“I feel so pleased with myself when I make something – it’s a big confidence boost,” says Women’s Shed member Paula Torry. 

“I moved to the area just over four years ago and felt a bit lonely,” adds Marcella Moreno. “I realised this group is very friendly and welcoming – you don’t have to have a skill, but you can learn if you want to.”  

There are currently around 50 Women’s Sheds across Australia, and a few have popped up internationally. President Jennifer Tighe – one of the founding members – first saw an ad for the Women’s Shed on a notice board. 

“I joined because I wanted to be able to use the drill with confidence!” she laughs. “But seriously, the Women’s Shed certainly saved me.” 

“I moved from Sydney seven years ago and was feeling depressed and lonely but joining the Shed was a game-changer.”

A Permanent Home

Jennifer says a committee formed early on and fundraising began right away. The group met in the woodwork room of a local high school, then someone offered their garage. They’ve shifted five or six times since, carting their tools and equipment. A permanent home has long been the goal for the Port Macquarie Women’s Shed. A chance conversation with the manager of Hibbard Sports Club turned into a land-lease agreement

The Development Application for a purpose-built shed has been approved and fundraising efforts are underway. A $16,000 state government grant for the concrete slab is a good start but the women aren’t sitting back waiting for cash to come to them.

Gift Wrapping for Good

Among their many fundraising efforts is a Christmas gift wrapping stint at Port Central Shopping Centre. The ladies will be wrapping and decorating gifts until December 24, all for a gold coin donation. 

“We have created decorations to add to the gifts,” says Paula. “Port Macquarie will have the country’s best wrapped presents!”

“We spent a week wrapping last year and some people were so generous – giving us $20 notes instead of gold coins,” explains Valetta Turner. “We’ll wrap even if someone can’t pay – no one gets turned away.”

Jennifer believes their workshop will be the first purpose-built Women’s Shed in Australia. She envisages a space full of women sanding wood and using scroll saws, knitting, sewing and getting educated. The group currently invites guest speakers to present on topics such as mental health, women’s health and legal rights. It’s hoped the new shed will allow for more women to join and experience the empowerment and sense of belonging the group offers.  

Find out more about the Port Macquarie Women’s Shed here . They will be gift wrapping at Port Central until December 24.

The post Port Macquarie Women at Work with Wood appeared first on Coastbeat.

After 64 years of production the last Volkswagen Kombi rolled off the assembly line in 2013. Over the years the iconic Kombi had come to symbolise the counter culture and the freedom of the road – a feel-good car that tugs at the heart strings and conjures up visions of sunsets, surf boards and girls with flowers in their hair.

Keeping the Dream Alive

“The Kombis were part of people’s lifestyle,” says Steve Hopkins, who, along with his wife Rhonda has restored dozens of them. “It’s important to keep the Kombi alive so future generations can see what life was like in the 50s and 60s,” he adds.

In these days of disposable culture where things break down and are thrown away, a restored Kombi is like a slice of perfectly preserved history. It’s also a display of true craftsmanship, much like a lovingly restored piece of art.

“The restored Kombis are 100% original, except for the new mechanicals which make them run better,” says Steve. “We do everything, the upholstery, the glass work, the painting, it comes out better that way.”

Not only are the couple keeping the spirit of this classic car alive through their award-winning restorations, they are also observing values and traditions that hark back to a time where things were built to last. Steve’s attention to detail and use of traditional repair methods such lead loading (a soldering technique that takes great skill) rather than using body filler, are rare in the industry these days but the results are totally authentic.

An Accidental Career

The couple have a well-earned reputation for their beautiful award-winning Kombi restorations, but the road to success was paved by accident, literally. Rewinding to the 70s, 17-year old Steve was working as an apprentice fitter and turner – a job he hated. Looking out the window one morning he saw his splitty (split screen Kombi) all twisted and bent in the driveway. His brother had borrowed it the night before, filled it with twelve of his friends, got drunk and rolled it.

