Ian and Karen Peden. Photo: Supplied.
FROM THE WYNNUM MANLY & DISTRICTS MEN’S SHED
Ian and Karen Peden are a dynamic duo, highly regarded in the bayside community for their lifetime of service through their donations of books to homes, clubs and street libraries.
Soulmates Ian and Karen share a passion for books that brought them together. When they met, Ian was a young and skilful handyman, and Karen was an entrepreneurial collector of rare, antique and second-hand books, all needing varying degrees of TLC (all 10,000 of them!).
With their shared passion for books and their belief that reading holds the power to ignite the spark of knowledge, they embarked on their journey of ‘stealing’ books from imminent death and giving them a second chance through market stalls.
They remain as driven today as ever and continue selling at the Manly Creative Markets on Sundays, all because ‘Mumma Tetris’ is still able to do the impossible and pack a library of boxes into their small car.
At the Men’s Shed, Ian makes himself available to do ‘fixit’ jobs for the community. Then, for fun, he attends the Repair Café, which is very challenging as customers bring their broken equipment and implore the impossible.
Ian attests to the 5Ps: Precise Preparation Prevents Poor Performance. You can be assured whatever Ian works on will be stronger than ever and likely to outlast its owner. Ladies applaud his handiwork on furniture repairs and insist that he is an OCD – an Obsessive Compulsive Darling. Men’s Shed members are in awe of his MAAD – Minute Attention About Details.
Ian and Karen’s book donations are available from the Wynnum Manly and District Men’s Shed to refresh local street libraries.
