Craftsmanship goes a long way

NEW MEMBERS WELCOMED: Mount Gambier Woodturning Club president Peter Cunningham, secretary Tom Dermody, members John Cruise, John Ferguson and Rob Kneebone encourage anybody interested to approach the club as new members are welcome. Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR

By Molly Taylor

MOUNT Gambier woodturners continue to positively impact Australian Defence Force personnel deployed overseas, with handmade pens a personal gift from their home country.

Earlier this year, the Mount Gambier Woodturning Club joined several other organisations in an initiative to support service personnel abroad.

Over 1000 have been made hand-crafted and individually packaged – more than 100 of those by Limestone Coast club members – with details sent identifying the timber type, maker and where the pen was made.

Recently the club’s Facebook page received a message of thanks from an Royal Australian Air Force member serving in the Middle East as a maintainer on a C-130J aircraft.

The message expressed gratitude for the gift and commended the high class of workmanship.

“Gifts like these make our day over here and we are forever grateful to those in the Australian public who sacrifice their time to support deployed ADF members,” the message read.

The club has made it a priority to continue producing a new batch of approximately 25 to 30 pens to be ready for distribution before Anzac Day.

Club secretary Tom Dermody believed there was more of an appreciation for handmade items now due to growing digitalisation in society.

“With everything becoming electronic, something handmade like that, is appreciated that little bit more,” Mr Dermody said.

“Overall it goes over some weeks to get them finished, some people turn them at home, others turn them in work sessions.

“To get direct comment from somebody who has received one kicks things along quite nicely for us and makes us want to do it more.”

Club activities resume on January 20 next year and the club encourages new members.

“ We can provide the tools and teach anybody who wants to learn pen-making how to do it,” club chairman Peter Cunningham said.

“And not just pens. Experienced club members have a wealth of woodturning knowledge and are only too willing to pass on their skills.”

Contact club secretary Tom Dermody on 0408 803 514 or tom.dermody@bigpond.com for more information.