With changes in TAFE administration, club members recently had to put in a submission for continued use of the workshop - and they did so with the wholehearted support of Cootamundra MP Steph Cooke.

Ms Cooke is a huge fan of the "mechanical men's shed" as it's fondly called, and was shown around the facilities when she visited a workshop session at the TAFE earlier this month.

The club uses the workshop every Wednesday night during TAFE semesters, which amounts to two lots of 18 weeks, for which each member pays the TAFE $100 a semester.

Around 13 of the 90 club members are registered as regular users of the workshop, including Gwen Livingstone (pictured with Ken Harrison, Steph Cooke and Alan Thompson) who uses it to maintain her immaculately-restored FJ Holden panel van.

Gwen's showroom-condition 1955 Holden, which she bought in Temora, played a cameo role in the Australian movie The Dish, in which it was a baker's van.

A different kind of project undertaken in the workshop was the creation of a replica German machine gun to replace the original weapon stolen from its position above the stage at Wallendbeen Memorial Hall.

The replica was made entirely of wood by a club member John Rickett.

Ms Cooke told club members she was delighted this state government facility was getting after-hours use by the community, as she could see no reason why rooms such as this should be standing around empty.

Some of the vehicles that are now in pristine condition were "barn finds" that have been brought back to life with years of patient work.

Club member John Simpendorfer is now restoring a 1914 Douglas motorbike.

All vehicles with club registration have to be checked, and the plate registrar is Alan Thompson.

Mr Thompson, proud owner of three Studebakers, is a retired automotive TAFE teacher and one of five qualified engineers who can give advice and help to other less mechanically-minded members.

Repairs range from simple brake repalcements to entire engine rebuilds.