It’s one of the more unlikely-named service groups in Ballarat, and while it has almost 35 years’ existence here, internationally it’s been around for well over a century.

To give it its full name, The International Concatenated Order of Hoo Hoo was founded in 1892, and its aims are to bring members of the forestry and timber industries together and to contribute to the welfare of society.

The Ballarat Hoo-Hoo Club was founded on August 25, 1982 consisting of members from Colac, Ballarat and Daylesford. It now has 30 members.

The club visited the Ballarat Specialist Farm Complex woodwork section earlier this year. 

Specialist School teacher Steve Menhennet told the club members the school’s most recent project for their students was creating six timber picnic tables and seats to be used in the grounds of their Gillies Street premises.

The Hoo Hoo club member toured the school and were given an explanation of the methods that would be employed creating the benches. Following the tour the club members agreed to take the fundraising for the table building exercise on as a project.

They held a sausage sizzle at Bunnings and raised the $2000 need for the purchase of the materials required for the project to be completed.

Club member Ronald Harrington says the Hoo Hoo Club is always looking for worthy projects to support, especially if they relate to the timber industry.