Saturday the 15th of September was the first day at the
Duck Pond. Members of the Brighton Kiwanis Club and Edwardstown Lions
Club had a tiring, but enjoyable day at the proverbial Duck Pond.
Not
sure who was looking at whom - The ducks looking out of the water at
the two-legged intruders or the two-legged intruders looking in at
them. 
A
large amount of time was spent in the preparation of the materials
before setting the foundations. The Kiwanis ended up working on
Veselin's design and we worked on the Kiwanis design.
The Marion Council guys
supplied the GenSets and a couple of concrete mixers. And we apologise
for taking so long when you came back to pick them up.
Speaking
from the Edwardstown Lions side, Guy was the expert and we did the
"Tote that Barge, Lift that Bail", thing.
All in all, by the end
of a very long day, all exhausted, we have some of the bits together
and concreted into the holes.
Lion's Lady/President Sharon and Ruth (Honorary Kiwanis) cooked the
BBQ.
Lion Judy and Kiwanis
President Chris served the slaves/workers with a great brunch.
DAY TWO 
The
ladies of both Clubs and our Ladies Auxiliary fed and watered us a
treat.
And we even used the
Easy Erect Shelter to keep out the wind and rain. Although I think it
is probably a Shade instead of a water shelter.
Well we lost some time
through the rain, not much, just enough to get wet and disrupt. I did
say I should have brought my Wellies, I forgot.
Next
thing, not a cloud in the sky. Came back a little, but not enough to
stop the intrepid workers, but it poured just after I took the BBQ
back to Reg and got home.
We really must get a
special gift for Guy and Di. They have been the real workers.
We try and do the best
we can.
At
the end of the day we have produced something.
We will need another 2
day weekend to complete the building. Then after that the painting.
Still lots of curiosity from the Users of the Park. 
As I said, the park is
very well used and people come from G1eneIg and other suburbs. Must be
something in-it.
Now when are the
Wetlands coming! And since we have practiced on The Duck Pond the next
one would be a cinch.
But lets get the shed
done and dusted.
We will need to help
Malcolm at Active Elders to move their shed so we can fit ours in.
The
workers over the last couple of days: Guy and Di, Ian,Kevin
Martin, Tony and Sharon, Reg, Judy, Georgina and Ken & Chris
While
others put their hands up they were not needed at this stage and would
have spent long periods doing nothing or being asked to do work that
was not suitable for them.
They will get their
chance in the future, when we come a
calling.
Day 3 The Lagoon (Duck Pond)
Edwardstown Lions and Brighton Kiwanis spent Sat 13th October
continued our Joint Project. Little bustards, graffiti bandits had a
good time during the school holidays Even so, it was not too bad and
we ended up sanding it off.My attempt with anti- graffiti stuff made
it worse. The raw timber smudged and sucked it up. Veselin's design
looks a treat with some of the decking and balustrade supports up.
Kiwanis is doing that. MAS TITANIC or should I say HMAS EDWARDSTOWN
is coming along a treat.
We painted (OILED) all the exposed surfaces & dug trenches so bits
would fit.Chris’ sponge making days while a farmer's wife showed,
when she took control of the cement mixer and produced about 8
batches of concrete. 40kg bags of cement take the starch
right
out of you. The uprights for the balustrades are in courtesy of
Kevin, David and Ian doing a bits here and a there. Raelene, Sonja
andChris wield a mean paint brush. The ramp is taking shape. So More
painting (Oiling) and banging of nails. Again lots of ducks and the
park was chockers with families and kids. I reckonwe could make a
fortune just doing BBQ on a Sat & Sun for no other reason than to
cash in. Well it is late and the sore muskles (sic) should be
horizontal.
Day 4, The Lagoon, Sun 14th
October
I
thought we would have a real problem today as a number of members
from yesterday could not be there today. I am glad to say the
members of the Edwardstown Lions Club excelled themselves and we
achieved heaps today. David Reed takes the cake and it will cost him
Squillions. It was Sonja's birthday and he asked her what she wanted
to do for her birthday. Her "reply" was that she really, really,
wanted to spend the day at an Edwardstown Lions Project in the Oaklands Park at
"The Lagoon". Of course, Pinocchio is in residence,
and the last I saw was a large nose extending by the minute,
receding in a cloud of dust. I guess a suitable donation on Wed at
our meeting may go somewhat toward some restitution. PS, a family
meal in the evening was on the cards all along. Even so, to put in
an appearance was a great effort.
Today, after all the work, what appeared as foundations, started to
take shape. Well, if you ever saw your children or grandchildren at
childcare or pre-school it was quite a lot like that. You know, get
a hammer and lots of nails and bang them into wood. I jest of
course. Plenty of flooring went in as the sun set in the west. Why
waste a cliché. The platform that Veselin designed & which was made
by the Brighton Kiwanis Club has come up a treat and is finished.
The other platform on the Eastern side of The Lagoon will need
another day. The deck flooring is in and three quarters of the ramp
is done. The top cap needs to be completed with the vertical slats.
A
lick of paint and we should be able to launch the viewing platforms
with Felicity in a couple of weeks. Champagne should be the order of
the day. For goodness sake don't
do
the ship launch thing and waste the champagne, then again the bottle
may remain intact and the two structures slide into The Lagoon to
the laughter of ducks. Naming rights coming shortly. We must of
course thank our two "supervisors" whose valiant efforts should not
be forgotten. Paul Hibbert and Guy Roux have done an outstanding
job, above and beyond the call of duty. One day I will make the
connection between that hammer thingy and nail thingamajig.
We
must not forget those who fed and watered us during the day and it
was much appreciated. A BBQ here, a tea/coffee there and a cool
drink to round it off. Thank you all for a job well done. The guilty
can be slothful and luxuriate in a hot shower or spa bath and sooth
the sore muscles, all ready for the final day next Saturday 20th
October.
Day 5 20/10/2007
Well after 5 full days the "DUCK Pond" is done and dusted. And it
did not take the park visitors long to start using it.
My thanks to all those who were involved. Thank you to those who
came on the final day to paint and do all the little bits. The
"Veselin Design" has been passed and that was in use by the Park
Visitors on Saturday. "BattleStar Galactica" was finished early
afternoon on Saturday. However that will need to be passed before
the "Orange Bunting can be taken Off".
Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis came for a visit with David Chick, City
Landscape Officer. They were impressed by the work that we had
accomplished and they look forward to working with us on the next
step.
One remark I overheard on the day was "Isn't it great to see Lions
doing what Lions used to do, instead of fundraising for other
organisations. Seemed topical and someone with a long memory.
Tony French
