Peter ‘Always Looks Forward to’ His Days at Resthaven

Peter Johnson, 74, has been attending Resthaven’s Riverland Community Services social group for the past few years, and says that it has been a great way for him to get out of the house and meet new people. ‘It’s something I always look forward to,’ Peter says of the group. ‘The staff do a fantastic job.’

Peter has made close friends with others in the group, especially with his peer, Jim. Recently, Peter met Jim’s daughter and grandson while the group was out and about. Seeing an opportunity, the next time the group caught up, Peter presented Jim with a wooden toy truck for him to give to his grandson. Jim was very thankful.

‘I’ve been making wooden toys for about 13 years,’ Peter says. ‘I’m always down in the shed making something, and now I have two big cupboards full of things I have built.’

Peter started working with timber after joining the Berri Community Men’s Shed.

‘I started with smaller pieces, and then worked my way up to toys such as fire trucks, helicopters, racing cars, trains and planes,’ Peter says. ‘I’m also thinking about making a B-double truck that will be almost a metre long. I give most of them away – but sell a few so I have a bit of pocket money to replace the nails and glue I use.’

Peter says that doing woodwork helps to keep his mind active.

‘I draw a picture of what I want to make, then in my mind, I can see all the different pieces of timber I need to bring it together,’ Peter says. ‘I’m currently thinking about making a wooden toy sewing machine, and also a wooden toy mixer –they both have a few moving parts, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.’

Peter recently finished making a wooden guitar, which he is going to gift to a friend.

‘My very dear friend plays guitar, so I have made him a box guitar,’ Peter says. ‘I took it along to Resthaven the other day to show the group. I took me around 3 months to complete.’

Peter recommends Resthaven Riverland Community Services to anyone who is interested.

‘We have great activities and events,’ Peter says. ‘And we have the most wonderful day trips out. The group is really good.’

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Pictured: Jim Buckton and Peter Johnson with the toy Peter gave to Jim