Local Veterans have put their woodworking skills to the test by crafting a functional Table Tennis Table for the benefit of other Defence Force Veterans and their families that visit The Oasis Townsville.

General Manager of The Oasis Angie Barsby said providing strong social connections is one of the reasons why we exist, and this is just one of the many projects that the Oasis offers.

“This is a great way for Veterans to socially connect and integrate with the community. The table was built with the guidance of Life Skills Queensland, giving Veterans the opportunity to visit and connect with other community members and other organisations within Townsville,” Ms Barsby said.

“Workmanship of the solid wooden table is second to none, with both the tabletop and base being beautifully crafted and finished with a glossy polish. The base was brought inside the main building first, followed by the top a couple of days later. Being solid wood, it was too heavy to bring in fully assembled so the Veterans took a staged approach in assembling the final masterpiece.”

“Table Tennis is always a fun activity, and the table is already getting plenty of use. You will see the Oasis team giving the ball a hit and visitors are jumping at the chance to play. It’s definitely bringing lots of fun and laughs to the centre.”

A range of connections programs are on offer at no cost at The Oasis Townsville, some of which are scuba diving, coffee and banjo breakfast, sewing, and meditation classes. We create new programs each month to ensure that Veterans and their families are catered for.

Ms Barsby said that looking after the mental and physical health of Veterans is important and projects like building the Table Tennis Table builds confidence, gains new skills, and brings a sense of achievement.

We welcome the community to visit The Oasis Townsville and pick up the Table Tennis bat for a rally.

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