Bendigo Woodturners Club turns out works of beauty with an ingrained love of wood

BENDIGO Woodturners Club is a regular exhibitor at Seymour Alternative Farming Expo.

Seymour Expo

BENDIGO Woodturners Club is a regular exhibitor at Seymour Alternative Farming Expo.

The club has more than 100 members and attracts men and women from all walks of life.

The youngest member is aged 12 and the oldest is in his mid-80s.

Equipment maintenance officer Bob Trigg said companionship, the sharing of knowledge and a passion for all kinds of woodcraft were the reasons for the club's ongoing success.

During the three-day expo, the club will offer a wide range of wood products for sale, including bowls, small furniture items, carved boxes and clocks.

Mr Trigg said the products were made from many different timbers, including apple, apricot and olive woods, chosen for their beautiful grain structures.

"Members like to work with red ironbark and red gum because of their brilliant, rich red finish.

"Blackheart sassafras from Tasmania is popular because of the unique variety of colours it reveals when you cut through the heartwood.

"I also like to turn bowls from thin green peppercorn wood because it changes shape as it dries out and has a pronounced birds-eye effect with colours from red to brown, cream and white," he said.

Experts will be on hand at the exhibition to answer questions and offer advice.

There will be ongoing demonstrations of wood lathe and scroll saw work, and pyrography, which is the burning of scenes on to wood.

Visitors can buy raffle tickets for a two-storey dolls' house built by club members, complete with miniature furniture made by the scroll-saw group.

There are other prizes, including a carved blanket box.

The raffle will be drawn at the Bendigo Woodturners Club Easter Exhibition and proceeds will go towards the running costs of the club.

Details will be published at www.bendigowoodturners.com.au

• For more information, call Bendigo Woodturners on 03 5447 8048.