Woodturners host competition
Dannevirke Woodturners Club hosted a successful competition for member clubs within its zone at the Barber Hall in Palmerston North on Sunday May 20.
Nine clubs participated — Taupo¯ , Hawke’s Bay, Masterton, Wellington, Ka¯ piti, Wanganui, Stratford, Manawatu¯ and Dannevirke in this annual competition.
Each club had to produce 10 items members had made for a table display, and judge Dick Veitch chose the best single items for awards.
No club member could enter more than two items and Dannevirke had work from six of its members — Joe Dodunski, Ron Ashford, Kevin Curry, David Pretty, Colin Gainey and Sheree Davis.
Robbie Graham from Taupo¯ won overall, and Joe Dodunski from Dannevirke won the Judge’s Choice Award sponsored by Taylor Jensen Fine Arts. Joe’s platter made from Lombardy poplar bur was considered “close to perfect” in the judge’s words.
In addition to the table display each club had to perform in a skill challenge. Each year the task is different and Dannevirke challenged six members of each team to produce a gavel and striker from macrocarpa blocks provided. Teams had only a picture and the materials to work with on a lathe they had brought with them and 30 minutes to do it.
Three operators from each team took turns to make the items — 10 minutes each — in the morning session while in the afternoon another three had to copy what their team had made in the morning.
Taupo¯ won the competition but Joe says having fun was more important than the result. Dannevirke Woodturners meet at Dannevirke High School every Tuesday night. There are eight adults and six students in the club and anyone is welcome. Contact Joe at (06) 374-8054.