"What the hell is a blacksmith doing here?" was the question some people were asking as they arrived to see the three marque tents full of lathes, grinders, bandsaws, bench drills and various other gear spread over the oval at Camp Kanga Proserpine for the 2004 Turnout.
There was also an extra anvil in the blacksmith's tent to be used by a saw doctor, John Gordon, one of only three left in Australia practising his trade of trueing up millers saws.
112 participants, including Bushy Bill from Kurumba on the Gulf, to Ken and Helen from Melbourne had arrived. 32 of which were there for the 4th year in a row. 60 had been at previous events and the remainder being first timers. Each year the turnouts attract more participants.
The theme this year was pens and Col was invited to turn pens, which he did all weekend in a variety of colours and styles. Also on show were several very small lathes that could be used for this purpose.
The group this year had made a special self-powered lathe on which there was a 3/4 finished pen of world record length. This will be finished in 2005 and entered into the Guiness Book of Records. More details will be available on this web at a later date.
Up in the hall a gallery was set up and what a wonder array of fine work was on display. Ken Wraight award winning "Soldier Ant" stealing the show, but taking nothing away from the vast majority of fine work ranging from table lamps to road trains. The standard of turning keeps getting higher each year.
Friday night "Proserpine Polly" arrived to help out with the proceedings, being "very friendly" to all who received their turnout badges. Jim Robbie, our New Zealand turning guest accompanied by this wife, Rose, told us of his experiences and how he manages to make a good living of selling to the tourist market. It was also interesting to learn that many of these kinds of events are staged in New Zealand. Carol Rix who is just starting out on the road of a professional turner, told us of her hopes and asperations of achieving her woodturning goals. Both guest turners commented on the high standard of work displayed in the gallery.
With 50 odd lathes working the tents were a hive of activity with everyone "doing their thing", showing off their work, techniques, jigs, gagets, special woods as well as exchanging information and friendships. It was very apparent that all had come prepared to show their work this year as a lot of projects had been previously started, allowing them to be completed over the weekend. This included router decorated work, laminated and segmented pieces, natural edge pieces, and spiral turned pieces, bowls, platters, vases, and everything and anything that is turning.
Up at the lake's edge on saturday night was, as always, a time to relax and enjoy the red claw entree followed by a BBQ meal and some cool drinks. On arriving back at the hall we were entertained by the line dances, who this year did a skit that had us all in fits of laughter, "Micheal Jackson Eat Your Heart Out".
The craft group got themselves organised quickly and soon had a vast array of different crafts on the go. During Saturday they were shown basketry by Denise Vandalough, which was thoroughly enjoyed by the ladies. This side of the turnout has become very important and there has been talk of more room to accomodate increasing numbers of "woodturning widows". We must keep them happy.....
It became apparent on Saturday afternoon that there was a collaboration between the blacksmith, Ray Montey of Mackay, and Clermont turner Doug Wellington, as they put the finishing touches to a viking helmet. What a success and surprise to all, including their mates. It was quickly confiscated and will be used as an annual award at future turnouts.
Local scultor, Adrian Vandalough, worked away on large block of Leichardt creating a Proserpine Rock Wallaby to the interest of all. Adrian attends each year to demonstrate that side of woodworking.
The great teams race took place last thing on Saturday afternoon and as usual was a heap of fun. To reduce the opportunity of "cheating" all were asked to turn the thinest possible spindle in the fastest time using the 2 inch lengths supplied. Well, all sorts of the excuses were used to explain why the work broke and the lengths contestants went to, to cheat, as usual was unbelievable. The biggest cheat, of those detected that is, was by Marilyn who had the opportunity to win for her team if she performed 10 pushups quicker that an opposing team could do 5. She lost, but what a good sport she is. Ken who travels all the way from Melbourne each year was the wining teams captain, making this a clean sweep of the turnouts awards for him.
Too soon Sunday lunch arrived and after the presentation of awards people started for home, all indicating that they would be returning for Turnout 2005, which will be the first weekend in November.
For more great photos please click on thumbnails below.
