News for ‘Oakdale Industries’

Standing as a sentinel to park users and passing river traffic, a new landmark on the promenade at Lower Sandy Bay is “Beacon”, the City of Hobart’s newest major sculptural work by Sydney artist Ari Purhonen.

The artists design concept involves a large column of high-quality stainless steel rods 10 metres high, supported by a base of Celery Top Pine manufactured by Oakdale Industries.

“We were approached by the Hobart City Council to see whether Oakdale Industries had the capacity to manufacture the timber components for the art installation,” said Oakdale’s divisional manager John Hollis.

“Once we went through developing a prototype to Council’s specifications, we were successful in being chosen as the preferred manufacturer of the Celery Top Pine components. Under the guidance of Oakdale’s Kim Bale, our supported workforce manufactured, profiled and finished the product to specification.”

The City of Hobart's newest art installation at Lower Sandy Bay.

Protecting the sculpture from the harsh marine environment was a key consideration during the planning and construction process. A natural lanolin-based product called Lanotec was chosen to protect the artwork from being exposed to the corrosive elements of the sea.

“The Lanotec finish used on the timber and the stainless steel in the sculpture comes from a discovery that many of Australia’s docks and jetties had been preserved by the lanolin from the wool export trade,” explains Oakdale’s Kim Bale.

“The docks were preserved from the sea air and the sea water with the protection of the lanolin that was deposited onto dockside during the loading of wool from port to ships.”

Oakdale Industries John Hollis (left), and Kim Bale (right) standing in front of the Celery Top Pine cladding manufactured by Oakdale Industries.

Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Damon Thomas said the major piece of art was likely to attract attention for many years to come.

“Through commissioning of this major work, the City of Hobart has made a very conscious decision to say that public art is highly valued in Hobart.”

Oakdale Industries is holding a timber auction this weekend to raise funds in support of Tasmanians living with disability.

More than 100 lots of timber are to go under the hammer and the auction will appeal to builders, owner-builders, shack owners, renovators, furniture makers, boat builders, crafts people & artisans. This is a unique opportunity to purchase highly-valued products directly from the manufacturer. All 100+ lots are in dry storage, and the range of timbers being offered for sale includes:

• Decking

• Rough sawn Jarrah

• Architraves, skirtings & mouldings

• Huon Pine, Blackwood, Myrtle, Celery Top Pine, Sassafras & Tasmanian Oak

• Flooring products (19mm strip flooring, 13mm overlay flooring & parquetry flooring)

More than 100 lots of Australian and Tasmanian Timber ready to go under the hammer later this month on March 23.

All lots have reserve prices and payment must be made on the day by cash or credit card. Winning bidders can take immediate delivery, so bring your ute, trailer or truck to the auction. There is plenty of parking on-site and Oakdale Industries staff can help load your vehicle with our forklifts. Delivery can also be arranged at additional cost.

The auction will be held on-site at Oakdale Industries, 4C Bounty Street, Warrane on Saturday March 23, 2013. Gates open at 8.15am and inspection of the lots commences at 8.30am. Bidding starts at 10.00am sharp.

Huon Pine, Sassafras, Myrtle, Celery Top Pine & Tasmanian Oak ready for auction.

 

We extend our thanks to Mr Nick Corkhill, who has kindly volunteered his time and skills to be our Guest Auctioneer.

Enquiries can be made to john.hollis@oak.org.au or by telephoning  (03) 6244 2277 during normal business hours.

Download the Timber auction_March 23 2013 flyer.

Download the Timber Auction CATALOGUE – 23rd March 2013

It’s been action stations at Oakdale Industries recently as Australia’s newest Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) product, HARDLAM, has undergone tests and trials on site.

Aimed at utilising low-grade logs and providing a sustainable, value-added alternative to solid timber, HARDLAM is made from peeling native forest logs that would otherwise be left for wood chipping. The individual veneers are then pressed and glued together to form a ‘square log’ which leaves very little waste when used.

The finished product which boasts durability, stability and versatility, can be used for many purposes including flooring, furniture, bench tops and other appearance-grade applications.

Developed over the past two years by Forestry Tasmania, HARDLAM flooring was put through a series of flooring application tests at Oakdale Industries including nailing and sawing, surface finish and machine effectiveness.

