LOCAL LIFE
MY FAVOURITE PLACE : Mary Kinnon by Greg Martin
Canny . adj . Knowing , wise , shrewd , careful , cautious .
We ’ ve all heard the term “ canny as a Scot ” and Scottish-born Mary Kinnon is no exception ! Canny and can-do !
The recently turned septuagenarian is using all the skills accumulated in her more than 50 years in the workforce in aiding and abetting Wilberforce Woodcraft Co-Op , president , Graham Shakespeare , fellow members John Morrissey and Brian Snape in finding a new home for the 85 members .
Such has been the growth in membership over the past couple of years , the Co-Op ’ s workshop at Woodlands Road , needs to find another , larger home .
To that end , the astute Graham had little trouble in enlisting Mary and her formidable Certified Public Account skills into presenting funding submissions to the Premier ’ s Discretionary Fund and NSW Government ClubGRANTS .
“ We are submitting a grant proposal to both bodies , hoping to secure $ 250,000 so we can build a larger , more substantial clubhouse in the Secret Gardens complex at the University of Western Sydney , Hawkesbury ,” Mary said .
“ Our club has been operating at the same site for 25 years and for most of that period the current clubhouse suited our needs , but such has been the growth in membership over the past few years , we need larger premises , mainly for safety reasons ,” Graham explained .
“ We have a lot of machines and most
of them are used on both our club days – we have six lathes , two table saws , three band saws , six scroll saws , a planer and a thickener ( planes thick wood ).
“ Sometimes , members have to work in shifts on their projects which is obviously frustrating for them , so it is imperative that we find larger premises to cater for both machines and members .”
“ The Co-Op already has been allocated space at Secret Gardens where we hope to build a 30m x 18m clubhouse , which is a third bigger than the current premises . “ We are so very fortunate to have someone of Mary ’ s capabilities compiling these , well for the rest of us , very complicated submissions ,” Graham said . The submissions will be evaluated later in the year and in the meantime , all members are keeping their fingers crossed . And their toes and eyes !
So , let ’ s get back to Mary Kinnon and her “ can-do-ism ”.
She grew up in the village near Edinburgh where , she laughingly says , she had her first taste of working with wood when attending the local high school .
“ Only boys could take the course , but I told my mum I wanted to do it , so she headed off to the principal ’ s office and harangued him into letting me become the subject ’ s only girl ,” Mary explained .
“ Not that I was given any ‘ difficult tasks ’ – in fact the only thing I was ever allowed to make were toast racks – I was given a block of wood , drilled the holes and then twisted bamboo rods into them !”
In 1970 when Mary was just 16 , this intrepid young lass left the family hearth and migrated to Australia , flying out to Melbourne to live with her Aunt Bella .
“ I arrived on a Monday and started a clerical job on the Wednesday ,” Mary laughed .
Two years after her arrival in Melbourne , she married her husband , a chef , and over the next few years the couple ventured to Switzerland and England before returning to Australia .
They eventually settled in the Hawkesbury where Mary ’ s thirst for knowledge led her to gaining a Business Management Degree , studying three nights a week whilst working in office management at SMC Pneumatics at Castle Hill .
Mary ’ s thirst for education still wasn ’ t quenched and later she spent 18 months attaining her Certified Public Account accreditation .
She spent 22 years , most of which were as finance manager , at SMC Pneumatics before retiring from full-time employment .
Mary has been a member of Kurrajong- North Richmond Rotary for 20 years , during which time she has served twice as the group ’ s president .
Seeing Mary Kinnon sawing is Wilberforce Woodcraft Co-Op president , Graham Shakespeare . The two members have joined forces to submit applications for grants so the club can relocate to larger premises .
Mary says she is delighted to use her business skills to help Graham compile the submissions .
“ If this club closes , I ’ ll lose my hobby ,” she said . “ I just love the people here – they are some of the most interesting and best characters I ’ ve come across in my lifetime .”
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THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 173 // OCTOBER 2024 11