A POOL table that hasn't been used since at least 1996 has been given new life at the Ararat Men's Shed.
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The Ararat Senior Citizens Inc. donated the pool table recently after it gathered dust for over 23 years at the senior citizen's club.
Men's Shed secretary Herman Hulsen said the shed members would give it new life.
"It's a good table, it's very nice. All the green felt is good," Mr Hulsen said.
Volunteers from several local businesses assisted the two groups in transporting the table across.
"Bulte's helped us (with a forklift) and Gason came with a forklift - unfortunately the forklift got bogged a bit but we got it in and that's the main thing," Mr Hulsen said.
Unfortunately one of the table's legs got damaged in the transition, but Mr Hulsen said the men would fix it up once some other projects were ticked off.
"While we're building this shed we haven't really got much time yet, but we will build the table and fix it up," Mr Hulsen said.
Senior Citizens member Gwenda Allgood said the club thought the Men's Shed members would benefit from having the table.
"If some entertainment can be achieved by another group then I think it's a great move," she said.
"Looking around, I think there are a lot of venues that probably have things that could benefit other people, and I think the Men's Shed will get a lot of enjoyment out of it."
Mr Hulsen said the donation told a larger story about the community.
"What I think is so nice about it is that we have clubs really cooperating with each other and relating to each other," he said.
The members have been busy putting together their new premises after they moved across from the old one at Richardson Oval in September last year.
Related: New beginnings for Ararat Men's Shed
Members will soon put panels on the walls and finish building a small kitchen.
"If you come back in a couple of months we'll have all the wall paneling up and the air-conditioning in,: Mr Hulsen said.
"We're hoping to find someone to donate an air-conditioner actually, for the big shed.
"We need to get some kitchen cupboards - we've designed a very simple kitchen for what we want."
Once all of that was done, the members will start looking at other projects.
"Some of the plans we have is to have a day with single mothers and their kids, or a choose your granddad day, so you can have a granddad and do things with them," Mr Hulsen said.
Member Chris Roberts has been a part of the Men's Shed for several months now and said it keeps him busy and connected.
"I was looking for something to do," he said. "I'm transitioning into retirement so I thought well, I've got to stay occupied."
The Ararat Men's Shed welcomes new members and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12pm and 3pm.
Mr Hulsen added that they were considering opening on Wednesdays too.
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