Fretwork has been Ted Hawkins' hobby for more than 20 years, and he still enjoys the satisfaction of creating a piece, then being able to sit back and say, "I did that".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The now 87-year-old never used to have a hobby.
However, after seeing a 12-year-old girl doing fretwork at a woodworking demonstration in Albury/Wodonga a couple of decades ago, he decided to buy a saw.
Fretwork is a decorative style of wood machining - done with a fretsaw - where the design is machined from a thin piece of timber.
His dedication has paid off, with Mr Hawkins, of IRT Harbourside Retirement Village Kiama, winning three prizes and a lifetime membership for his intricate fretwork creations from the Australian Scroll Saw Network Biennial Exhibition in Goulburn last month.
He has won two national Australian Scroll Saw Network titles in addition to the three new prizes he took home in May.
"The best part of the weekend was being awarded the life membership," Mr Hawkins said.
"To me that was the highlight. It took me completely by surprise that at 87 my work is still at a prize-winning level."
Mr Hawkins won first prize in the fretwork category for his intricately designed sun clock, second prize in the silhouette category for his depiction of Uluru, and second prize in the 'Other' category for an impressive love bug and dragon design which he cut from one solid piece of wood.
Mr Hawkins grew up in Mortdale, and before he retired to Kiama designed and installed industrial air conditioning.
Following the death of his wife Val in 2018, he got back into fretwork. They were married for 64 years.
Mr Hawkins spends about three hours a day in the workshop when he can, and enjoys being totally absorbed in his hobby.
"It requires total concentration, everything is wiped from your mind," he said.
Mr Hawkins is a member of the Kiama Woodcraft Group, the Kiama Men's Shed and the Scroll Saw Network.
His religious fretwork pieces have ended up in churches - including Royal Prince Alfred Hospital's chapel and several churches in Kiama.
"I've done a lot of religious pieces and I love to do them because they are so intricate, but I'm not religious," he said.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
