Turning heads with creations

Naomi Hockins | 16th November 2009

THE key to creating a wooden masterpiece is as simple as finding the right piece of timber, according to Queensland champion wood turner Mario Calligaris.

Woodturner Jarn Yellverton amazes the crowds with a display of his steady-handed skill at the Wood and Craft Expo.

Max Fleet

THE key to creating a wooden masterpiece is as simple as finding the right piece of timber, according to Queensland champion wood turner Mario Calligaris.

Mr Calligaris, 80, was at Bundaberg Showgrounds yesterday with his intricately detailed and award-winning works on show for the Bundaberg Woodworkers Guild Annual Wood and Craft Expo.

“First of all, you have to have a great piece of timber,” he said.

“And you have to be lucky so it does not split.”

The Bundaberg resident has gone as far as buying his own full camphor laurel tree to get just the right cuts, and said it was a good hobby to focus on and to take the mind off the daily grind.

Bundaberg Woodworkers Guild president Eunice Helmore was thrilled with the quality of the expo and the community interest it had received.

“It’s been a fabulous weekend,” Mrs Helmore said.

“We estimated it was going to be our best year because everything was coming together so well.

“It has been so far, but it’s not surprising because of the standard of work we’ve made in the workshop.”

Not only was the expo popular with those curious to view wooden creations and an impressive variety of crafts, but she said it had enjoyed “marvellous” sales.

Woodcrafter Bernie Anderson said it had taken him eight years to complete his impressive collection of 27 boats and four horse-drawn vehicles on display.

“It’s just something I’ve been fascinated with — I envied everyone else who could do it, so I thought I’d give it a try,” Mr Anderson said.

Mr Anderson said he had almost perfected the art of making every minute piece himself, and there was little he did not now create himself.

While Bundaberg Woodworkers Guild life member Malcolm Chisholm, who was busy creating his own works before the stream of people throughout the weekend expo, said his secret to success above all was “the love of wood”.