Burdekin Locals Get Stuck Into Woodturning Craft

Eight Burdekin locals eager to try their hand at woodturning were treated to expert tutelage over the weekend Photo credit: Jacob Casha

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Eight Burdekin locals eager to try their hand at woodturning were treated to expert tutelage over the weekend, with experienced craftsman Simon Begg travelling from New South Wales to deliver a two-day workshop.

Hosted at the Burdekin Woodcrafts Association (BWA) headquarters on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 May, the course introduced beginners to the fundamentals of the craft, taking them from basic technique through to finished pieces.

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Day one focused on spindle turning, with participants learning core skills on scrap timber before progressing to a garden dibbler project.

Day two saw attendees put their new skills into practice, turning their own wooden bowls.

Begg said he was impressed with the group’s progress across the weekend.

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“Day one is always a bit slower, and it takes a while for people to get a handle on the tools and how they all cut. But what’s really nice about two-day classes is you see the progression from day one to day two,” Begg said.

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With a background in cabinetmaking, Begg turned his woodturning hobby into a full-time career following a trip to Turnfest in 2016.

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Since then, he has exhibited works in galleries across Australia, delivered workshops nationally and overseas, and worked with more than 200 species of timber.

The Burdekin workshop marked his first visit to the region, made possible through a Regional Arts Development Fund grant from council to the BWA.

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