Open Days At Woodworkers Guild This Weekend

The Southland Woodworkers Guild is holding another open weekend to show the public some of the great things that people can be involved in.

This Saturday and Sunday the club will open its doors in Mary Street, to let the public come in and have a go at lathe work, wood carving and scroll sawing, among other things.

Club member Bev Wilson said last year they opened the clubrooms (situated in the old Southland Darts Hall), to the public, and boosted its membership.

“It was a great success, and we got quite a few new members,” she said.

A display of work by the late Maurice Caughey showcasing his interesting collection of wooden bowls will also be for sale, which Bev described as “fine, delicate work.”

The main gallery will be open with a mixture of things for sale from members – everything from traditional wooden toys, including trains and carriages, rocking horses, puzzles, bed cradles and little high chairs.

Children must be 14-years-old and accompanied by an adult, and the guild will be open both days between 10am and 3pm.

The Southland Woodworkers Guild has been around for 30+ years and seven years ago the club purchased its own clubrooms.

Bev Wilson was one of the first females to get involved – to learn some new skills in wood carving.

There are now 60 members ranging in age from 20 to 90, and the guild has its annual exhibition every November.

“It is work that the members have made within the last year, there is scrollwork, woodturning, carving,  and many other items,” she said.

The club is a great place for people to learn about the different formats of working with wood, and there is plenty of equipment and tools for use, as well as advice on techniques such as lathe turning, cabinet making and the safe use of machinery,

For more information check out their website swwg.co.nz