Oakdale's Steve Watts (front), with Forestry Tasmania's Dr Matt Wood & Dion McKenzie testing HARDLAM flooring.

The tests were part of a series of fine tuning trials of the product, which will also include assessments of fire resistance and dimensional stability to ensure that HARDLAM is fully market ready.

Forestry Tasmania Technical Analyst (Product Development) Dr Matt Wood, said while LVL’s were popular in structural applications throughout the Northern Hemisphere, their use in appearance-grade applications represented an untapped potential.

In addition to its use of low-grade logs, Matt said HARDLAM had a range of other benefits including its attractive appearance, its predictability and the speed at which it could be prepared.

“We can basically harvest, peel, dry and manufacture these blocks within 24 hours as opposed to two to three years to process and dry thicker end-sections (of solid timber),” Matt said.

The veneers used in HARDLAM are Tas Oak (E.delegatensis, E. Obliqua and E. Regnans), though other species including plantation hardwoods will be trialled.

Matt said he was happy to be able to work with Oakdale Industries and its divisional manager John Hollis, to put HARDLAM through its paces.

“I bring a scientific background to this kind of work, whereas someone like John has a much more technical approach so we work together as a team to develop the product …and then take that to market.”

Oakdale’s duality of being a local business and a social enterprise was also another great attribute of the partnership.

“It is such a wonderful partnership for us,” Matt said.

“It’s not just about production here at Oakdale, there is the social side of the business as well.

“So the whole package for a sustainable, value-added timber product, being made in Tassie with a social component to it, ticks all of the boxes.”

Oakdale Industries took HARDLAM to the Australian Timber Flooring Association (ATFA) Flooring and Finishes Expo in Melbourne last year, where the product picked up a Gold Star Award for Design, Innovation and Marketability.

Oakdale Industries John Hollis (centre) and Steve Watts with Forestry Tasmania's Dion McKenzie, Dr Matt Wood & Kenny Griffin examine HARDLAM flooring.

Oakdale Industries divisional manager John Hollis said the partnership was also a great opportunity for Oakdale, in many ways.

“We saw great opportunities for Oakdale industries in this as well, given the uncertainty of the native timber resource and for our future viability as a business,” John said.

“It also uses an obviously very sustainable resource and it enables our employees to be involved in some market development.”

However despite forestry uncertainties, John was also optimistic about the future. He said he saw HARDLAM as a great chance for product expansion at Oakdale.

“It is a really exciting product,” he said.

Oakdale Industries and HARDLAM will be on display at the 2013 HIA homeFEST, Princes Wharf No1 on Saturday March 2 & Sunday March 3 2013.

One of OAK Tasmania’s Australian Disability Enterprises that provides training & employment opportunities to 33 Tasmanians living with disability is pondering its future viability due to the recently announced changes to the Intergovernmental Forest Agreement (IGA).

Oakdale Industries is one of five businesses owned and operated by OAK Tasmania and CEO John Paton said the business is unlikely to secure the amount of Tasmanian native timber resource required to continue its operations under recent changes made to the IGA.

“OAK Tasmania has not been a party to the IGA and has not been able to put its position forward. Oakdale Industries relies on access to a Tasmanian native timber resource in order to continue its delivery of substantial social outcomes to its supported workforce and the Tasmanian community.

“Not only does Oakdale Industries provide training and employment for 41 Tasmanians (33 of whom have special needs), the business also contributes financially to OAK Tasmania as a whole in support of additional programs and services for people living with disability.”

Mr Paton said Oakdale Industries recorded sales produced from Tasmanian native timber of $2.254m in 2011-12, which represented 84% of Oakdale Industries’ total sales revenue.

“Any reduction in the supply of a Tasmanian native timber resource to Oakdale Industries will have dire consequences not only for the staff directly employed, but also for the additional 380 Tasmanians who are either employed by, or receive services from OAK Tasmania.

“Unlike Ta Ann, which is a multi-national enterprise, Oakdale Industries had not been in a position to obtain advice on likely volumes that it will be able to access. Some assurances have been obtained from the State Government that Oakdale Industries will be looked after but nothing substantive has resulted from the many representations that have been made.”

Mr Paton said that Oakdale Industries would look to diversify and source wood supply from other areas.

