Meet the Team
Meet Hayden
Hayden is our General Manager here and is an all round top human! He is the one usually answering the phones and email inquiries and manages the lot with his unflappable charm and warmth.
Meet Huw
Huw is our new carpenter replacing Louis who has moved to the NSW South Coast. Huw has over 20 years experience in the building industry. Starting out as labourer, Huw quickly gravitated towards carpentry. He’s worked with some very skilled builders and carpenters over his time that also nurtured his passion for furniture designing and making.
Working on projects as varied from residential, film sets to retail, Huw has a keen eye and meticulous attention to detail. He is already making a big impact with the role with a number of projects signed off and heading into production.
Huw has a love for recycled and salvaged timbers and comes to us from Terra Madre where he was Project Manager, overseeing the construction aspect of their business. We’re really excited to have Huw on board, you can get in touch with us here to get a carpentry quote.
We asked Huw some questions
What is your favourite timber we have in the yard and why?
My timber preference is Cypress Macrocarpa for its versatility, with applications ranging from structural building, internal fit outs and furniture.
As a lightweight softwood it’s very easy to work with, its strong and finishes beautifully when used for furniture and fit outs.
What do you do in your spare time?
Outside of carpentry I spend most of my time with my 18 month old son, Socrates. I am also involved in a DIY skate park project in Preston, funded entirely by the local community of skateboarders, trades people, parents and residents.
Why do you work for CERES Fair Wood?
As a carpenter I love to work with recycled, salvaged and ethically sourced native timbers. I love that CERES Fair Wood is one of the only timber yards in Melbourne that's entirely stocked with these kinds of timbers and strives to uphold this ethos going forward.
What's an exciting project coming up for you?
One of the upcoming projects I’m keen on is a playground for Sophia Mundi, the Abbotsford Steiner school. Combining locally sourced hardwoods, Cypress Macrocarpa for the structure, and Sugar Gum decking for the platform and safety rails, the simple square design will allow the timbers to be the feature and blend into the garden setting.
Meet Lee
After ten years in the book trade and 15 in government communications, Lee realised he is happier renovating houses and making things with wood. Lee joins us most recently via Timbecon and is a fount of woodworking tools knowledge.
We asked Lee some questions
What is your favourite timber we have in the yard and why?
That's like asking which of your kids you like best. Ed and Blackwood.
What do you do in your spare time?
Cooking, bike riding, cleaning up the shed, domestic renos, long walks on the beach. The usual stuff.
Why do you work for CERES Fair Wood?
I get to learn more about local timbers.
What's an exciting project coming up for you?
Saturday trading.
Meet Kate
Kate is the person behind most of the posts. The comms person who is dedicated to getting the good word of Fair Wood out there. Coming from a background in commercial media, Kate (she/her) made the shift to the not-for-profit space a few years back and now uses her skills for good. Kate helps organisations to shape their story and find their audience.
Prior to Fair Wood, Kate was part of the start-up phase of the Melbourne Food Hub with Sustain: The Australian Food Network and has spent a good chunk of her time supporting the transition to a local and resilient food system future. Kate’s partner is also a furniture designer and maker so she’s been around the world of timber for a while now.
What is your favourite timber we have in the yard and why?
I like when the obscure stuff comes in, like the Himalayan Cedar or Japanese Tulip… I also have a soft spot for the Elm. It feels really underrated and I get excited when makers embrace it.
What do you do in your spare time?
I’m on the committee for Growing Farmers, we are turning backyards into market gardens in the North of Moreland. I also spend a lot of time hanging out as a family with my partner and toddler son and walking my dog on the Merri.
What has been the most memorable experience since working with Fair Wood?
Going on a trip to South Gippsland and visiting Dan from Amber Creek Sawmill and Frank and Sharon Hirst in Ranceby on Bunurong land. Seeing all the parts of the puzzle that make up the bigger story was really powerful for me.
Why do you work for Fair Wood?
Even though I come from a food system change background, I was really excited to work with Fair Wood as it's so values aligned. My partner is a woodworker so I have been around timber for a while now and I find the issues facing this industry just as important as many of the issues in my other passion areas like food. Also the more I learn about the industry and wood, the more I want to know.
What's an exciting project you are looking forward to?
I’m cooking up a few new things this year like being able to buy some of our products online! and getting out to more of our suppliers to tell their stories and thinking about partnerships, if you want to partner, drop me a line.