Neither of them had the money for repairs, so Steve had to fix it himself, borrowing the tools from his dad. “It came out quite good and I really liked doing it,” he says, so he tossed in the apprenticeship, put himself through a panel beating tech course and started his own business restoring VW Kombis and Beetles. Rhonda helped him – they had met in 1969 on the beach in Bulli, where he used to go on surfing trips.

Building a Reputation

The couple married in 1972 and started saving for a house and workshop. Steve meticulously restored a Norton Commando motorbike to pay for a deposit, but it was stolen by a couple of bikies. He then restored a VW Type 3 Wagon, but wrote it off in an accident. Their financial struggles continued when Rhonda crashed the Ford Cougar they had restored too. Finally their run of bad luck ended and they scraped together the money to build a small workshop. In 1982 they moved up to the North Coast, “Fixing up whatever rolled into the backyard,” explains Steve, which included a good number of Porches. Their reputation steadily grew and the Kombi work rolled in faster and faster.

“The great thing about a Kombi is that just about everyone likes them and the variety of people who own them is amazing,” says Steve.

Back in the 70’s you could pick up a Kombi for a couple of hundred dollars. These days it’s a very niche market – a fully restored 23 window Kombi Samba can set you back $250,000. According to Steve, Kombi enthusiasts are looking for the whole experience, the process of transformation. They want to buy a rusty old wreck and see it born again, right before their eyes, customised to their own choices.

“Many are millionaires,” says Steve. “They work hard, they get home, have a bourbon and sit in front of a computer to look at the pictures we send through every night.

“They love it and really want to get involved in the build, it might take three weeks to decide on the set of wheels.”

A Labour of Love 

More than a business transaction it is a collaboration, a labour of love. “We tend to become good friends with the people we have worked with,” says Rhonda. “It’s a partnership, the whole business is based on trust,” adds Steve.

While the couple could perhaps have made more money had they stuck to fixing up Ferraris.

One of their favourite restoration projects was a 1954 VW Barn Door Deluxe Microbus that came from Queenstown NZ, where it had spent the 50’s and 60’s doing tours to the snowfields. The end cost for the buyer was $380,000, mind you, this wasn’t just any old Kombi but “the sixth rarest Kombi in the world,” according to Steve. The day after they finished the restoration, which included an original 30hp engine, Steve and Rhonda drove it down to Sydney for the VW Nationals where it won ‘Car of the show.’

“The VW Museum in Germany has offered to buy it for $450,000, but the guy won’t sell it to them,” Steve laughs.

While Steve and Rhonda are at retirement age and have leased the business to their friend Brendon Lee who emulates their dedication and passion, they intend on working a few more years and have built a workshop on their own ten acres.

The couple are currently restoring a Kombi Microbus Deluxe that they bought from a 94-year old man – who had purchased it brand new in 1970.

“We are going to keep it in the family,” says Steve. “Our grandson loves surfing so there is a high chance he will use it for surf trips.”

The post The Kombi Connection appeared first on Coastbeat.

When he attended the 2017 Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, John was struck by the beauty of the works. He wanted to bring them to Coffs Central to give more people the opportunity to see them. 

“As a supporter of the arts, Coffs Central is proud to provide a curated experience in centre,” John says. “Visitors can navigate the trail and admire the sculptures.” 

Bringing Sculpture by the Sea to Coffs

The exhibition in Sydney and Perth is the largest annual free-to-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibition in the world. An estimated 750,000 visitors celebrate the work of Australian and overseas artists in Bondi and Cottesloe each year. John Gowing’s acquisition brings Sculpture by the Sea to the Coffs Coast and ensures it can be enjoyed by locals and tourists for many years to come. 

Weighing approximately three tonnes, Divestments 4 features four dark timber beams of varying heights. During installation, workmen from Sanco Projects encountered a crane pad from previous construction work. They needed to excavate to a depth of three metres to find natural ground which was nearly triple the original depth. This sculpture will stay secure for many years to come after almost two truckloads of cement were added to the footings.  

