As the days grow shorter and the nights cooler, woodworkers of the Sunshine Coast and surrounds are putting the finishing touches on their timber creations for Barung Landcare’s annual Maleny Wood Expo.
Stan Ceglinski enthralls Expo visitors with tales tall but true (Photograph: Mim Coulstock)
On the 1st and 2nd May, the Maleny Showgrounds will come alive as the mobile mills fire up and the smell of fresh-cut sawdust wafts across the grounds, bringing our timber heritage into the 21st century with everything from chainsaws to fine furniture.
Stan Ceglinski will take us back to our roots as he demonstrates the age-old skills used by white settlers when they came to the Blackall Range in the mid 1800s to harvest the red cedars.
And the mobile millers will bring us back to the present to the delight of Expo visitors – converting massive tree trunks into slabs and planks with high powered machines, camaraderie and friendly competition.
This timber is transformed into a wide range of furniture and other items by our superb timber craftsmen. On display will be lovingly crafted products from furniture-makers and toy-makers, musical instrument-makers and box-makers, whittlers and carvers and everything in between.
And all pieces are crafted from sustainably harvested native, weed and recycled timbers.
The sustainability theme flows throughout the event with displays highlighting regional environmental initiatives, the Taste Maleny Produce Store offering local boutique produce, and the sustainable lifestyles area.
There will even be the chance to try out the 21st century, single person, short-haul, personal transporter – the Segway – not limited to under-age drivers!
Take time out, if you need a break, with a ‘beer & burger’ from the Landcare Bar and BBQ, or sample one of the other fabulous food treats on offer. Or you can just sit back and sip on a fair trade latte from Montville Coffee.
The Expo’s feature exhibition for 2010 is Figs in the Forest. This Barung project forms part of TreeLine – a Sunshine Coast Council initiative to celebrate trees and their stories and inspire others to take action for the environment through art.
More than 30 local artisans inspired by the Blackall Range’s mighty rainforest figs have contributed works for the exhibition.
“Live action at this year’s Expo will include demos by chainsaw, trade and woodworking tool and equipment experts,” said Expo Coordinator, Steve McLeish.
“And we have more for the whole family this year” says Steve.
“For our younger visitors we will have skateramp-making workshops and aerial bike-riding demonstrations, candle-making and merimba workshops, great street theatre and loads more.
“With exhibits including eco-friendly building products, local produce and gourmet foods, environmental displays, local native plants and great food, the Expo really has something for everyone!”
Admission is $12 for adults which includes parking at the Showgrounds, and children under 16 are free of charge. Concessions are available.
If you would like to lend a hand over the Expo weekend – and hopefully stay to enjoy a coffee and browse – give Volunteer Coordinator, Jonathon Waites, a ring on 5494 3151 or go to the website (shown below) for a volunteer form.
On the front line, volunteers man the parking, entry gates, raffle ticket sales, Landcare BBQ tent and Barung’s plant sales. Behind the scenes they keep the event running smoothly and ensure visitors go home with a lingering taste of Maleny’s ‘country’ hospitality.
The Maleny Wood Expo is proudly hosted by Barung Landcare and is both its major educational event for the year and major fundraiser. Any surplus raised through the event helps keep the office and nursery open and staffed for the wider community.
Thanks to the Sunshine Coast Council, Caloundra Tourism and the many small local businesses for their ongoing and generous support.
For more information visit the Maleny Wood Expo website.
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