Exactly 40 years to the day, members and partners of the Benalla Woodworkers Association came together to celebrate the association’s milestone.
Club member Dennis Ball said the celebration attracted beautiful weather, great company, laughs and many stories were told.
“Let’s go back to the beginning,” Mr Ball said.
“During the 1970s many forms of arts and crafts such as pottery, lead light, blacksmithing, spinning and weaving surged in popularity.
“In 1978, leading woodworking magazines began to include articles on wood turning.
“By 1980, wood turning had become the fastest-growing craft.
“This trend continued for a further 20 years.”
Mr Ball said that back In 1973, a man named Frank Willcock built a spindle lathe from farm scraps and an old washing machine motor.
“The first Victorian Woodworkers Association was formed in 1980 (and) Frank Willcock became an inaugural member,” Mr Ball said.
“The following year, Frank attended the Wood Conference in Tasmania.
“He became focused on creating ‘pieces’ as well as building lathes.
“He developed a purpose-built farm shed to house his equipment, resources and (the) pieces he had created.”
Mr Ball said Pat Gardiner, a friend of Benalla Art Gallery, asked Frank why he didn’t run classes.
“She put forward the idea that a classroom could be set up at the gallery,” Mr Ball said.
“Frank ran classes at (Benalla Art) Gallery during the day and evening.
“Demand grew, with classes running one afternoon and three nights a week, as well as one or two weekends a month.
“Initially, the classroom at Benalla Art Gallery became the meeting place for like-minded woodturners which was the basis for the Benalla Woodworkers Association.”
It was the people attending those classes who met on Thursday, May 24, 1984, to officially set up the Benalla Woodworkers Association.
Find out more via mensshed.org/sheds/benalla-woodworkers-association-inc/ or search for ‘Benalla Woodworkers Association’ on Facebook.
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