MORE than 500 under-privileged children will have new toys to unwrap on Christmas morning thanks to the efforts of 30 members of the Berwick District Woodworkers Club.

The woodworkers spend the year building rocking horses, prams, hobby horses and cricket sets, to name a few items.

Over the past 17 years, the club has donated about $550,000 worth of toys to the community.

Just in time for this Christmas, it donated the gifts to those in need with help from the Salvation Army in Cranbourne, the Cardinia Combined Churches in Pakenham, the North Casey Community and Information Centre and local MPs Jason Wood, Tammy Lobato and Judith Graley.

BDWC toy co-ordinator Rick Hoore said it was very rewarding to give something back to those who needed it most.

"We think that just because children don't have anything, that doesn't mean they shouldn't have decent toys.

"So that makes us all feel good about what we're doing. When we do go and see the presents given out to the kids we are a bit overwhelmed with what they do with them because we've taken so much joy in it."

Mr Hoore, who is in charge of making doll prams, says it can be quite tedious work.

"When you look at it, I make 16 prams - so that is 64 wheels, and it is especially tedious when you put the wheels on and they are not quite round," he says with a laugh.

To fund the toy giveaway, the club auctions a handmade rocking horse at the Berwick Show.

"We sell about 600 tickets for $1 each so that is enough to keep us going."

But the club relies heavily on timber donations to stay afloat and the majority comes from a StKilda-based coffin maker.

The group also receives donations from Paint Right in Berwick and Pakenham Quilters, who make the bedding for wooden cots and prams, Mr Hoore says.

"Without all that help we wouldn't be able to do what we do."

The BDWC congratulates the winners of the raffle: first prize, a rocking

horse, went to Mian Liew; second prize, a coffee table, went to P Burns; third prize, a cutting board, went to David McArthur; fourth prize, a wall clock, went to R Wallace; and fifth prize, a jewellery box, went to Monique Maes.

The Berwick District Woodworkers Club meets every day, except Sunday, at the Old Cheese Factory, 34 Homestead Road, Berwick. For more details, phone James Hayes on 97021814 or email james@hayesit.com or visit www.vwa.org.au