VWA Blog /
News
  • VWA Development

    10 May 2023 Featured News

    Hi everyone! As you know I’ve been working with the VWA to understand what some of the most pressing challenges faced by professional woodworkers across Australia are. Over the last 12 weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to speak to 30 professional woodworkers from different experience levels and learn a bit about themselves as well as the challenges they are facing. From the conversations I’ve had so far, some of the most common challenges include pricing work accurately, understanding of business functions such as accounting, finance etc. to name a few. It’s been a very interesting journey,  brainstorming ideas with everyone I’ve spoken to so far and hope to be able to summarise my findings via a report very soon.

    Arbaaz Tareen

  • What to keep an eye for at the VWA in 2023.

    17 Feb 2023 Featured News

    ‘Hone in – Social Sessions’, at the VWA.

    Starting in late Autumn and running into winter, the VWA will host a series of social mini-classes for members. Staggered over several weeks, these interactive sessions will look at the basic principles of four different hand tool groups in a small-group social format. Participants will have the opportunity to see demonstrations, have a go, field questions and come together for a chat about wood stuff. 

    Keep an eye out for more information on these sessions.

    Follow @vicwoodworkers

  • The Victorian Craft Awards Exhibition

    29 Apr 2022 News

    Exhibition: 5th April – 21st May at Watson Place gallery.
    Link: https://craft.org.au/whats-on/all-events/victorian-craft-awards/

    Established in 2015 and now in its fourth iteration, the Victorian Craft Awards is Australia’s only awards event solely dedicated to craft and design. This year’s awards were initially postponed from September 2021 due to ongoing lockdowns, and features 59 finalists from a variety of disciplines. Head across to Craft Victoria’s gallery on Watsons Place to view all the finalists pieces. The Awards showcase exceptional works utilising craft skills, processes and materials, including emerging, mid-career and established craftspeople from across Victoria.

    Here are some of the Furniture maker finalists who entered. 

  • Machine room bookings

    29 Apr 2022 News

    VWA members can book a place to use the machine room for timber machining on the first Sunday of every month from 1.00 – 4.00pm. The cost is $30 per hour.

    May’s machine room will be open on May 8th, not the 1st.

    Machining is supervised by long standing woodworker and respected teacher Carl Lutz.

    Members must have previous experience in using machinery and/or have undertaken at least one term of a Victorian School of Woodwork class or equivalent. Current students can also book the machine room at this time, but the classroom will not be available.

    To book a spot, please fill out the form at:  https://vwa.org.au/membership/machine-room-booking/

  • Machine room bookings

    3 Mar 2022 News

    VWA members can book a place to use the machine room for timber machining on the first Sunday of every month from 1.00 – 4.00pm. The cost is $30 per hour.

    Machining is supervised by long standing woodworker and respected teacher Carl Lutz.

    Members must have previous experience in using machinery and/or have undertaken at least one term of a Victorian School of Woodwork class or equivalent. Current students can also book the machine room at this time, but the classroom will not be available.

    To book a spot, please fill out the form at:  https://vwa.org.au/membership/machine-room-booking/

  • Residency Applications

    3 Mar 2022 News

    The VWA runs a three year Artists in Residency program for emerging fine woodworkers, which provides a well-equipped and supportive environment at low cost while residents are establishing their practice.

    Applicants should generally have training in fine woodwork, some recent industry experience, a portfolio of existing work, and a business plan for how they intend to develop their practice and business in the three years of the program.

    Successful applicants are also asked to participate in the broader activities of the VWA, and to work cooperatively with each other and teachers and students at the Victorian School of Woodwork.

    Two positions are available, one is currently vacant and the other will become vacant in around the middle of 2022. Applications will be open until 5.00pm Friday 25th March.

    More details and the application form can be found at: https://vwa.org.au/residency/

  • Happy Holidays

    22 Dec 2021 News

    As we head towards the end of another peculiar year, on behalf of the VWA Committee of Management I’d like to wish you all the best for the holiday season.

    While lots of things have again been disrupted this year, we hope to return to something like normal next year, with the school back in full swing and regular members meetings.

    We hope to see you in the New Year.

  • Introducing our new Committee

    22 Dec 2021 News

    At this year’s AGM, the new volunteer committee for the Victorian Woodworker’s Association was formed for the upcoming year.

    President: Stephen Ziguras

    Vice President: Adam Markowitz

    Secretary: Pip Haydon

    Treasurer: Robert Allan

    General Committee Members: Stephen Farquhar, Gregory Allan, Vivienne Wong, Lana Kagan, Michael Crozier, Jerome Wielens, Raven Mahon, Alexsandra Pontonio, Andrew Potocnik, Isabel Avendano Hazbun, John Foster, Chris James

  • Summer Learning

    22 Dec 2021 News

    Looking for a new skill to learn over the holidays? A membership with Spoon Club with give you everything you need to know about spoon carving, with video tutorials and expert advice, tips and techniques. The membership isn’t just for novices either, experienced carvers can also pick up new tricks from the variety of content and access to a community of spoon carvers.

    The best part? It’s all online and can be accessed anywhere, anytime (with internet access of course). 

    It also makes a great last minute gift 😉

  • A note from the VWA President

    20 Nov 2021 News

    At the end of another long, disrupted year (is it 2021 or still 2020? It feels a bit like that!), we are all feeling some relief at the easing of COVID restrictions and getting back to something like normal. Over the last few months, we’ve been working on getting our regular newsletter going again, which you should have received in your inbox already.

    We hope to produce this every month or two thanks to the work of our newsletter committee: William Mattysen, Andrew Potocnik, Pip Hayden, Raven Mahon and Adam Markowitz, led by Vivienne Wong and supported by Sophie Sideris from Hortenzia.

    With this newsletter we’ll be introducing a regular member profile. This will be a short bio of one of our members and their work, and some examples of pieces they’ve made. We would love to include as many members as we can in our newsletters and on our website. If you’d be happy to participate, please email Vivienne at communications@vwa.org.au

    Finally, the VWA is the sum of its members, if you have news you’d like to share with other woodworkers and craftspeople, please drop us a line!

    Stephen Ziguras
    President, Victorian Woodworker’s Association