Hundreds of carpenters from around Australia, nine current serving soldiers in Afghanistan, and celebrity carpenter Tom Williams, celebrated Australia’s first ever National Carpenters Day on Tuesday, April 21.
Sponsored by Forest and Wood Products Australia’s Wood. Naturally Better.TM campaign, a series of free events was held in each capital city around Australia to raise awareness of the timber industry and to encourage the use of wood.
FWPA managing director Ric Sinclair said the day was a great success, for not only those who attended but also in generating public awareness by attracting significant national media attention.
“The ultimate aim of National Carpenters Day was to give a public focus to our key messages about the benefits of using wood to consumers, professionals and government and to promote wood as the preferred material of choice to build and work with,” Sinclair said.
“The media that was generated leading up to and on the day of this inaugural event has exceeded our expectations and to date is worth more than $420,000.
“National Carpenters Day was featured on all three of the commercial television networks on Tuesday morning – with a segment with Tom Williams on Channel 7’s Sunrise, 9am with David and Kim on Channel 10 and The Today Show on Channel 9.
“It also generated extensive radio and newspaper coverage around Australia – with 45 radio interviews or mentions and 41 print articles or photographs – and an impressive online presence.
“The total audience for all media generated was more than four million people. On top of this through National Carpenters Day we were able to talk directly to hundreds of carpenters and businesses, highlighting the important messages of the Wood. Naturally Better.TM program and to draw attention to the timber industry.”
Australia’s inaugural National Carpenter of the Year Award was also launched on National Carpenters Day giving the campaign a great opportunity to continue engaging with the media during the next month.
