelies’ metalwork (9am–4pm) · Woodies personal projects · Guest Speaker evening (3rd Wednesday, members & partners)
Thursday	Woodies (8:30am–12:30pm) · Shed Shop 8:15am–12pm
Friday	Art group (9am–noon) · Friday Fellowship (afternoon)

Woodworking – the ‘Woodies’

A dedicated and creative group who cut, saw, sand, plane and shape all kinds of timber into vases, cutting boards, bowls and more. The Woodies meet Monday to Thursday, usually 8:30am–12:30pm, under the leadership of four wood craftsmen: Guy, Joe, Peter and Garry.

The workshop has an impressive range of woodworking tools in a well laid-out, safe environment, including a central dust extraction system (‘Slim’) and a new Vicmarc 150 lathe. The Woodies source timber from local landowners and the bush as part of the ‘Weeds to Woodcraft’ initiative (Jacaranda, Camphor Laurel), visit other sheds and trade shows, and build items for local schools, churches and child care centres.

Coordinator: Garry Fielding – garry.fielding@optusnet.com.au

Metalworking – the ‘Steelies’

Led by Ian (Macka 2) McPherson, the Steelies cut, shape and weld metal into fun and functional creations every Wednesday, 9am–4pm. Old gas cylinders become letterboxes, sculptures and stoves; old trailers get the ‘Steelies Treatment’. Novices are welcome – plenty of men will gladly share their knowledge. The Steelies now have a Unimig Viper 30 computer-aided plasma cutter.

Coordinator: Ian MacPherson – cyril316574@gmail.com · 0412 363 568

Art group

Meets every Friday, 9am–noon. Beginners welcome – mainly a self-help group, with limited tuition available. “Remember, drawing or painting stimulates the brain – and we all need that occasionally at our age!” SAMS artists' works have received awards at the Samford Show.

Coordinator: Terry Caldwell – tc3121952@gmail.com · 0400 151 257

Golf

Members play each Monday afternoon (weather permitting) at Keperra Golf Club. $20 for nine holes. Register interest with Les Bateman: golf@samfordshed.org.au

Photography – the ‘Shutterbugs’

Meets Monday mornings at 9am. All members welcome regardless of experience – DSLR, compact, phone, tablet or drone. Convener Brian (a former professional photographer) shares tips and leads field trips.

Contact Brian: SAMS.Menber@samfordshed.org.au

Knowledge base (PDFs): APS-C and Full Frame Formats · What Camera Should I Use? · Photography and the Law · Photo Organisation · Lighting · The Night Life

Walking group

Each Tuesday before morning tea, a group of members walk around Samford Downs to improve their health and enjoy the company of their mates.

Guest speaker evenings

Organised by the Entertainment & Events Committee on the third Wednesday of each month for SAMS members and partners: drinks from about 5:30pm, then a barbecue and salad (about $10 per head). Coordinator: Allen Marr.

Past speakers include pilot Rebecca Hawken (Sept 2023), former NRL player Sam Thaiday (Feb 2023), Amanda Harvey (Queensland Rail Travel), Bob Walker (Office of Fair Trading), Ian Therkelson (Stroke Foundation) and Dr Neville Blomeley (Heart Foundation).

In the community

SAMS men have built a book exchange hub at Samford State School, possum boxes at Birralee Child Care Centre and a market cart for Willmore Kindergarten. Every July we exhibit and sell at the Samford Show, and we run the Bunnings Keperra sausage sizzle two or three times a year (coordinator Darryl James).