National Carpenters Day in late November gave Australia’s chippies the chance to celebrate, BBQ and announce the Carpenter of the Year and Apprentice Carpenter of the Year. Source: Timberbiz
Ross O’Neill, director VR Builders in Victoria’s Castlemaine was announced as the Carpenter of the Year, while Aaron Holmes from Northern Valley Constructions in Victoria was named Apprentice Carpenter of the Year.
As Carpenter of the Year, Mr O’Neill took home around $3000 worth of tools and vouchers, while Mr Holmes scored more than $2300 worth of tools and vouchers for winning Apprentice Carpenter of the Year.
These announcements were made at approximately 100 BBQs held across Australia and sponsored by WoodSolutions and Wood. Naturally Better.
Now in its fifth year, National Carpenters Day is a celebration of the role of carpenters in building Australia, and their ongoing contribution to our environment though the use of wood.
“We’ve been involved every year,” said Nick Steens from Perth’s Independent Timber Supplies. “This year we had 230 chippies. The first 200 received a show bag full of branded items, an incentive to arrive early!”
Mr Steens went on to explain that they maximise the impact of their BBQ by involving many carpentry industry stakeholders. He said they also remind their carpenter contacts during the weeks preceding the BBQ.
National Carpenters Day was part of National Carpenters Week which was the 17 – 23 November, 2014.
During the week around 5000 people attended the celebratory BBQs held at hardware stores, building supplies and TAFEs across the nation.
Many of the hosts were Wood. Naturally Better Program Partners and organisations who share the goal of promoting the many advantages of wood and wood products.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to recognise the contribution carpenters make to the lifestyle we all enjoy,” said Eileen Newbury, marketing and communications manger of Forest and Wood Products Australia, the industry services company that manages and resources Wood. Naturally Better.
“It’s also a chance to spread awareness of the environmental advantages of wood. Many people who work with wood every day are not aware of all the benefits.”
