The Encounter Centre: In the Fleurieu Peninsula Region of South Australia

For many in the workforce there's always that nagging question. "Does what I do, really matter?"

At the Encounter Centre at Victor Harbor, the answer is obvious. You just have to look at the faces of those who road test the workshop's wares each day. Here, the money earned from the toys lovingly made by volunteers is poured back into courses and activities for those who haven't had things go quite their way. Blokes like Craig Walker who lost his sight as a kid:

“I've done a bit woodwork here - sanding and stuff and other programs as well.”

“We decided that people didn't know about our products so we would start marketing. So we started to visit the kindergartens and I think we're the only place that stopped marketing because we couldn't keep up with demand. We had to pull the boys off the road because we couldn't provide the product quick enough.”

This is a place where others get a chance to do something new and very positive. It’s a hive of voluntary activity where blokes like Denny Moerland, a former architect and civil engineer and his mate of six years, Ian Gillespie, a former railway worker, get to swap yarns and wood working techniques.

“I’ve never done woodwork before so it's terrific. You learn a lot.”

Denny and Ian work alongside blokes like Colin Stones, a former court orderly and now a maker of kids' hat and coat stands with a distinctly equine feel.

“We sell them to kindergartens and preschools to try and teach the kids that they should put their hats and their bags and things like that tidily away. It's just a method of teaching kids to do the right thing.

And it's also a method of teaching new tricks to many who'd retired and were at a bit of a loss to know what to do next until they came here.

“Women are so good. They've got their networks and they do that much earlier than men. Men just go to work and they reach a particular age and they say I've got to retire tomorrow. And on Monday they’ve got nothing to do. And so they say well I'll go and play golf, I'll fish or I'll play bowls. Well here we've got this fantastic extra.”

The toy sales fund various classes in art and craft. Everyone has a go and ultimately wins. The children who take home the toys, the volunteers who make them and those who profit from the sales.

The Encounter Centre is on the Armstrong Road at Victor Harbor. Just follow the turnoff at Urimbirra Wildlife Park. More info email info@postcards-sa.com.au