“We have also been advised that we should import timber from Victoria – but at approximately 50% increase of the cost of local timber. Some sensible surety of supply would enable Oakdale to continue producing timber flooring and thereby utilising its current equipment,” he said.

“Unlike Ta Ann we are unable to negotiate with the private forest owners for timber supply as we have no capability to mill the timber. However, we may be able to negotiate with mills that currently source their timber from private forests.”

Tasmanian native timber flooring manufactured by Oakdale Industries for markets across Australia.

Mr Paton said OAK Tasmania had ‘pretty tough decisions to make’ in the next three to six months which weren’t being helped by unfulfilled promises and cheap words.

“We have engaged personally with politicians from all sides of the political spectrum including (former senator) Bob Brown, Kim Booth, Nick McKim and Bryan Green. They are all very aware of the situation at Oakdale Industries and I ask them to deliver on promises made to secure 6000 cubic metres of Tasmanian native timber resource per annum so we can continue our operations.”

Referring to a letter sent to Deputy Premier Bryan Green in 2011, Mr Paton said if the required supply to Oakdale Industries of a Tasmanian native timber resource was not forthcoming OAK Tasmania had little choice but to aggressively pursue compensation.

“Compensation of at least $10m will be required to re-structure our timber business, to re-train our 41 staff, purchase new equipment capable of processing plantation timbers, and to help us develop new products and markets.”

Mr Paton said if Oakdale Industries had to cease operations, the impacts of closing the business could also impact the Tasmanian State Budget.

“We would do everything in our power to re-deploy any staff that may find themselves without work, but the very real risk for the State Government is that Human Services Minister Cassy O’Connor might have to support the displaced workers living with disability by funding Individual Support Packages that are funded by the State Government.

“Simply by securing the required Tasmanian native timber resource for Oakdale Industries, we can avoid impacting the Tasmanian State Budget and continue operating an income-producing business that assists us to reduce our reliance on government funding.”

Mr Paton concluded by strongly rejecting the rhetoric of ENGO’s that demand for Tasmanian native timber products were dwindling.

“That is certainly not our experience at Oakdale Industries. Demand for our Tasmanian native timber products including hardwood timber flooring, mouldings, joinery & craft lines remain very strong.

“During 2011-12, Oakdale Industries purchased approximately 1,800 cubic metres of Tasmanian native timber kiln dried sawn boards, equating to approximately 6,000 cubic metres of sawlog equivalent.

“We want access to a Tasmanian native timber resource moving into the future so we can continue to improve the lives of Tasmanians living with disabilities,” Mr Paton said.

Oakdale Industries divisional manager John Hollis’ industry passion has been recognised, with his election to the prestigious national position of Australian Timber Flooring Association (ATFA) President.

A member of the ATFA board since 2007, John has been an ATFA director for five years and has also served in the roles of secretary and vice president. He was also awarded the title of ATFA Vanguard.

ATFA Chief Executive Officer Randy Flierman praised John and his long commitment to ATFA.

“John has been an outstanding servant of ATFA, imparting his vast knowledge and experience,” he said.

“John’s commitment to the industry and ATFA is second to none and we look forward to his leadership and advocacy as the new president.”

John has also worked tirelessly for 12 years as divisional manager of OAK Tasmania’s Oakdale Industries. A leading Tasmanian timber manufacturer and an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE), Oakdale Industries provides employment and training to adults living with disability.

OAK Tasmania CEO, Mr John Paton, praised John’s appointment and his dedication to Oakdale Industries.

“John’s many years of experience in the timber industry combined with the level of care he has for his staff form the foundation of Oakdale Industries’ success, and I congratulate him on his achievement,” he said.

ATFA President & Oakdale Industries Divisional Manager John Hollis.

Raised on Tasmania’s East Coast, John ventured into farming as a young school leaver. However it was in 1975 when he was drafted to the Sandy Bay Football Club that he began his career in the timber industry securing an apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner. He has been passionately involved with the timber industry, at various levels, ever since.

However it was his move to Oakdale Industries 12 years ago, to work in both the timber industry and the disability sector that made the biggest change to John’s career.

“It was a challenge coming from the corporate world in the timber industry I had been involved with, where it was all about margins and return to shareholders and return on investment,” he said.

