They come in all shapes and sizes and various states of tidiness, and now is the perfect chance to get an up close and personal look into some of the region’s classic kiwi sheds.
Graeme Wilson will be amongst those supporting the Life Education Trust by sharing his creations and the shed that houses his passion for woodwork.
Joinery has been his life-long career and he certainly had a hard time giving it up for retirement. “I retired three times, first time I lasted until lunch on the first day and then I went out and got a job. I went to Viking Furniture and the guy that was running it said ‘boy am I pleased to see someone who can work, I’ve just got the contract to do all the fittings in the Suburban Club and you’re it, so go get your tools and come back after lunch,’ so I did.
“When we finished all those contracts he became ill and had to give the business away, and I thought it was a good time to retire again, so I did. By the middle of the first day I was hacked off so I went down to Orange Joinery and they had just got the contract for fitting out the apartment blocks round the harbour, so I went home, got my tools and started work. I only wanted to work, I didn’t want to do management which is what I’d been into. So I worked there for a while until their manager left and then I looked after the business until they found another one, which took them a couple of years because they weren’t actually looking.”
When Graeme did retire for the third and final time, woodworking was the obvious choice to keep him busy.
“I was used to working, I liked working and I can’t bear sitting still, so I had to find something to do.”
A long time love of the outdoors inspired Graeme to build two kayaks, specifically constructed for both him and his wife. His other projects have included grandfather clocks, a roller top desk, nesting tables, his TV cabinet and most recently, wooden pictures. Starting out as Marquetry – the art of using pieces of veneer to form designs – Graeme has developed the craft into 3D works of art, some being scenes he has photographed, some of family and others from his imagination. For the Blokes in Sheds tour Graeme will be demonstrating his craft by creating a wooden picture of the Life Education Trusts mascot, Harold the giraffe, as well as offering people a look at the wooden kayaks and other completed woodwork creations
Tickets are still on sale for the fundraising tour which will be held on Sunday, September 13, from 10am. The tour will include a wide range of other shed owners passions and collections.
Tickets are $15 and can be bought off Ticket Direct, GrabOne or by emailing the trust at nelsontasman@lifeedtrust.org.nz. Food will also be available with a pizza oven at Higgins Park and a BBQ at another location.