Take the Sculpture & Artwork Trail

The Sculpture & Artwork Trail also features artworks Finn the whale by Coramba artist Stefan Bruggiser. Finn is made from locally sourced spotted gum and steel and is a stunning inclusion in the centre. Finn was commissioned by the Gowings Whale Trust.

Everyone is welcome to visit Coffs Central and view the sculptures and artworks. A printed guide is available free from the concierge desk on the ground floor. The Sculpture & Artwork Trail represents a $600,000 investment in Australian and international art. 

The post Striking Sculpture Completes Coffs Central Collection appeared first on Coastbeat.

The Port Macquarie Surfing Museum brings Australia’s wave riding history to life. Started by a group of mates, the museum now boasts in excess of 90 exhibits. From 16-foot solid timber Tooth Picks from the forties to twins fins from the eighties and modern thrusters, the museum shows the fascinating evolution of surfing. Coastbeat took a tour with the Museum’s Alan Jeffrey. 

A permanent home

The Port Macquarie Surfing Museum has just moved to Lighthouse Beach Plaza Shopping Centre but a permanent home is on the cards. The council is currently considering the preferred site at Oxley Reserve.

Secure your limited edition Albe Falzon shirt at Coastbeat Marketplace

“Hopefully we’ll know by June 30 whether or not we can occupy the land opposite Oxley Beach,” Alan says. “If that comes off it will be fabulous.”

Alan believes the Museum will be a major tourist attraction for Port Macquarie. But he points out that the main aim is to retain and share the east coast’s surfing history.

“Port has such a rich and colourful surf story and we just don’t want to lose it,” Alan says.

United through history

Alan describes the Museum as a meeting place. He says many surfers in their fifties, sixties and seventies come to reminisce. They run their hands over the fibreglass and think back to their teenage years.

“When they see the old boards, it brings back memories of when they first started surfing,” he smiles.

Where did Australian surfing originate?

While many believe that visiting Hawaiian Olymoic swimmer Duke Kahanamoku opened the first chapter of surfing in Australia, there’s more to the story. The Museum’s Keith McMullen explains:

Love your surfing history? Check out the Albert Falzon Collection. Our sister brand FCS has collaborated with the respected Australian photographer and filmmaker to create a new collection of t-shirts. These shirts capture the unique spirit of surf exploration in the early seventies.

The post Take a Tour of the Port Macquarie Surfing Museum appeared first on Coastbeat.

Coastbeat’s David Moase caught up with the master. 

One of his signatures is the crafted plywood furniture that goes into kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms, and is likely to soon feature throughout a display home at the Sawtell Commons housing estate that is continuing to take shape to the south of Coffs Harbour.

“I started making furniture when I was at university because I couldn’t afford to buy my own,” says Dylan of his distinctive computer-cut, interlocking joinery.

“The display home will be a big step for the process.

“Hopefully it will be a faster way of building.”

The 42-year-old will have a big influence on the way Sawtell Commons develops. As well as the display home, which he hopes to submit for council approval within the next two months, he has been tasked by developer John Gowing to also design a shop-top housing development and what promises to be an eye-catching playground.

“I want to make something joyful,” he says of his plans for the playground. “Something for kids to lose their shit over!”

Based in Taree, the four to five years of Dylan’s career after leaving university were spent with award-winning Austin McFarland Architects before they headed to Sydney and he went out on his own in 2012. He says working from on old agricultural produce building in Chatham is the perfect vantage point to watch as new construction gives the Mid North Coast its 21^st century character.

“The only thing well out of the area that I’ve done was working on John Gowing’s place in Coogee,” he says.

“Dealing with Randwick Council on that job made me realise how lucky we are up here where the councils are much easier to work with.