“Here at Oakdale those outcomes are still important to have a viable business, but the duality thing is to actually see the contribution we as an ADE can make to people’s lives with special needs and that’s a real pleasant experience.”

John said his position as ATFA President was a great way to be fully involved in the timber industry and the Association, both on a personal and an organisational level.

“From an organisational point of view and a brand point of view, it means a lot to Oakdale Industries to actually be involved with ATFA,” he said.

“And to be involved in any type of association, I am a firm believer that we must have active participation in those associations.”

“Personally I just like to become involved and see the good coming out of things that you can actually participate in.”

John said just as Oakdale Industries put smiles on people’s faces and made positive impacts on people’s lives, ATFA also helped and supported a huge number of people in the industry.

“ATFA’s membership is approximately 550 (80 per cent of which is small business) and we really are all like a family,” he said.

“We are there to support one another and we have a very good structural set up with staff, technical advisers and hotlines so any of our members at any time can actually be ringing through to get information.

“To be part of that is really pleasing.”

John said the focus at ATFA was also not just on individual businesses but on growing and bettering the timber industry as a whole.

He praised the passion of all those involved with ATFA and recognised the shoes he would be filling in his new role.

“Within ATFA we have some very passionate and active people,” John said.

“Our immediate past President Paul Kiely of Planet Timbers in Western Australia, was quite simply a legend.”

John will occupy the role of ATFA President for at least the next two years.

Congratulations John, from everyone at OAK Tasmania!

Losing your job can be a major blow for anyone. And if you are an adult living with a disability, that challenge can be even greater.

For Daniel Lucas and sixteen of his workmates, this daunting loss became a reality when their workplace, Cerebral Palsy Tasmania’s The Hunt, closed down in the middle of this year.

“I was not happy,” Daniel said.

“I missed the place because I was working for CP for six years and had friends there.”

Luckily the story ended happily for most of the group when 12 supported workers were offered the chance to find work through OAK Tasmania.

After visiting one of OAK Tasmania’s business enterprises, Oakdale Industries, Daniel decided he would like to try his hand at floorboard making, a career change which he has adjusted to with enthusiasm.

“This is my first time making timber flooring, but there’s a first time for everything,” Daniel said optimistically.

“You have to make a change sometime, and I am enjoying it.”

Daniel Lucas at Oakdale Industries.

While Daniel has proved an enthusiastic addition to Oakdale Industries, he has also become somewhat of a trail blazer by gaining several open employment positions while working for the timber manufacturing business.

Oakdale Industries Divisional Manager John Hollis said traditionally Federal Government criteria did not allow for a supported worker to work for an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE), and in open employment at the same time.

“In Daniel’s case it meant he could work in casual open employment one day a week or five days a week; but if he ended up only working one day a week, he couldn’t come to another workplace like us and would be sitting around doing nothing.”

After working through ‘a lot of red tape,’ OAK management was finally able to gain approval for Daniel to do both.

While Oakdale remains his permanent supported workplace, Daniel now enjoys casual work as the demand calls for it, at retail fishing store Tackle Us at Kingston as well as with Waji Catering.

John said it was part of an ADE’s responsibility to help prepare their supported workers for open employment where possible and he was thrilled to see staff succeed in outside positions.

However, the reality was that many supported employees had difficulty adjusting to outside employment and needed the support of, or to return to, their ADE.

“It really is a no-brainer. It makes great sense to allow Daniel and others the opportunity to be involved with an ADE and open employment at the same time,” John said.

“From our point of view to be able to assist in a situation [when Cerebral Palsy Tasmania’s ADE closed] and for OAK to be able to take 12 people, was a terrific outcome for all concerned.

“Daniel is enthusiastic and bubbly and likes to be busy. He has been a great acquisition for Oakdale Industries.”

Daniel’s work outside Oakdale Industries will include making 20,000 paper cones and cleaning the same amount of scallop shells for the Taste of Tasmania – a huge task which he is ready to meet with enthusiasm.

Waji Catering Manager Waji Spiby said it was great to have Daniel on board.

“He seems to be enjoying it,” Waji said.

When looking for employees Waji said he simply wanted people who could get the job done and Daniel fitted that bill. He said Daniel possessed a great outlook and work ethic many ‘new generation’ people lacked.

