Three generations in the TAFE foundry

Three generations of patternmaking teachers got together recently at the new SkillsTech Australia Foundry in the Acacia Ridge Training Centre.

It was the perfect location for patternmakers Nev Buckley, Les Johnson and Anthony Freemantle to compare more than 50 years of training delivered between them.

Nev learnt his trade in the 1950s at the Tramways Workshops, making patterns for buses and trams. In 1962 he started teaching at the Yeronga Institute of TAFE, where one of his students was Les Johnson. Nev retired in 1988.

Les is a leading vocational teacher at the SkillsTech Australia Foundry. He started working for TAFE as a casual teacher in 1996 and went full-time in 2000. One of Les's new colleagues was a young patternmaking teacher from South Africa - Anthony Freemantle.

Anthony trained with the South African Railway in the 1990s, and then worked with Toyota and Bradken. He moved to Australia and joined SkillsTech in July 2005. 

'The new technology at this foundry is mind-boggling,' said Nev, whose only machinery when he started patternmaking was a bandsaw and a wood lathe.

Les said the old hand skills are still needed in the patternmaking trade.

'Nev taught me the importance of hand skills like carving and shaping of timber,' Les said.

Les and Anthony play an active role attracting young people to their trade through SkillsTech's Try'a Trade days.

SkillsTech Australia Institute Director Steve Ghost said the $7.5 million foundry and patternmaking facility fills a small but significant training need in the manufacturing industry.

'Without trained people in the foundry industry, all those things from taps and wheels to axles for trains would be made offshore,' Steve said.

SkillsTech Australia (external link)

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Last reviewed: 17 July, 2009

Last updated: 22 July, 2009

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