A Decade of Toys — Patricio’s Story
For over a decade, Patricio Parrague has been quietly making wooden toys and planes — and donating them to children who will never know his name.
Some members come to the Shed to build furniture. Some come to use the lathe. Patricio Parrague comes to make toys — and for the past decade, the children who receive them have been half a world away.
From Canada Bay to Turramurra
Patricio’s story with men’s sheds began at the Canada Bay Shed, where he led a group making small wooden toys and model aeroplanes. Most were donated to Samaritan Purse, a charity that distributed them to poor children in Asian countries at Christmas. Hundreds went out each year — each one made by hand, in a shed, by a bloke who simply wanted to do something useful. The group also sold many planes to HARS, the Historic Aircraft Restoration Society.
Continuing the Work at KuShed
When Patricio moved to Turramurra and joined KuShed, he brought the work with him. He continues making toys and planes at the Shed, donating them to local charities including the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and St Vincent de Paul. The organisations sell the toys for $5 and the planes for $10 — modest amounts that add up to something meaningful.
What It’s Really About
It’s a quiet story, easily missed. There’s no fanfare, no ceremony — just a man at a bench, making things for kids he’ll never meet. It’s also, in a way, the essence of what KuShed is for.
This story was first published in the KuShed Bulletin, 25 June 2025.