“A lot of new generation people get in a job then get bored, and they lack enthusiasm,” Waji said.

“Daniel is happy and enthusiastic – he is great.”

In conjunction with his work at Oakdale Industries and his casual open work placements, Daniel has also been busy studying for his Certificate 1 in Retail through MEGT Institute.

MEGT Institute has played a major role in securing both training and meaningful employment for Daniel and some of his former colleagues.

Daniel’s five months of study will culminate in his graduation ceremony on November 28th at Blundstone Arena. He is waiting for the ceremony (and the chance to wear a suit), with much anticipation.

“It will be so exciting,” Daniel said.

Having loved studying for his first certificate, Daniel will start Certificate II in Retail with MEGT soon after his graduation.

For 16 year-old Cody Woulleman, the chance to do a double apprenticeship at Tasmanian timber manufacturer Oakdale Industries is a dream come true.

“To me it’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and I get paid for it!” he said. “I would do it for free!”

It will also make him the first person in Australia to ever embark upon a double apprenticeship in timber machinery and disability care.

A former Rose Bay High School student, Cody was torn between a career in car mechanics and building when the opportunity at Oakdale’s Warrane site arose. With several members of his own family having special needs, Cody was also passionate about the rights of people living with a disability. When the position at Oakdale came up combining all of his loves, he couldn’t believe his luck.

“When they said I had the job….I just didn’t say anything,” Cody said. “To be so lucky, I was pretty happy.”

Cody said his job at Oakdale gave him the chance to learn a broad range of skills.

“This is kind of two in one here because I’m doing all the mechanical side on the machines but then I’m also making flooring and the stuff that goes into houses,” he said.

Oakdale Industries Cody Woulleman: the first person in Australia to study a dual apprenticeship in timber machinery & disability care.

 While he initially thought he would have to complete seven to eight years of study and two apprenticeships to achieve his qualifications, the creation of a combined apprenticeship will bring his study time down to about four years. That’s not to say it won’t be hard work, however even the fact that Cody may be pursuing double the study to a regular apprenticeship can’t dampen his enthusiasm.

“It’s going to be a lot of studying but I’m really excited,” he said.

In the future Cody would like to use all of his qualifications to help those with special needs to gain skills and a passion for building and machinery.

“I want to do something like Oakdale and get people [living with disabilities] working with me, helping me, doing what they can manage,” he said.

“I just want them to have fun with it like I have fun with it.”

Cody would also like to give back to the community by building houses for people in need.

Oakdale Industries Divisional Manager John Hollis said Cody, who was only the second apprentice ever at Oakdale, was a great addition to the team. He said Cody had stood out because of his aptitude in the timber area and his natural interaction with all of the employees at Oakdale.

“That is pretty unique in its’ own right,” John said.

“It was very important to us to identify someone who had both those qualities and that’s not easy.”

John said it was great to be able to offer the possibility of a combined apprenticeship to Cody.

“Given the work environment he is in whilst he is doing his timber machinist qualification, Cody is actually working with people with special needs anyway,” he said.

“To be able to combine the two qualifications was a real plus and just a matter of his everyday work life,” said John.

• National Skills Week is being celebrated between August 27 and September 2. It is a collaborative approach dedicated to raising the status of practical and vocational learning. OAK Tasmania offers a range of training opportunities via OAK Training & Development Services (OAK Tasmania’s RTO), and OAK Technology & Learning.

Oakdale Industries will be showcasing both its flooring products and latest craft lines nationally over the next four days, at the Australian Timber Flooring Association (AFTA) Flooring and Finishes Expo, in Melbourne.

An industry leader in the flooring arena, Oakdale is a regular at the annual Expo. However this will be the first time it will be taking its craft products to the event.

Oakdale Divisional Manager John Hollis said the move was an exciting one for the company, which was working hard to further develop the fantastic potential of its craft lines.

“Whilst we will have timber floor products on display at the Expo, we will also be looking at opportunities to take some of our craft products into the hotel and hospitality sector,” he said.

“We are still growing our craft market and doing some very, very good stuff.”

On display at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

The Expo will be co-located with several other premier events including Furnitex 2012, (which boast products from 500 industry leaders and new players in areas such as furniture, lighting, decorating, design and hotel and hospitality) and Australia’s premier interiors event Decoration and Design.

