Wood for good: Guild craft show set for this weekend

THE nearly one-hundred members of the Ballarat Woodworkers Guild are getting ready for their annual Wood and Craft Show.

From their workshop at Ballarat Airport the team of dedicated volunteers and crafts people behind huge donations of wooden toys for the 3BA Christmas Appeal and special pens for our troops on Anzac Day have been busy preparing for their important event.

The Ballarat Wood and Craft Show is the only times the Guild’s able to raise money to keep the organisation going.

“Because all the rest of the things we do are philanthropic, we’re not getting anything in return,” said David Izard, show convener and vice-president of the Ballarat Woodworkers Guild.

“We’re a not-for-profit organisation, so we have to get our funds from somewhere, so we do this raffle and wood show as our major fundraisers for the year.

“It costs a lot to run equipment. It’s costs even more to maintain and purchase. Without things like our show we’d be struggling financially, and we probably wouldn’t have been able to go as long as we have.”

With the Wood and Craft Show returning to a bigger venue this year, Mr Izard said there was more than ever going on.

“We have lots of demonstrators, lathe work, pin turners, bowl turners, lidded bowls and a whole variety of different woodworking things,” he said. “You see the different tools in action and that’s always really good. We have a lot of trades people coming too that are selling their wooden wares and all the equipment that goes towards it.”

As part of the show the Guild is holding a raffle with a grand prize of a grandfather clock on offer. Second prize is a spinning wheel and third gets a 448-piece serving platter.

Guild member David Ludbrook made the 50-piece grandfather clock from black wood. It’s movement and face alone costs $1200.

“You get an enjoyment of knowing the guild’s going to benefit out of it,” Mr Ludbrook said of his countless hours of work.

Yet even at its own fundraising event, the Ballarat Woodworkers Guild can’t stop giving. This year, in addition to their own effort, they organisation is supporting Parkinson’s disease research.

Guild members have handcrafted a range of items to sell with money going back to the cause.

“Last year we did it for motor neurone disease, our previous secretary had developed MND,” Mr Izard said. “We thought it would be worthwhile adding to the community by brining MND back to forefront, and we’ve done the same this year with a different cause.”

The Ballarat Woodworkers Guild’s Wood and Craft Show goes this weekend, Saturday, 21 and Sunday, 22 September at the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre on Norman Street. Hours are 9am to 5pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

For more information visit ballaratwoodies.com.au, email [email protected] or find the Guild on Facebook.