Big thanks to our carpenters

BUNDABERG carpenters put their tools down yesterday afternoon for a celebration of their trade.

Ben Pollock at the Carpenters Day at TAFE. Picture: Mike Knott

BUNDABERG carpenters put their tools down yesterday afternoon for a celebration of their trade.

Wide Bay TAFE held a barbecue for local carpenters to thank them for their contributions to the trade and the community.

National Carpenters Day celebrates the role of Australian carpenters in building our homes and nation since 1788.

Bundaberg chippie Ben Pollock is just one of the many carpenters in Bundaberg and first learnt his carpentry skills as a three-year-old playing around his father’s feet in a backyard shed.

“I used to get into trouble for losing Dad’s tools so I pretty soon picked up a few housekeeping rules, like keeping your tools in the right place and that’s good for any trade,” he said.

When he decided at age 15 to become a chippie, there was a downturn in the building industry, making apprenticeships hard to come by.

So, when an opening came up a few months before finishing Year 12, he jumped at the chance and left school early.

“I’ve never regretted it and have moved around to gain experience so now I can say I’ve worked on new homes, general renovations, specialist bathroom renovations and, since I finished my apprenticeship in 2005, I’ve been able to sub-contract,” he said.

“Carpentry is not the easiest of jobs; there’s a lot of nasty, dirty work; you start at the bottom of the pecking order and the boss expects you to be there at 6.30am with your mind on the job so there’s no staying out late for a good night out. Still, I think that all builds a lot of character and teaches you life skills and at the end of the week you can relax, knowing you’ve built something that will stand the test of time.”

Originally published as Big thanks to our carpenters