“This gives us access to about 15,000 people coming through the door, including qualified tradespeople and purchasers,” John said.

John will be accompanied at the Expo by Oakdale’s Mike Flanagan and Kim Bale. Kim joined the Oakdale team earlier this year with a wealth of experience in design administration and fine furniture making and has helped steer some exciting developments in Oakdale’s craft products and design.

John said the annual Expo, which was held alternately between Sydney and Melbourne, would also give Oakdale the chance next year to further develop its craft lines in New South Wales and other States.

While at the Expo, Oakdale will also be showcasing Forestry Tasmania’s latest product Hardlam. Hardlam is a sustainable, value-added Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) product, made from rotary peeled veneer.

The AFTA expo is being held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre from Thursday July 19 until Sunday July 22.

What we buy today will determine the Australia we live in tomorrow.

That was the message Victorian Stephen Gately was trying to get across when he first launched his BuyAustralianMade website in 2009.

Aimed at keeping business, employment and money in Australia and providing a more positive future for the Australian manufacturing sector, BuyAustralianMade provides consumers with a website listing Australian companies, to make it easier for them to identify, support and use Australian made products and local manufacturers. Stephen said the website was about giving people the chance to make an informed decision about what to buy.

“Shoppers and business certainly need to be aware that they can make a difference by buying Australian made products, Australian grown produce and Australian delivered services,” he said.

“BuyAustralianMade makes it easy for shoppers and businesses to find Aussie made things so then at least then a choice can be made as to whether they buy the Aussie made or the imported [product].”

Stephen and the BuyAustralianMade website have been supporting OAK Tasmania since 2009, by listing its five Australian Disability Enterprises for free. For OAK Tasmania, these listings have provided a constant stream of sales enquiries and business opportunities.

Oakdale Industries superb range of products feature in the BuyAustralianMade television campaign.

For Stephen, a former disability sector manager, the chance to support Australian ADEs and OAK Tasmania is something he is thrilled to be able to do.

“[During my time with the Disability Sector] I had the opportunity to identify the issues holding back many of the ADEs I came in contact with,” he said.

“One of those issues was promotion and exposure of what they do and what they are capable of. I have been contacted by some of the ADEs we promote who say that they have secured contracts directly as a result of being promoted by BuyAustralianMade and others that have online stores are getting regular sales”.

Stephen said he was still thrilled with the success of BuyAustralianMade and keen to continue to grow the number of businesses and consumers that used it. He said he still continued to be surprised daily by new products that he did not know were made or built in Australia.

“There are thousands of businesses who would benefit from being promoted by BuyAustralianMade and being featured alongside hundreds of other businesses proudly making products or delivering services in Australia,” he said.

BuyAustralianMade has also hit television screens, with a major SBSTWO advertising campaign featuring many of its businesses launching earlier this year. OAK Tasmania’s timber manufacturing division Oakdale Industries will feature prominently in the May national advertising campaign.

Employees at Oakdale Industries will be enjoying the one day cricket match between Australia and Sri Lanka today, thanks to the generosity of the Lord’s Taverners.

The Lord’s Taverners assist people who may be experiencing disadvantage to take part in sport through the provision of sporting equipment, facilities and sporting opportunities.

Divisional Manager John Hollis said Oakdale Industries have enjoyed a long relationship with the Lord’s Taverners and its Tasmanian President Paul Sheahan.

“When cricket events come about the Lord’s Taverners through their President Paul Sheahan, offer us tickets from time to time, and we are very grateful of the tickets they supply to us.

“The Lord’s Taverners have donated 11 tickets to us (for today’s match) and we have shared them around our employee group. The guys love it, and it’s great to be able to give them tickets at no cost to themselves.”

Some of the group attending today’s match at Bellerive Oval were putting in a bit of practice this morning before today’s game. Some superb bowling by John Hollis helped wicket keeper Nick Freeman bring Geoffrey Forsyth undone on the third ball of the over, much to the delight of the team at Oakdale Industries.

Batsman Geoffrey Forsyth is stumped by wicket keeper Nick Freeman off the bowling of John Hollis, much to the delight of Will Rogers, Neil Fletcher, Andrew Wood, Damien Witt and Chris Bowerman.