Sunday April 15, 2018 in Federal, NSW was a picture-perfect day. Blue skies, rolling hills, green and forested, it was the place that around 500 hundred people chose to gather in.
The occasion was Woodfest, a celebration of native timbers that marked the creation of a new collective of farm foresters known as Quality Timber Traders (QTT). The main Northern Rivers species currently being harvested and which were displayed at Woodfest were silky oak (Cardwellia sublimis), silver quandong (Elaeocarpus grandis), Queensland maple (Flindersia brayleyana).
‘Woodfest is all about celebrating sustainably grown native timber’, said Kate Love, events manager for QTT. ‘It’s about bringing tree growers and woodworkers together so that we can create a local loop between seed to tree products and really showcase what we can do with our beautiful native timbers.’
The event was designed to showcase locally grown native timbers and their use through informative displays and a design competition. Panel discussions of makers, growers, architects, interior designers and timber technologists discussed various aspects of the project and took questions from an audience which packed out the chapel adjacent to Federal Hall.
A BBQ lunch was hosted by the Bangalow Men’s Shed, while local musician Luke Bennett serenaded the visitors who ate under shelter outside.
At 2pm winners of the three categories of the Timber Design Competition were announced:
Best Use of Sustainable Native Timber (using silver quandong, silky oak or Queensland maple)
Art Studio Chair: Max den Exter
Surfboard: Anthony Star
Most Innovative
Mirror: Alby Johnston (Bayspoke Studio)
Best Concept
Collapsible Timber Basket: Nathan Walker
Best in Showcase
Sculptures: Grant Vaughan (Designs in Wood)
Words and photos (unless noted): Linda Nathan, Wood Review editor
Learn more about Quality Timber Traders at www.qualitytimbertraders.com