On July 3, the Shawville Recreation Association welcomed the return of three of its picnic tables, freshly refurbished thanks to funding from the Shawville Rotary Club.
The tables that now sit under the shade structure at the RA field are new and improved versions of the RA’s old tables that were in rough shape, needing new seats and a fresh coat of paint.
After being approached by the RA to take on the commissioning of this make-over project, the Rotary Club, on the counsel of member Debra Stephens, enlisted students from Pontiac High School to do the work, which included contributions from both welding and wood shop classes.
The distinctive hexagonal tables, each with six individual seats, were originally built for the RA about 15 years ago, and are a product of this community’s combined creativity. The original design was based on a concept by Donnie Hodgins, which Hugh Tracey adapted with a few tweaks. The wooden seats were then constructed by Brian Judd.
The Rotary Club will be funding three more tables to be made by the high school, which will be completed when classes resume in the fall.
The Rotary Club also donated $1,300 towards the RA’s light replacement project at the ball field.
RA president Kathy Murray said while this project had an initial price tag of $20,000, the RA will receive a rebate of around $7,000 from Hydro-Québec.
“Everything that was built here, [ . . . ] was built by volunteers,” Murray said, noting how all of the facilities and programs made available to the public by the RA are fueled by volunteers, like those with the Rotary Club.
“All the donations along the way, it’s the only way you could get it done.”
