Carving it up: John Woolfe, at front, with Lewis Harper and some recent creations.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
THERE’S a difference between a woodwright and a woodworker – the passionate “woodies” of Geelong will soon set straight anyone in doubt.
Woodwrights work with lathes, creating amazingly detailed pieces like pens, bowls and utensils from all types of timber.
Woodworkers use more-traditional cabinet-makers tools – hammers, saws and chisels – to create everything from grandfather clocks to full size desks.
Lewis Harper is just happy working with any wood, any time. He’s a member of Barwon Valley Woodwrights, Geelong, Wood-crafters Guild, Geelong Carvers, Bellarine and District Wood-workers and Lara Woodworkers.
“We’re all about practicing and promoting woodcraft,” Lewis enthused.
“We help keep the art of handcrafting alive. You can get machines now to do everything for you but there’s a special quality to touching and holding an item crafted by hand.”
The various woodcraft groups host regular show-and-tell sessions along with project nights that set members specific projects to complete.
The groups also take on community projects such as repairing and brightening chairs for a Grovedale playgroup.
Lara Woodworkers recently worked with a group of 18 Cub Scouts, showing them how to make pencil cases.
Every year the combined groups run an extensive public woodwork show – this year’s from October 29 to 30 at Geelong’s state offices in Little Malop Street.
The club uses a raffle to raise funds for the show. This year’s prize is a beautifully crafted blackwood writing desk, with minor prizes of a pair of bedside tables.
“We have some very clever people in Geelong,” Lewis said.
“One gentleman makes full-size grandfather clocks, there’s a local guitar maker, there are toy-makers and some make furniture.”
Lewis said most members had their own equipment gathered over the years but the club also had two “mini-lathes”.
While working with wood would traditionally be considered a man’s pastime, Lewis said the clubs also had female members.
He urged anyone seeking more information on any of the wood groups to phone him on 5278 4606.
