VIC WOOD
PROFILE OF A
WOODTURNER
THE EARLY YEARS
Vic was born in Australia at Hallam Valley, Victoria. He
was the only child of Lil and Vic Wood Senior, and attended
Hallam Valley Pimary School, and then to Dandenong High School.
During his youth they lived on 100 acres of prime grazing land
and milked cows, Vic picked mushrooms to supplement his pocket
money and was chased by the bull on more than one occasion whilst
doing so. Father and son were winners of numerous awards for best
animal, bull etc at the local shows.
THE TENNIS CHAMP
Vic was a keen member of the Scouting movement, gaining the
Queens Scout certificate, the highest award in Scouting. He was
and still is an excellent tennis player, training with his dad on
the home grass court, which of course he had to mow and line in
between milking cows and study. He was district Champion and
chosen in a couple of Victorian State Teams. He was picked by
Harry Hopman to come to Melbourne and train with Frank Sedgman.
Later he became a registered coach and for many years was a part
time coach, combining this with teaching. Vic still plays a great
game of tennis and in 1994 was the over 55 Victorian Doubles
Champion.
THE FAMILY
After leaving Dandenong High School, Vic attended Melbourne
Teachers College, and from there went on to teaching.
In 1960 he married Bev who had also gone to Dandenong high
School, they have two sons Steven and Jeff, both are wonderful
tennis players and were highly sought after by American Colleges
for teams in the US, they were each awarded full scholarships to
play tennis for the Universities, and graduated after four years,
Steven & Jeff are both married to wonderful American girls
and now have families of their own.
THE PRISON BREAK
Vic's first teaching appointment was at Coburg High School in
1959, as the year progressed he was approached by the nearby
Pentridge Jail to teach a couple of youths all about woodwork.
This was a bit of a challenge but after a few weeks when things
seemed to ge going along well, Vic decided to take in some extra
equipment, including a couple of pairs of bar cramps. One of the
young prisoners he was working with took the liberty of using the
cramps to squeeze the bars on his cell window together and
escape. You can immagine Vic's shock when the police knocked on
his door to inform him that the young murderer had escaped with
his help. The escapee was arrested soon after but not before a
few very worrying hours.
TEACHING THE
TEACHERS (Well!
Someone has to do it!)
Vic's next teaching appointment was to Huntingdale High School
and then later (about 8 years) with excellent teaching
assessments he was seconded by the Education Department to
Melbourne Teachers College to train Teachers. A highlight of
Vic's time at the College was his organisation and founding of
the "Craftsman in Residence" program. This
was advertised worldwide and Stephen Hogbin came to the College
from Canada for one year, it was a huge success with a film being
produced, a book written, and exhibition at the end of the 12
months. It was a great learning experience for the College and
has been emulated on a number of other occasions since.
WOODTURNING WORKSHOPS
In 1983 Vic left the College to commence full time woodturning
and start "Woodturning Workshops" A scary but positive
venture. Since then many hundreds of students have passed through
his classes. Vic's Intensive Woodturning Courses are renouned as
the best of their kind and are conducted in his well equipped
studio. With only two students per course, everyone who attends
is guaranteed of first class personal attention.
THE TRAVELING SHOWMAN
Vic has travelled to England,
Canada, U.S.A., New Zealand and throughout Australia teaching and
demonstrating Woodturning. He has been a key-note speaker and
demonstrator at numerous natioonal and international simposiums
etc. and judges many woodworking shows. He is the principal judge
of the National Woodworking Show and the National Woodturning
Exhibition, both held annually in Melbourne Australia.
Vic
gained his early reputation from subtle turned and carved wall
plaques, which he made whilst a lecturer at the State College. He
has since developed his woodturning and produces large pieces
which are sold mainly through exhibitions, as well smaller square
edged lidded boxes which are his signature and sold through
galleries around the world. His work is also represented in
numerous major collections worldwide.
