Chris - Renaissance Rocking Horses

Chris
Celebra tes Volume 1, Issue 2 October 30, 2005 5000th
Car eer
rockinghorses.com.au
Rocking
Horse An six monthly Publication by Viktoria & Chris Woolcock of Renaissance Rocking Horses P/L Please visit our new, faster website More pics will be added soon­ Special points of interest:
· Chris Celebrates 5000th horse
October 2005: This month marks the start of a celebratory year for Chris’s 5000th horse made over a 30 year career. Many folks can’t believe that Chris has made this many horses. We have done a little investiga­ tion to find out how many horses other makers we know of have made in their horse making years and were surprised to find that one well known English maker—Margaret Spencer has made 500 in her 30 year career, having made her fortune primarily in the sale of books/plans and franchising her accessory sales. A QLD maker has made 75 over the last 15 years and an SA maker has made 80. As far as we are aware, Chris is the only full time dedicated commercial maker and restorer in Australia at this time. (And I hope to keep him that way for another 10 years.) The 5000th horse was displayed at Melbourne Timber Show in October (see story page 3) and will be fea­ tured again in a cover story (we understand), in the February 2006 Australian Woodworker magazine. This particular horse pictured was the first of a new hybrid breed using both Hawkesbury Tulip wood (poplar) and NZ Radiata Pine. Tulip wood was used by the carousel carvers during the golden age of carousels in the USA in the early 1900’s and was prized for its easy carving, light weight, fine, even­grained nature. It also takes the stain well and produces a lovely hard gloss finish when varnished. The 5000th horse will never be sold and graces Sienna’s bedroom. It is a fitting 5th Birthday present for a special girl representing a significant milestone in her father’ s life. Brushes with Fame
Sept. 14, 2005: Mike Whitney (left), and the Channel 7 Sydney Weekender film crew visited Rocking Horse Lodge to shoot Mike’s segments for the October 1 episode. The crew of 3 plus Mike were here from 10am to 8pm filming. We are most grateful to alumni John & Betty Janson (RHC 10/07/05) & Elizabeth Fong (RHC 24/08/05) for hanging around all day to shoot carving and graduation portions. Ten hours, 1 hour actual filming resulted in 7 minutes to air and we got about 30 enquiries as a result. Sept. 17, 2005: Chris was recently interviewed live to air on the Simon Marnie (right) Woodies Show on ABC Radio at the recent University of Western Sydney, Richmond Campus Family Expo Day. We were invited by the Farmgate Trail to participate and met up with the Hawkesbury Council Mayor and the Local Member, Kerry Bartlett who spent some time chatting at our stand. · Rocking Horse Lodge featured on Sydney Weekender & ABC Radio, pp 1
· Rocking Horse Lodge & Antiques Trail Tours, pp 2
· Canberra & Melbourne Timber Show News, pp 3
· Sienna Turns 5, pp 3
· Term 2 Graduate Pics, pp 4
· RRH Media, pp 5
· Students Brag Book, pp 5
· Chris’s Tips, pp 5
· Alumni Feedback, pp 6 Page 2 Rocking Horse Reveille Rocking Horse Lodge Tours Launched Humber Car Club On July 2, 2005, RRH launched tours of Rocking Horse Lodge by way of an impromptu one hour tour to the Humber Car Club of Australia Inc. There were 13 Humbers and about 25 persons enjoyed a tour and talk about the history, manufacture and restoration of Rocking Horses. A week later and we were visited by the Austin 7 Car Club. On 26 August we were joined by the Nepean Probus club for a full two hour tour and scrumptious, nostalgic morning tea of gem scones, homemade lilli pilli jam and lashings of cream. On September 23 we were joined by 4 couples, (the husbands worked together in the Morris Minor Factory years ago), who are spread all over Sydney and they get together once per year to catch up. The 2 hour morning or afternoon tour includes a 30 min talk from Viktoria about old horses and restoring, a 30 min talk from Chris about modern rocking horse making, classes and carving demonstration. This is followed by a sit down morning tea and a tour of the B& B, the pram and doll collection, the chooks, ducks, sheep and lambs and finally egg collecting. Probus Club of Nepean Inc Austin 7 Car Club Viktoria Speaks at Mayoral Reception
Also W indsor Business Group Meeting July 28, 2005 : Viktoria was asked to speak as a representative of small business in the Hawkesbury at the Council’s Mayoral Reception Welcoming Hawkesbury Business. Viktoria spoke on the challenges of operating a successful small business in a handcrafted item. The talk was well received with a number of attendees re­ questing to meet with Viktoria afterwards for a private “marketing pow­wow”. It was an added bonus when the Mayor offered to the don the graduates gear for a photo opportunity. August 2, 2005: Viktoria is also a committee member of the Windsor Business Group and spoke at their first General Meeting a week later. Her topic was “Promote or Perish”. The two exposures have resulted in her being asked to conduct 20 “Marketing Your Small Business on a Shoestring Budget” workshops over the next 2 yrs under a partnership initiative between Windsor Business Group Inc and Hawkesbury City Council with their assistance funding. Hawkesbury Council Mayor Bart Basset (in graduation gear) & Viktoria
