Koonung Woodturners Guild

The inaugural meeting of the “Koonung Woodturners Club” was held on 8 February 1994 at the Koonung Cottage in Blackburn.  The first committee meeting of the Guild was held on 15 February 1994 in the Doncaster West Scout Hall and at this meeting the decision was taken to adopt the name of the “Koonung Woodturners Guild”.  At this meeting it was agreed that the Guild would be an incorporated body and Harold Irving was elected the Guild’s first president.  Harold remained President until his death in February 2003.

The Guild’s aims are Promoting Excellence and Fellowship in Woodturning. 

Regular meetings of the Guild, which now has almost fifty members, are held at:
Koonung Cottage
109 Koonung Road
Blackburn, Vic. 3130  
The Guild’s workshop at the rear of the Cottage has 4 lathes, a band saw, a bench grinder, a belt sander, woodturning chisels and other equipment for the use of members.  It is also fitted with a dust extraction system.
On Monday evenings regulars meet from about 7.45 PM to about 10.00 PM. They bring their work for discussion, rather than using the workshop equipment, although they occasionally also use it in warmer weather.  Constructive criticism and advice is given about ways to improve an item next time, or how to complete one with which the owner is having difficulty, etc.  It is a very good way of quickly picking up woodturning knowledge.
A Thursday afternoon group operates from about 2 PM to 4 PM.  Those coming to these sessions usually make use of the workshop equipment.  Activities are supervised by one of the Guild’s more experienced turners who are willing to help participants pick up new skills.
Monthly meetings are normally held on the fourth Saturday of each month from 9.00 AM to about mid-day and include a brief introduction, general information, Show and Tell, where members’ work is displayed and discussed, a raffle, morning tea when members can more closely inspect the items on display and mix socially, followed by a demonstration, usually of a particular aspect of woodturning by an expert. 
During the year the Guild arranges at least one full day event at which a professional wood-turner demonstrates his or her skills and morning tea, a BBQ lunch and afternoon tea are provided.
As part of its effort to promote excellence in woodturning the Guild organises the Annual Australian Woodturning Exhibition in June each year.  The exhibition is held at the Whitehorse Civic Centre and attracts entries from most Australian states. 
Members also demonstrate woodturning at different functions during the year.  These usually include activities such as the Annual Open Day of the Nunawading and District Historical Society at Schwerkolt Cottage, the Whitehorse Spring Festival at the Whitehorse Civic Centre, the Woodworking Festival and the Surrey Hills Spring Festival. 
Many Guild members also contribute some of their work to charity.  During the last few months of the year they make toys and at the end-of-year luncheon these are presented half each to the Salvation Army and the Eastern Emergency Relief Group.  Due to his efforts in establishing and promoting it, this activity has been named “The Harold Irving Toy Appeal”.

Membership ranges from young working people to retirees and a monthly newsletter is sent to all members.
   
Membership fees consist of a one-off joining fee of $35.00 that includes a membership badge and there is an annual subscription of $35.00.