Tim McKenzie

I first got to know of the gracious support work of this great man when he was playing his cello behind me when as members of The Colac Chorale were singing in the Shire Hall .
" A pleasure - the instrument sounds best when its played to sound and reflect the human  voice" he offered .
I was just overwhelmed by how beautifully he played,  and how great that instrument in his hands performed.


What did we deserve to have this man playing here? ,,I thought . We would , after that , see him on his flying visits to play in Warnambool as first violin or whatever role in  the  orchestra and Prom and other concerts there .
A natural and captivating teacher,  he had the key role in inspiring our son to play piano and perform for others --
 Tim  brought so much joy, excitement and learning  to any music . I remember  him  explaining how a concerto was designed to feature an instrument ; making for me , all that strange language of music so much more interesting to this cowboy. 
 
How else would you explain his friend Russell Holloway buying  him a $5000 banjo to play at our Otway Concert to honor our  Forest Industry forebears at Forrest ? The dual-ling banjos ( the two of them) have never been played better .

Tim composed and  played  his own guitar music backing tracks for videos on the Otways by Jim Speirs ( mentioned below ) and with his friends , joined in setting up the music for their famous fun bush dances and weddings . Didn't we have such fun  the days we danced at Johnnos. So much to give and so freely given -

ON THE ONE HAND then Tim was
 typical Country bachelor -- kind thoughtful and precious to many  BUT too busy to spend time  with someone special  , except he was not only too busy to go out , when he was going out , he was going out to entertain others  . How we  were inspired by him , and how we will miss him

and ON THE OTHER HAND
His hands were also ever busy making wonderful things with metal and complex circuitry in the big shed at home . (Video of one of the machines is featured earlier)
The Blokes group were fascinated that he not only built a single to three phase transformer but would wire all sorts of motors and brilliant circuitry to them  . 
The shed was home to many innovations that should have won awards for both insight design, precision and complexity

Like his music- he stunned us with his attention to detail . making perfect anything we shared with him ( like the singing and dancing)

We will all,  miss him so much . He will be at least playing now with people who appreciate his standard.  Leaves his wife and son  He died unexpectedly  last Tuesday,  ( more videos to follow)

Reviewing the history and focus of Blokes breakfasts

Since we started the monthly blokes breakfasts in 2009 , the mens shed tours and The Carpenters Worshop and community garden  in Hesse street , the State Goverenment offered several hundrer thousand to build permanent facilities in Queens street and provide opportunities for the men to meet weekly- something sought for by many once we  got going .
This group have since moved to Pollack street east on the northern side of the showgrounds 
The list shows  some of the ideas we canvassed in those first days .Not every event has been listed on this blog, nor can we capture fully the excitement of discovering HOW to do things and see what amazing things have been created , Some of the content of talks is attached. 

Russell Holloway

( more coming)

Erwin Babbington

Jim Speirs

Forrest man with a heart for forestry  ( more coming) 

Alan Provan

Innovator extraordinaire  ( more coming)    Colac West workshop

Paddy O'Connor

Wild dog road farmer , Mr Ragwort , Conductor of aquine affairs at the estuary ( more coming )

Les Flegg - top of the ridge farmer

Top supporter /teacher of little kids, esp  at Awakening festivals

Colac show exhibits - recycling red bins

more coming

The new shed In Pound Rd

Many of our local blokes have got involved in the new shed project adjacent to Queens Street which opened recently. This program has the advantage of being every week ( ours only every month or so )with lots of new equipment and special toys to play with- well share is the word !.

Busy boys

Recognise this project ? Its the front wheel of two alnd yachts on the go . We have a few entries in a unique Colac competetion this summer - want to know more?. Give me a rung He's one .
At this stage, due to many other commitments ( including clashes with local events and this serious competetition to enter some races with unusual sailing and surfing machines - photo above ) we're planning to put off the rest of the spring program till next year. Keep in touch for bbcue dates. Sure to see you around,

July program

The early mornings are not on for this term ........BUT
July 4th - "Make a present in wood day" at the CLC for boys ( 10-12 with bbcue)52321717

July 29th - Night out with Brett Allen Central Reserve.Join us at a table

Winter program

Not much fun getting up so early on saturday Morning for the next few months. We are considering a few evenings for next term - what do you think ? Coming up- One of the biggest tractor collections in Australia - here!

The Veterans

One morning for breakfast in Alan's famous shed full of old cars . These 2 blokes know how a thing or two about fixing things.
If you don't know who these 2 blokes are- its really worth getting to know them .
In our sheds , if you fix it, you can sit on it. If you can't find the part - improvise

Autumn program

Lauries amazing flying machines show just how much talent there is being expressed in small sheds around this district . This wing comes from another planemaker involved. That makes about 4 we know of now .
No pictures of that amazing wing Laurie made for his gyrocopter .maybe sometime

Men and Boys - well really its just Boys !

One of the best things about having a dedicated workshop is the focus it can give to Dads doing something with their boys . Here Steve and Josh play on the air hockey board to be restored ; young ones learn to master the ongoing challenge of getting there ( eventually ) with nails .
 Thanks Andrew for a great finale . Next year we hope to visit one of the biggest International tractor collections around , more model boats and planes . Send us your contact details.

Steam boat dags

One of the most endearing finds on our trip out east was to see Andrews completely hand made steam engine and boat. It comes complete with an engine -with reverse( that the shiny steel you can see- all handmade!) water pumps and tea making machine . What a way to relax - coasting around Lake Colac all day on a bucket of coal ( takes up to 6 people?) . At 160 psi, tea making takes only seconds. ( see the teapot on top of the boiler) Can't wait - if only we knew when Lake Colac was next going to fill

Provans polished performance

Anyone (in our team anyway!) can weld up a bit of rusty metal, but only the classy keep it polished and pretty. Ah steam and brass --tis beautiful . This is the operators end of Andrew's traction engine
Not that its all polished - a bit like us . Alan and Les admire the ongoing work in the shed .

On the subject of our keeping a fine balance between showyness and practicality 12 cars/ trucks of Provans from a bygone era featured recently in a movie in Melbourne; Why ? They looked the part, just the right amount of wear and tear. So what are we going to do to keep them and some of Merv's trucks in Colac ?
Steam power too --- tis awesome;
The steam traction engine featured in the Colac Extra but it wasn't a patch on the homemade boat Andrew uncovered in the shed ( mind you -not the only thing he's done from scratch).
Note the kettle for a cuppa on top . At 160psi the teas made in seconds !

Ze Poor man's porshe Picnic

Another great day in October . Age does not weary them . They maybe rusty and old, but it's design that we enjoy and good design is eternal.
Like the blokes from TOP GEAR we enjoy driving the best, but... generally have to wait ,, well ...till they've done a few tests.

How do like this old 1200 motor driving the hedge cutter - just put it in the front forks and drive away - you can do that with porshe engines and gearboxes- so light and note only driving on one side!

Spring agenda--- see below don't forget November!!

Don't forget to bring the boys along