A WOODWORKING LEGACY

Patt Gregory is making change to the woodworking industry by sharing her skills with other women

Patt Gregory was a young girl in the 1960s when she first realised there were inequalities in what her two brothers were allowed, and encouraged, to do and what she was.

Patt was born in Perth, but was brought up on a dairy farm in country Victoria, and while her brothers were encourage to learn how to shoot, go hunting and drive the tractor, when she asked why she couldn’t join in with what looked to a young Patt to be “lots of fun”, she was simply told it was “because I was a girl”.

While she held a fascination with engines and the mechanical side of things - as well as a love for the smell of grease - it was secretarial work Patt learned to do at school. This led her to what she describes as well-paid jobs, which allowed Patt to hitchhike around Europe for a couple of years, broken up with stints working in London.

It was when Patt was working in the UK in the early 1980s as a private detective that she met her husband. It was also around this time that Patt began to seek out more physical work options, as this was something that always appealed to her, and then an ad in the local newspaper caught her eye in the Bristol Evening Post for women’s woodworking evening classes.

“I was surprised to see the classes were held in a woman’s tiny lounge room, complete with a television in one corner and a comfy settee in the other. Despite the unconventional setting, the atmosphere was calm and inviting,” she said.

“We worked with hand tools, and the smell of pine filled the room as the saw bit into the surface and through the wood. I was captivated with the techniques and inspired by the down-to-earth attitude of the women working alongside me. I felt included. It felt achievable.

“Motivated, I enrolled in a government course to be trained as a carpenter joiner, where I learnt everything practical, from roofing to staircasing, to building cabinets and a dovetailed toolbox.”

Patt began her training course with a class of 12 younger lads, and said they were equals.

Her teacher was a retired builder who was extremely knowledgeable and very generous in sharing this experience with his students.

But Patt said even after three weeks, it was obvious that she was struggling with handling tools and mastering the techniques.

“My struggles came when I began working the hand tools: he could only show me what to do. When things didn’t work out for me the way they did for him, he wasn’t able to tell me the nuances of operating the tool, which would help me to work with more accuracy - things that I know well now, like information about my body position and where to distribute my weight when using the tool,” she said.

“My dilemma was that I didn’t know what questions to ask and he wasn’t able to anticipate and address those gaps that I couldn’t grasp.

“I felt inadequate. I felt left behind, and that there was something wrong with my capability.

“After I graduated, I was determined to master the joinery. So, I set up in a shed, during a freezing Bristol winter, with just a kerosene heater and my hand tools.

“I spent hours every day, practicing and carefully noticing and analysing what factors led to my successes.”

And it wasn’t until she unexpectedly found herself teaching women in a government-funded organisation, that she realised how valuable this experience this would be.

In 1985, Patt was part of setting up a governmentfunded women’s workshop in Bath, UK. The program taught woodwork to unemployed women over the age of 25 years.

Patt said it was an enriching experience indeed, and for over a two year period, she helped many trainees become either teachers themselves or to start their own carpentry business; some of which formed their own groups and offered an all-woman service, while others found jobs in the industry.

In 1988, Patt, her husband and their then-three month old daughter Holly moved back to Melbourne and eventually moved to Mullumbimby, which is where the program Woodwork for Women was born.

The program gives beginners a snapshot of the industry and how they can navigate it and the basic skills and understanding of working with wood.

“So by offering a two-day program I can give them a taste of not only how to design a simple project, create a cutting list and learn hand and power tools to create it, but teach them what to expect when they want to buy their tools and setting them up for success to do that,” she said.

“It’s important to me that my beginners go away from the program with a snapshot of the industry and how they can navigate anywhere within it, by asking the right questions and having the expectation to be treated well and taken seriously. And to do their homework of learning some of the language; for example, simply speaking in metres and millimetres and not centimetres - small stuff like that goes a long way in a hardware shop.

“When a young woman completes my workshop and is inspired to get an apprenticeship, I’m ecstatic that there’s another woman going to be out there in the trade.

“When a woman goes home from my workshop and teaches her children or neighbour how to use tools or how to bang in a nail, I’m thrilled.

“I feel pleased that I contribute to breaking stereotypes and promoting gender equality in a small but meaningful way.

“When I offer a platform for women to express themselves freely and explore their talents, it’s always inspiring to see their creativity, ideas and unique contributions.

“I often laugh and say ‘Women don’t know what’s impossible when it comes to woodwork!’

“I’m inspired to connect women with each other, encourage collaboration and provide a space for that; knowing that future generations may be impacted by teaching women is satisfying to realise.

“Sharing knowledge and skills with women can have a ripple effect as they pass on their learnings to their families and friends and communities.

“Arming women, even in the smallest and subtlest of ways, with innovating ways to overcome obstacles present in the industry, is hopeful and satisfying.”

The two-day course includes:

• Introduction to timber - Students watch a video to learn about the properties and characteristics of timber.

• Designing a small piece of furniture - Students learn how to design furniture quickly and simply and create a cutting list to determine the required amount of wood.

• Choosing timber at the hardware shop - Students are taught what to look for when selecting timber.

• Accurate measuring and marking - Students learn how to measure and mark wood accurately.

• Hand sawing techniques - Students learn how to saw wood accurately by hand.

• Introduction to chisel use - Students make their first joint using a chisel.

• Introduction to power tools - Students are introduced to tools such as the mitre saw, drill press, and nail gun.

• Drilling and screwing techniques - Students learn important tips about the drill itself and tricks for drilling and using screws effectively.

• Independence and practical skills - Students gain the ability to work independently at home, applying the principles and basics they have learned.

• Final outcome - Students take home their selfdesigned, sanded, and handmade piece, while also having the knowledge and skills to apply in future projects.

Patt believes women bring a unique perspective to the industry and bring quiet support to each other, and that women and men can draw strength from one another and work cooperatively to the benefit of all and the industry.

She said she believes women are the great managers of life and either upfront or behind the scenes, they are there, quietly supporting each other.

“Women bring unique perspectives, creativity and simple design awareness (one tiny example - the woman who tells the carpenter she doesn’t want a lip on the pantry shelf because it will make it harder to clean),” she said.

“I believe women bring strong communication skills and an inclusive approach to the workplace.”

“And men can benefit from these skills by actively engaging in open communication and being open to collaboration.

“Women have a great eye for detail and are often sticklers for following rules especially when it comes to safety.

“Men’s physical strength and stamina can tend to be an advantage when there’s heavy lifting of physically demanding aspects of the industry. Women are often recognized for their reputation of being careful and diligent and taking better care of heavy machinery, trucks and equipment.

“I think women excel in leadership roles bringing emotional intelligence, empathy and intuitive skills.

“Men can learn from and take on these leadership qualities to create more harmony and inclusivity in the workplace.

“Women are adaptable and resilient in their unique ways, and excel in multitasking and effectively manage priorities.

“I would encourage a woman wanting to enter the field, to choose their employer carefully and not to be afraid to delve into their background, and ask lots of questions before taking the job. And don’t be afraid to leave if you need.”