Passion that led to top-drawer career

ALEX Walpole’s career as a cabinetmaker has taken him all over the state.

The 24-year-old loved woodwork at school and decided to get paid for the activity.

“I’ve been a cabinetmaker since 2009. I started woodwork classes at high school, really enjoyed it and thought why not make a career out of it,” Mr Walpole said.

“I like everything about it. You’re not always doing the same thing and every job is different.

“At the start of last year the company I’m working for now did four villas on Hayman Island, which was just amazing.”

But Mr Walpole and his colleagues were stranded on Hayman Island after Cyclone Debbie tore through the Whitsundays in March last year.

“The first trip was a week and a half, the next trip was extended because of the cyclone,” he recounted. “Parts of the villas we had already completed were destroyed. We were working on four villas, one was all right, another, just certain areas like the outdoor barbecue areas, got destroyed.

“It gave us a little bit more down there and a little more time on the island, I guess.”

Mr Walpole has also worked at Emerald and built items for Mt Isa, Cape York Aboriginal communities, Weipa and even Brisbane.

“The dust is not the best but that’s about it. I thoroughly enjoy the work,” he said.

“I used to do work at home for friends and family, but in different living situations, like units, it can be hard to do that.

“I do make coffee tables for friends and family and just for fun ... I’d tell young people it’s just like your shop class but on a bigger scale. You’re building bigger and better things.

“If they think it’s repetitive work, it’s not. Every job is different, you’re always doing something new.”