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Meet the Team

Hayden Cronin at CERES Fair Wood

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. 

He came to us from Urban Salvage in Spotswood where he learnt about many different timber species, their uses (and best practice around their uses). The one part of this job that he loved was when customers would come in with a drawing or concept of a project and they would work out together how they could make it happen. This often would mean figuring out which would be the best timber option and their construction process. Hayden is also a maker himself, making beautiful timber and steel products. He did a number of semesters at VWA (Victorian Woodworkers Assoc) learning furniture making techniques. Professionally he has a degree in Environmental Social Science from RMIT.
"I have a personal drive and interest in working with timber, and the more sustainable the better".
We asked Hayden some questions
What is your favourite timber we have in the yard and why?
Probably Macrocarpa Cypress, versatile, easy to work with, predictable and looks and smells great. 
What do you do in your spare time?
I love gardening, the occasional jog, trying to identify trees (terribly) and playing Dungeons and Dragons (yes, nerdy I know)
What has been the most memorable experience since working with Fair Wood?
Going out for a camping weekend to a beautiful property in the Highlands (Vic) to assist with the removal and sawmilling of logs that had fallen over fire tracks. An exhausting weekend but very rewarding
Why do you work for Fair Wood?
I am passionate about environmental sustainability, and enjoy working with timber. These 2 things together led me to CERES Fair Wood
What's an exciting project you are looking forward to?
I can't wait to see the timber we milled in the Highlands after drying in our little kiln and getting machined. 

 

Huw Vaughan at CERES Fair Wood

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.

 

Lee at CERES Fair Wood

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

What is your favourite timber we have in the yard and why?

I love walking in and smelling the Cypress Macrocarpa every day but I always get excited when something super rare and exotic comes through. Like the Himalayan Cedar and also the Elm, I really like the Elm. I think because they have great stories behind them.

What do you do in your spare time?

I'm on a volunteer board with a group called Growing Farmers and we support aspiring urban farmers to create market garden plots in peoples backyards. I also spend a lot of my spare time with my son.

What has been the most memorable experience since working with Fair Wood?

I've really been enjoying working with the wider CERES Comms team, a brilliant group of people that I learn from every day. Launching our new website and probably when I get feedback on different content ideas I've actioned, that's always nice!

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, the more I want to know.

What's an exciting project you are looking forward to?

We have been working on our website this year and I'm excited to see some new developments in 2022, like online shopping?!

More team profiles coming soon.