Eastern Region was started in 1985-1986 by Jim Dorbis while a student of woodturning at a College of Technical and Further Education. Things were hard in the beginning but at the same time exciting.
Eastern Region is the smallest of all the Sydney Woodturners Guild Regions but it is well supported. Most of the members are working and often lack time to devote to their hobby but are emphatic that the eastern region will survive.
In the early days of the Region, woodturners met at Jim Dorbis’s premises, after which the meeting were held in various other members workshops which was a good way of seeing other peoples woodturning tools and equipment and approach to work turning safety. The members found this approach very practical. At the end of 2014, we had the opportunity to move into our own workshop in Malabar which is now our home.
Eastern Region is a miniature United Nations woodturning club with members originating from Sweden, Italy, Egypt, Israel and Malta. Some members even come from Sydney.
Eastern Region woodturners usually meets on the first Sunday of each month although this sometimes changes to accomodate long week ends and other holiday periods.
As we are a Region of the Sydney Woodturners Guild, all Guild members may attend our meetings and local or overseas visitors are especially welcome. We have found that it is easier to learn in a small group then in a large one.
If you are looking for a new hobby please do come and join us, you’ll never regret it. Although the Club was formed primarily for woodturning, there are no restrictions on members developing techniques and improving skills in all arts of wood working. If you are a “lover of woodwork” you are welcome at the club.
We have a fully equipped woodturning workshop which is available for use by all members.
The workshop is open on Saturday from 9 am to 12 noon. Our saturday meetings at the workshop are well attended and provide a great opportunity for members to socialise and discuss woodturning projects.
(closed Christmas and New Year holidays)
There are always experienced woodturners on hand to assist new members in the safe use of the machinery and with their woodturning projects.
The equipment at the workshop includes:
4 lathes
Chisels, faceplates and chucks for each lathe
Grinders for sharpening tools
Bandsaw
Drill press
and more…
The club has a number of books on all aspects of woodturning, which the members are welcome to borrow.
Life members
MR GRAHAM TILLY Member Number (47)
Graham was born in Murraybridge S.A. He started his working life as a High School Maths Teacher. Eventually becoming a Maths lecturer at Sydney University. It was during this period that he really got going as a turner. With access to the Ultimo TAFE, lunch times were spent in the Bijou Lane premises using their wood machines.
Graham joined the Guild in 1983 and was at the first meeting. He has been the Convenor of Eastern Region since about 1993. There was much discussion from the group about whether he was an apprentice to Jim Dorbis, but taught be George Hatfield, or the other way around. Either way Graham is our best turner. These days he makes Blanket Boxes, Tea Caddies and turned spoons and scoops. He is also a talented wood carver and enjoys showing off his latest creations.
Perhaps one of his lesser known pursuits, (as told to me by one of our older members), is the production of Japanese Kokeshi Dolls. These dolls, in times past, were meant to represent infants who had passed away.
Graham perfects his designs by doing small production runs, of about 4 or 5 items with each an improvement on the previous item. The final product is well worth the effort, according to Graham.
These days Graham likes to run workshops for people who want to learn from him, and these usually take place in his workshop, under the house. I know everyone learns something from Graham on these occasions. Graham continues to use his “Mongrel Lathe”, it is made of parts from various places. No matter, he still turns out excellent items.
Graham is a valued member of Eastern Region and has been a great supporter of the group over many years, by giving him Life Membership it is our way of saying Thank you.
Bibliography: Some of this information came from an article written by Jim Dorbis in By Hand and Eye August/September 2002.
MR SVEN WALLIN Member Number (167).
Sven was born in Falkenberg Sweden. He started work at 18 years old in an Engineering shop. Later he joined the Merchant Navy. He arrived in Australia, met his Australian wife and has lived here ever since.
Sven worked for Atlas Copco, (who made Industrial Compressors) for 36 years. Upon retirement his co workers gave him a Craftmastar Lathe. This kicked his turning into high gear. He produced furniture and toys for his grand children to their great delight.
These days he uses a Teknatool lathe and continues to turn, particularly faceplate turning of platters and bowls. Sven believes that timber should not be stained or disguised, its natural beauty is enough.
As he has always done, he continues to use a lot of Lanewood in his creations, (picked up in the Lane). However, the workmanship is always excellent on anything he does.
Perhaps one of the more interesting items he has brought in to show the group was a Birch Bark Horn from Sweden. The bark was worked in a coil to create the horn it actually worked and was quite interesting.
Sven was the Representative for Eastern Region for a number of years and the group by conferring Life Membership wish him well and just want to say Thank you.
Bibliography: Some of this information came from an article written by Jim Dorbis in By Hand and Eye August/September 1997.
At the December meeting of Eastern Region Woodturners it was decided to confer Life Memberships to two of our oldest members.