The Tamborine Mountain Men’s Shed has donated a range of handmade puzzles and busy boards to Beaumont Care Roslyn Lodge, with a particular focus on enriching the lives of residents living with dementia.
The initiative, started by member Warren Anderson – who volunteered at Roslyn Lodge for four years after moving to Tamborine Mountain – is the latest step in an ongoing relationship between the two groups, made even more meaningful by a shared history with one of the Lodge’s residents, Peter Anderson, a founding member of the Men’s Shed.
“We’ve had a relationship with Roslyn Lodge for a while now,” said Tamborine Mountain Men’s Shed president Neil Smith.
“One of our members, Warren, started creating large puzzles and tactile activities that were easy to manipulate for residents. Then we started thinking what more could we do to help?”
The result is a collection of busy boards and puzzles, some of which are even customised using family photos, designed to support both physical and cognitive stimulation for those living with dementia.
Roslyn Lodge Lifestyle Coordinator Mel Tape said the puzzles will be invaluable to the residents.
“The work that the men’s shed has done is fantastic,” she said.
“These busy boards help with muscle memory and fine motor skills – both of which are crucial for things like eating and daily activities. And it’s especially valuable when that memory is fading.”
Ms Tape said the gifts aren’t just tools they’re a symbol of community care that is always present on the mountain.
“Having the Men’s Shed just around the corner and seeing one of their founders now benefiting from their work, is really quite beautiful,” she said.
Roslyn Lodge Service Manager Genevieve Verhoeff echoed the sentiment and said the handmade gifts were amazing.
“What they have made is more than just an activity—it’s something tactile, engaging, and made with real purpose,” she said.
“The whole team at the Men’s Shed deserves recognition.”
With 55 members ranging from retired engineers to doctors and tradesmen, the Men’s Shed continues to be a hub for camaraderie, craftsmanship, and giving back.
“The men’s shed would love to thank Mitre 10 for supplying all the materials for us to create the puzzles,” Mr Smith said.
“We had a great time creating them, and it might be one of us using these boards one day, so we wanted to do it right.”
