Footstool Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the recycled Rimu come from?

Our first batch of Recycled Rimu Footstools were created by the members of the Kaiapoi Menzshed, They have a lot of timber donated to them and included in their stocks were Rimu furniture items such as bed-ends and cupboards. Their stocks were a suitable size to be recycled into the Papanui Rotary Wooden Foot Stools.

Click on this link to Kaiapoi Menzshed where the recycled Rimu stool components were made.

https://menzshedkaiapoi.weebly.com/

What is the background to the handy recycled Rimu footstools?

A member of the Papanui Rotary Club made a wooden footstool during woodwork classes at Intermediate School in 1958. When he took the footstool home it was so popular he made several more in their garden shed for his Aunties and Uncles. 

For over 50 years all branches of the family and all ages have used them.

He still has this original footstool (which is now 63 years old) and it is still used several times a week by the family.

He had the idea to build the same footstool using recycled native timber as a fundraiser for the Papanui Rotary Club. The challenge was to find the recycled native timber and find someone who could make the components for the Papanui Rotary Club Members to assemble and finish.

Through a “serendipitous encounter” with the Secretary of the Kaiapoi Menzshed the idea started to evolve where the two community groups could work together to do something which would, in the end, benefit the community.

As a result over 100 recycled Rimu footstools were made and are currently being sold successfully to a customer base who want a handy stool but want something elegant rather than plastic. 

The price is very reasonable as most of the labour is donated. 

What are people using the footstools (or step stools) for?

The main uses seem to be:

• For shorter people to gain an instant 20cm in height to reach high shelves, some alarms, light bulbs etc. in their home.

• For young children to stand on to brush their teeth or help Mummy or Daddy in the kitchen.

• For children to sit on for games, meals in front of the tele, free up chairs for adults.

• For office workers to rest their feet on under the desk to help their ergonomic posture when sitting at their desk.

• For toddlers to use as a toy. To place upside down and use as a ride, to sit in and support their back, to help as a “walking frame” when learning to walk.

• Pregnant ladies have bought these step stools but we are not sure what they use them for.

• Elderly people use them for cut toe nails or for lacing up their shoes.

• One purchaser can’t reach the bunk bed in their caravan. The footstool solves the problem.

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