Cabinetmaking apprentice whittles his way to the top
29 July 2005
Kangan Batman TAFE student Harry Strouzas has been recognised as one of Victoria’s top furniture making apprentices, after leaving his accounting career to pursue his passion for working with wood.
Harry, from Glenroy, changed to cabinet making after finding accounting increasingly stressful, having to work till nine or ten o’clock at night.
The career move paid off, as he was recently named as the Mathews Timber Certificate III in Furnishing - Cabinet Making Apprentice in the Victorian Furnishing Industry Training Awards. Harry was the runner up in the same category last year.
Harry’s winning entry was a wellington chest which took three months to design and make. The chest, made predominantly of walnut and American oak, contains seven drawers, each one proportionally bigger than the one before it.
‘I pretty much had to submit all the work I was required to do for trade school – handing in scale drawings and and a full size model,’ said Harry.
Harry began his training with a pre-apprenticeship at Kangan Batman TAFE while still working as an accountant.
‘The teachers were great – they arranged for me to attend trade school part-time, even if it meant studying over a longer period,’ he said.
Harry completed the Certificate II in Furnishings (Furniture Manufacturing) in 2003, and started the Certificate III in Furnishing - Cabinet Making after finding work with Timeless Timber Gallery.
When Timeless Timber Gallery closed in 2004, Harry found work with Mitcham based WM Fine Furniture, where he is still employed today.
Harry said he had no problems fitting in as a mature aged apprentice at TAFE.
‘It took the other students a while to work out why I’d leave accounting for apprentice wages. But they began to understand why I chose this career when they realised I was serious and passionate about furniture making,’ he said.
‘I found TAFE really enjoyable – you can complete work at your own pace and be more creative. Students are taught the right way to do things, and there is no pressure to get the job done for that all important cash flow.’
Built and Natural Environments teacher at Kangan Batman TAFE, Chris Arnold, said Harry was a ‘fantastic student.’
‘He really challenged us - in a good way of course,’ says Chris, ‘Harry was inquisitive about everything, and showed us a real commitment to the furniture making trade.’
Harry’s passion for his trade even saw him complete his training earlier than the usual timeframe.
‘He was in and out of here in no time,’ said Chris.
Once he completes his apprenticeship, Harry would like to focus on the design aspects of furniture making, particularly the old English and French styles.
‘That’s where the passion is. I’d like to study more about it, even if it means travelling to Europe to learn more about design.’
Starting his own furniture making business is also not out of the question for Harry.
‘Finding custom made furniture these days is quite rare – I know there is a market out there for people who are willing to pay for it,’ he said.
The Certificate II in Furnishings (Furniture Manufacturing) and Certificate III in Furnishing - Cabinet Making training is conducted at the Broadmeadows campus.
