Lucinda Fechner – The Timber Union

I grew up on Barkindji Country, where the Murray and the Darling rivers meet. As a child I played in the fine red earth with the sound of the wind whistling through the Bull Oaks. As with most families of the area we grew grapes. I learned to drive a tractor at a young age and watched my father build farm machinery from piles of scrap steel.

The love of making has very much been a part of my story. I studied Visual Arts at Monash University majoring in Sculpture. After finishing I set up a home studio and got to work. Most of my art was made from metal and found objects and I wanted to explore working in wood. I gained part-time work with a French Polisher and my journey working with timber began. I ran into an old friend, and he secured me a job interview at Nicholas Dattner & Co. Nicholas was a trailblazer, an evangelist of bespoke furniture design made purely from Australian hardwoods.

Here my love of timber really began, I was converted. I was signed on as an apprentice Furniture Polisher and worked in the Furnishing Industry for just under 10 years. After this time, I completed a Diploma of Education at Melbourne University, and began teaching Design Technology – Wood at what became Melba College. That was over 20 years ago now, and my love of teaching and timber fills my days.

Now the opportunity to teach those that have an interest, like I did, has come into view. Now I am The Timber Union. I would like to invite you to come and join me in woodworking classes that bring knowledge, skill & projects together

Please visit www.thetimberunion.com for more information on courses and classes.