Community Matters

The Club recognises the importance of making a contribution to the wider Hamilton community.

Typically, this is achieved in one of the following ways:

  ~ actively participating in local (craft) shows / exhibitions


  ~ encouraging visiting groups to our workshop


  ~ producing turned items for worthy causes


  ~ providing students with a solid basis in wood turning that

      they can use to help develop a skill or trade


  ~ providing retirees with a stimulating, friendly environment

     where they can network with like-minded colleagues;

     learn a new craft; and avoid becoming lonely and isolated.


Shows / Exhibitions

The Club has exhibited at the Waikato Show in Hamilton over each of the past 4 years.   Our stand in the Craft and Creativity area has included a working lathe, allowing us to demonstrate the art of woodturning to the show’s attendees.    It also gives us a chance to respond to queries from interested parties - on either the demonstration itself, or on any aspect of wood turning.

Individual members from our club have also exhibited at other locations around New Zealand, including at the Royal Easter Show in Auckland, the Kawerau National Woodfest; and the annual Pirongia market.

As well as allowing us to exhibit turned items produced by member’s of the club, these events also help us to promote our club and to encourage new members.   It also provides an opportunity to submit turned items into woodturning competitions, allowing us to compare both the quality and artistic merit of our work against items produced by other woodturning clubs around New Zealand.

Visitors

Our Club encourages visitors from the general Hamilton area.   They can watch our members embarking on their latest wood turning project; ask questions about the type of wood; the item being produced; or gaining information about the technique being employed.   Our members take a mid-session break from their turnings.   This provides a good opportunity to share coffee and nibbles with our visitors, and give them some background information on our Club.   The visitors are then encouraged to give the Club some information about themselves.

Due to safety reasons, the size of the group is restricted to 10 individuals.

Visits must be arranged in advance - please contact the Club for details.

Past visitor groups have included:

  • West Hamilton Probus Club


  • Friendship Club of Te Rapa


  • Enliven Hamilton

Worthy Causes

Our Club tries to support other charitable organisations and good causes by turning bespoke objects for them (e.g. gavels, bannister newels, chair legs).   Although we do not have the capacity to make large numbers of an object, we are happy to consider a special request for an item.

Towards the end of 2018 and 2019, Club members produced a wide variety of wooden toys that were donated to the following worthy causes for distribution over Xmas:

  • The Nest, Salvation Army


  • Women’s Refuge


  • True Colours Charitable Trust

  • Barnardos

In August 2019, the Club was approached by Bunnings Warehouse (South Hamilton).   The store wanted to set-up some DIY activities over the Father’s Day week-end.   We were invited to set-up a woodturning lathe and hold demonstrations of our craft.   We installed a mini lathe, and gave demonstrations of pen making on Thursday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning.   We also set-up a table displaying previously turned items, which helped to promote the club.

for photos see Gallery - Worthy Causes

Students

We already have a few students attending as members of the Club.   There is a longer term objective of providing classes aimed at students, but our workshop capacity currently prevents us from offering wider support.   We see such classes encouraging students to consider pursuing an apprenticeship, where woodworking skills can possibly lead them to a future trade.

Retirees

The Club has many retirees, who find the camaraderie and networking with like-minded members very satisfying.   The Club helps to prevent them from becoming isolated and bored once they have ended a full-time career.   They also enjoy the friendly competitiveness among members when given a project to undertake; though everyone is only too willing to offer advice or assistance when necessary.   They also feel proud when they complete turned items, and have a sense of achievement.   Those who have had an office-based career can find it refreshing to learn a practical craft, where they are exploring their creativity and dexterity.