Byron Roberts BDes(IndDes)(Hons), Grad Dip Ed

Designer, Maker, Teacher

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I am a husband to an amazing wife, dad to two brilliant kids, permaculturalist, beekeeper and advocate for sustainable living.

 

I have been making things with my hands as long as I can remember, and have always really loved working with wood.

I followed my interest in design and making while studying for a Bachelor of Industrial Design in the mid 1990's.

I discovered my passion for teaching people valuable practical skills when I was approached by the University to teach in the Design School workshops during my honours year. Inspired by my experience, I later studied a Graduate Diploma of Education in order to become a qualified Industrial Arts Teacher, and then gained a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment.

Having taught thousands of people across an amazing 21 year career as an educator, I have had the honour of learning the use of traditional tools and methods from the best Industrial Arts Masters who, when I first started, had been practising for over 40 years.

Over this time I have designed and made many fine furniture and woodcraft pieces for my family and friends and have collected and restored many tools back to working order.

While giving demonstrations of traditional woodworking at events and shows over the years, I have been approached by many people who have asked if I could create pieces for them and if I run classes so they can learn traditional woodworking skills and knowledge.

So I thought to myself, "I think this could be really interesting and very helpful for a lot of people". And so Kyeamba Valley Woodworks was brought to life.

My Philosoophy is simple.....
Making things in wood with our hands is good for us. It connects us to a natural raw materials that we can work with and use our imaginations to shape into beautiful and functional things for everyday living.