At the outset it might sound easy getting to pick winners, but from my own past experience it’s never straightforward. For the 2015 Student Awards we have what could be considered an absolute dream team who between them have expert skills and experience that cover pretty well all bases.
Phoebe Everill made the transition from a carpentry and building background into fine woodworking seven years ago and has rapidly gained a profile as a designer and maker of fine furniture. Phoebe was the first accredited female designer/maker of Studio Woodworkers Australia and is currently Chair of that organisation as well. Phoebe also teaches woodwork at Sturt School for Wood and from her own workshop in Drummond, Victoria.
Trading as Vesper Tools, Chris Vesper is a designer and maker of hand tools for fine woodworkers. His designs are based on his metal and woodworking expertise. As someone who started making tools in his teens and then his own business at the age of 23, Chris is passionate about supporting the efforts of younger woodworkers. You can read more about Chris in the March issue of Wood Review, and also see a glimpse of his workshop in some video footage now on Wood Review TV (YouTube) that I shot when I visited him late last year.
Andrew Potocnik is well known to readers of Australian Wood Review, having written regularly for the magazine since 1995 – in fact his articles and reviews number almost 90 at this point! Andrew is not only a creative wood artist and woodworker, he has taught industrial arts and design at secondary schools for over 20 years.
I think you will agree that the judges for our 2015 Student Awards are extrememly well qualified to review the work of these talented entrants.
Apart from Popular Choice Award which will soon be announced on this site I’m not going to divulge who the competition winners are until the March issue comes out but having been privy to some of their debate I can tell you they’ve had a tough time! Whichever way the judges see it every entrant is truly a winner in terms of what they’ve achieved, and the thing that shines through most is the great support they obviously get from their teachers and families.
Linda Nathan, Wood Review Editor
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