Crafting kindness: Retirees at Oran Park Village Make Toys for a Cause

At Anglicare’s Oran Park Village, a small workshop tucked away in the community has become a hub of connection and kindness. It’s there in the Mitre Joint that resident Brian, alongside a dedicated team of residents, are crafting more than just wooden toys—they’re creating comfort and joy for children in need.

Brian has called Oran Park Village home for 12 years. Originally from South Africa, he built a life in Australia, raising his two children. After meeting his wife later in life, together they sought out a place to live for their retirement where they could feel connected, supported, and social. 

“We decided a long time ago we needed somewhere comfortable, close to medical services, and with lots of friends around,” says 83-year-old Brian.  

“And here, instead of five or six friends, you’ve now got 60 or 70 friends. We all know each other's names, and we care for each other.”

It was almost by chance that Brian first discovered Oran Park Village, deciding to follow along when his daughters in-laws visited the open day. 

“We went in there and had a look at the plans. And I was more intrigued than they were, so I put my deposit down then, and then they turned around and did the same thing,” he says. 

Not long after moving in, Brian saw the potential for something special. When a space became available, he rallied a group of like-minded residents to establish a workshop. What began as a simple woodworking group—named the Mitre Joint—quickly grew into something far greater.

“I spent my life playing with wood and woodwork and [making] toys, so I was quite interested to take it on. I was the president in the workshop for eight years,” says Brian.

They started out making nesting boxes for the local councils, which helped with funds to stock their workshop with tools. That turned into making toys for humanitarian aid organisation Samaritan’s Purse, who send deliveries around the world to those in need.

But Brian was keen to help out kids closer to home. Now they build toys which are donated to children affected by domestic violence—a cause that was Brian’s idea. 

“When the family splits and the wife has got to take off, she grabs the kids and they go to a safe house. They don't take any toys with them. They just grab their total essentials, and they might be there for quite a while,” says Brian.  

“So we decided to help cover that and supply toys. It gives the kids something to do and something to own and take home.” 

The team crafts everything by hand, from sturdy little trains and tractors to charming doll beds complete with handmade sleeping bags. Some of the team looks after the painting, giving each toy its unique personality. 

Beyond the joy the toys bring to children, the Mitre Joint has become an essential part of life for the residents too. It’s a place of friendship, laughter, and shared purpose. 

“It's a really good bunch of guys to get together, and it's great because it's camaraderie, and it gives the guys something to do. When they first come here, they've come out of a big house, big garden, and then suddenly they've come down to a smaller environment, and the men find they've got nothing to do,” says Brian. 

“This gives them a little outlet to come out and do something, socialise and maybe have a bit of fun and talk about different things. Some of them have never done this stuff before, so we train them on the machinery. It's good to spread the knowledge.” 

As they continue to shape wood into cherished toys, Brian and his team are also shaping a community spirit that is brightening the lives of children, while also bringing purpose to their own.