“It’s a dream job to have up here, I can pick and choose the jobs to do.”

The connection with Gowings continues to evolve, with Dylan also responsible for the installation of woodwork in the business’s new head office above its Coffs Central shopping centre in the Coffs Harbour CBD.

Among the most striking of Dylan’s designs in recent years have been a breathtaking beachfront house in Forster and three tower-shaped homes in Taree. The towers are an attempt to satisfy the need to make the most of urban housing space, with areas across three floors that are compact but allow residents to feel they have plenty of room to move.

“With a tiny house – and these are bigger than a tiny house – people seem to live in them for two to three years but then want something more,” he says. “The towers were designed so people can live there permanently.

“The feedback from those who live there is that it’s a successful project.”

The towers’ design is a world away from the normal box-like unit development and contains some of Dylan’s favourite materials – plywood, timber and concrete.

“I like to work with natural materials that age well,” he says. “Terracotta tiles are another favourite, where they can get chipped through use, but you can still see the colour there.” 

Dylan says he hasn’t seen any particular design trend developing on the Mid North Coast and climate change has not had any new influence on what is being built. 

“You should expect that from an architect already,” he says when asked if designs should take into account a warming climate.

And what is his No.1 piece of advice for people thinking of employing an architect to plan their new home or a commercial project?

“Be open to being challenged.”

The post Daring Designs: Meet Architect Dylan Wood appeared first on Coastbeat.

When: Saturday January 16 10:30am-12midday
Where: Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/artist-talk-david-tucker-tickets-133178106301

The post Sites of Transformation Artist Talk – Coffs Harbour appeared first on Coastbeat.

When: Until Tuesday, January 19, 9am-4.30pm
Where: Regional Botanic Garden, Coffs Harbour

The post Gypsy Art Group Exhibition – Coffs Harbour appeared first on Coastbeat.

Older artists can get some balance in their lives at the Craft & Cocktails sessions that start this Friday at 5.30pm. The schedule for the weekly classes is:
January 8 – Print Your Own Linen Tea Towel with Fiona Solley.
January 15 – Patterned Pot Planters with Gabriella Domin.
January 22 – Botanical Collage with Fiona Solley.
January 29 – Painted Patterns Artwork with Gabriella Domin.

The $30 price for each two-hour session includes one cocktail.

Lucy Pascale’s Sunday Drawing classes that start on January 10, will guide participants through multiple creative processes, providing inspiration, tuition and giving an enriched drawing experience.
The session schedule is:
January 10 – Learn the art of pastel drawing, layering of colours and optical mixing techniques.
January 17 – Be inspired by ink drawing using rice paper and traditional Japanese reed pens and brushes.
January 24 – Observational drawing, learn to master tone, light and shadow with objects from the natural world.
January 31 – Mixed media, experiment with a wide range of materials and textured papers to create dynamic drawing effects.

Classes run from 10am-12.30pm and cost $30.

Artists and learners of all abilities are welcome to the classes. Bookings are essential as places are limited. And if you would rather just look at the artworks on exhibition, free gallery tours will be held on four Saturdays throughout the month, January 9, 16, 23 and 30, at 11am.

When:
Various times throughout January

Where:
Glasshouse Regional Gallery, 30-42 Clarence Street, Port Macquarie

https://www.glasshouse.org.au/Regional-Gallery/Exhibitions-and-events

The post Summer Fun in the Gallery – Port Macquarie appeared first on Coastbeat.

Where: Arthouse Industries, Port Macquarie

When: Saturday November 7

Purchase tickets here: https://arthouseindustries.com.au/creative-classes-1

The post Resin Maxi Class – Port Macquarie appeared first on Coastbeat.

When: Until November 14, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-4pm

Where: Culture Hub, Level 1, Coffs Central

Click here to find out more about what’s happening at Coffs Central

The post Creative Recovery Projects: The Bushfires – Coffs Harbour appeared first on Coastbeat.