Member Features

I have had an interest in all things woodworking since I was a very young lad. My first attempts at woodturning were during woodwork classes at high school. I was inspired and encouraged by my woodwork teacher Haywood Berridge and the satisfaction from working with...

Dolf Lanting A recent photo by Clive Dalton of one of our senior woodturners with a new bowl.

I got my first taste of wood-turning and carving in a semester’s elective in high school in Hawaii in the late 50’s. When I sold Vinnies in Raglan about 15 years ago, I suddenly found I had a lot more free time and one day when I was out catering a party in Te Rapa, I...

30 years of woodworking Many of us have recently had the opportunity to see the video of some leaders of our craft. It is now on the home page of our website. Displayed right are some examples of their work. [Click here}  Star carvers grace Waikato Guild of...

Barry remembers going to primary school in Hawkes Bay in the 1940’s. There he first made models in plywood followed by a desk in secondary school thus beginning a lifetime interest in wood working. In due course he became a chartered accountant, and remained so for 54...

 Jim Kyle - Life Member   Jim doesn’t know much about the origins of the Kyle family in UK but he knows that his Dad came to New Zealand with his parents as a child around four or six years old. Jim thinks that the Kyle family came to work in rural jobs in the...

From Clive Dalton Hi Rodney Thought this may be of interest to members Some years ago Mike Gifford's son Grant with his digger business was working on the long-forgotten city dump when it was by the Waikato River at Horitui.  Remember what happens to forgotten dumps...

Rex Hall - life member Rex was born in Te Aroha in 1929 on his parent’s 8 acre farm. Eight acres was considered a “farm” on which they milked cows to make a living and brought up a family. It cost them ₤280 in 1929 just before the slump. Rex’s great grandfather had...

Eddie Petley is a longstanding member of the our Guild. Recently he has been in communication with the editor of the English magazine “Woodturning”. Reading the article about turning in a cold workshop prompted him to note, that in contrast to the UK he, like many of...