Antiques Day Tours October 2005: As a further method to extend the exposure of the Windsor Antiques Trail of which we are founding members, we have created the Windsor Antiques Appetiser Day Tour for groups of up to 20 individuals. Special interest groups can provide their own mini bus or Viktoria can or­ ganize one for them. They are treated to a 6 hour full day, guided and commentated tour of 10 or so antiques stores with approx 30 minutes shopping time at each. The tour guide, morning tea, lunch and after­ noon tea is included for a rate of $35 per person. Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Canber ra Timber Show 2005 September 2­4, 2005: Chris and Viktoria were delighted to meet up with some of the ACT graduates including Peter and Raylene Hocking (RHC 27/02/05) Darryl Jones and his grand­daughters (RHC 27/03/05) and Hugh and Lynette McKenna (RHC 10/04/05) from Conder. Sienna was with us and as she was getting her shoes polished by the Renapur Leather Dressing lady she boldly informed the others on the stand that they could “stay at our house and make a rocking horse and for breakfast you have eggs scram­ bled, in an omlette or in the shell.” It’s good to know that when my marketing mouth gets tired my daughter can step into the breech. Sienna’s 5th Bir thday Celebra ted on the Road October 11, 2005: Sienna celebrated her 5th birthday on the road back from the Melbourne Timber Show. We took both Bijan and Sienna with us on this trip and left one day early in order to take the children to the Melbourne Zoo and have a ride on the newly restored English Zoo Carousel. The $1 million commission was project­managed by Patricia Mullins, World Rocking and Carousel Horse expert and long time friend of Chris’s. She is pictured here with the Sienna at our Melbourne Timber Show stand. Sienna is pictured at right on one of the 30 beautifully restored carousel horses. We also picked up a lovely dolls house we had on order for over year for her birthday. Melbourne Timber Show 2005 Alex, Emily, Sienna, Chris and Matt
October 7­9: We had the best Timber Show ever (from 16 shows) at this Melbourne Timber Show. It may have been Chris’s position, size stand, the fact he was carving alfresco (no booth), or the additional promotion that was done for the show, but it was great. He also got to see his son Alex, far left and his daughter Emily, whom he has not seen for 4.5 years and Emily’s boyfriend Matt. We also saw Doug Hayman (RHC 24.04.05) who purchased a cou­ ple more fit out kits and Brian & Gloria Peglar (RHC 24.04.05) Gloria & Brian kindly took the children back to her house while we packed up on Sunday night and fed them and then brought them back to our motel after and brought with her a lovely meal including crème caramel for dessert! Thank your Gloria & Brian for your thoughtfulness and kindness! Emily, Chris’s daughter carving Page 4 Rocking Horse Reveille Cockington Gr een & The Zoo—Snaps Ter m II, 2005 Gradua ting Le gends Graduates: 10 July, 2005— Left to Right: Duncan Carey, Victor Gobbo, Ron & Yvonne Frith, John and Betty Janson. Graduates: 24 July, 2005— Left to Right: Elizabeth Fong & Geoff Parsons Graduates: 7 August, 2005— Left to Right: Margaret & Ray Elliman & John & Jan Flanagan. Timber Shows 2006—
Chris’s New Alfr esco Gig!
Graduates: 11 Sept, 2005— Left to Right: Natasha & Robert Southwell, Damien & Lisa Henry, Peter & Merilyn Tonkin & Chris Graduates: August 9, 2005­ Len (Father) & Steven Kasper, The Steiner School, Dural Some of you may be aware that since Sienna is starting school next year, I will be unable to do the timber shows with Chris. This had been worrying me for some time as Timber Shows are still one of the best sources of Class Bookings for us (at least until we achieve world domination). Anyway, to cut a long story short, based on a solid working relationship with the Show Organisers over the last 4 years we have negotiated a situation where Chris’s travel, accommodation, freight, meal expenses will be paid by the organisers and a stand provided for him to do the show as a demonstrator rather than as a paying exhibitor as he was this year. This is a marvellous coup and will save us thousands of marketing dollars per year which I have already earmarked for colour ads in Woodworker mag, another great source of class bookings which we have not exploited properly as yet. We piloted the concept of open air demonstration at the Melbourne Timber Show and people loved seeing Chris carve alfresco, instead of in his little booth.– I guess the fact that they could see him helped enormously (Ha Ha). Also the impact of having 12 glued­up horses creating his little safety/people barrier was very effec­ tive. When he is carving and talking, he cannot effectively watch his brochures and rasps, so this is why he will need a helper (See item page 6). Needless to say we are very happy about our 2006 Gigs for him and it marks a new era for us. Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5 Bra g Book A New Soroptomist August 15, 2005: This is the induction of three new members to Soroptomist International for the Hawkesbury District. From L to R Gai Timmerman President , Viktoria Darabi (very unflattering pic of me), Sandra Larkin, Roslyn Paddison. Soroptomists aim to improve the status of women worldwide with their fundraising, philanthropic & awareness activities. RRH Media 10 July 2005: John and Betty Janson got a real kick out of their horse. Top: John and 4 of his pride and joy. Below: Betty just horsing around. Right: John & Betty’s little grand­daughter Laura. Here is list of some upcoming and recent media exposure RRH has received: Australian Country Collections Feb ­ March 2006 Feature Article & Competition Australian Woodworker Magazine Feb ­ March 2006 Cover story Australasian Toymaker magazine, October 2005 Ted Thornburrow (RHC 27/02/05) has been up to it again with two more little walker trainers to add to his expanding stable. Rick Rutherfords Country vol 4 Sept Oct 2005 pp.90 Photos & article Sydney Weekender TV segment Channel 7, 1 October 2005 Cover story in the Hawkesbury Independ­ ent newspaper, 6 September 2005 (pp. 6) Article in the Hawkesbury Gazette, 28 September 2005 Radio interview with Simon Marnie, ABC Radio, 17 September 2005 Article in "Country Style" magazine, September 2005 (pp. 38) Chris’s Tips
Cracked & Broken Neck Repairs: Frequently the old Australian Roebuck Rocking Horses crack across the neck after a fall or knock. This is due to the grain direc­ tion used in the head. This does not happen with RR horses because of the head lamina­ tions. Traditionally dowel would have been used, inserting them in holes drilled verti­ cally down the full length of the neck. Chris prefers to drill two long holes down the neck and screw in long batten head screws, (the ones you used to attach the turned uprights to the stand with), and plenty of white wood glue. This gives more rigidity than dowel. and will prevent the crack from reopening. The countersunk hole can be filled with dowel cut and shaped to match the head. It will later be painted and covered by the mane. Cracks: For larger cracks, say 1/8” + wide, across the neck I fill with long wood slivers, white glue, clamp till dry and then shape. For smaller cracks a paste of saw­ dust and white glue can be forced in, al­ lowed to dry & sanded to match .
Ro c k i n g H o r s e Re v e i l l e Helpers Needed for Timber
Rocking Horse Lodge 143 Pitt Town Road McGraths Hill NSW 2756 Phone: (02) 4577­8697 Fax: (02) 4577­5061 Email: [email protected] www: rockinghorses.com.au Shows Next Year
Since I will not be able to go with Chris next year, he will need
one helper on the stand to sell rasps, hand out brochures etc for
the 3 days of the
Brisbane Timber Show—12­14 May, 2006
Adelaide Timber Show — July 14­16, 2006
Melbourne Timber Show — Oct 20­22, 2006.
The days run from 10 to 6pm (some days they shut at 5:00pm).
If you are available, can get yourself to and from the show each
day, would love to experience the show from the other side of
the counter and can be a raving fan for the classes we would love
to hear from you. Please phone to discuss on (02) 4577­8697
Australia’s Leading Makers & Restorers Special Offer to Clubs
For every 4 full paying students in one class from spe­
cial interest groups such as Rotary, Lions, Probus,
Church, Woodworking Co­operatives etc,
Renaissance Rocking Horses will donate a finished
rocking horse to your club for use as a
fundraising or raffle prize. Photo courtesy of John Janson
Please notify us if you have a change of address by writing, emailing, faxing or phoning.
Feedback from Alumni … We just had a BALL! Thankyou for the weekend, we loved it—even though we were thoroughly ex­ hausted at the end of each day. Our children and friends who have seen the finished product are abso­ lutely overcome with amazement—as are we. Peter keeps saying I can’t believe I did this. Thank you so much for all the cooking, organising and pressure you put on the guys! We just love our horse—”her” name is “Sunshine” ­ and we also love your little farm… Peter & Merilyn Tonkin, (RHC 11/09/05) Hamilton South, NSW .. We spoke to our grandson in Sydney the other night, he said, “I am sitting on the rocking horse talking to you Grandad!!” Have you had any more classes? They were fantastic. Margaret & Ray Elliman, (RHC 07/08/05) Kirwin, QLD We received your SPLENDID publication (Rocking Horse Reveille) today and enjoyed reading it all… Think we’ll be down to sam­ ple the new menu. John & Robynne Siemon (RHC 13/03/05) ...Our hands have been pretty full with grandkids staying with us since we got home, the rocking horse as taken a good bashing around and survived it with fly­ ing colours….Thank you for a great weekend, we both enjoyed your hospital­ ity and sharing your home with us. The breakfasts were just great, eggs to die for, the lunch meals terrific, could not fault a thing— yes only one—it went too quick. John & Betty Janson (RHC 10/07/05) Concord West, NSW Plans to Purchase Mail Order Pull Along Farm Animals: Cow, Horse, Sheep & Pig ONLY $15 plus post Mail Order Clydesdale & Farm Cart with Mixed Stock ONLY $35 plus post Mail Order Edwardian Walker Trainer ONLY $25 plus post Mail Order