The camphor laurel is an invasive introduced tree and is declared a noxious weed in this area. However, the harvested timber is excellent for turning and machining and has so many good qualities that master craftsman, Allan Stone decided to make a business out of it.
Al with his camphor laurel chopping boards
At the age of 15, Allan left school to take up a four year Cabinet Maker apprenticeship with the renowned Parker Furniture Company. When he obtained that qualification he went on to study the Carpenter and Joiner trade. Halfway through his study he was conscripted to serve in the Vietnam War. He served in the transport corps in Vung Tau returning home after 8 months duty.
Back in Australia he continued his Carpenter and Joiner course and on completion obtained his Builders Licence and with a mate started building house frames.
On weekends he had a market stall with another mate reselling King Gee work wear and his wife Janelle sold doughnuts from an old van that Al had converted to look like a pineapple.
toy cars
Al became a diabetic and they moved to the Gold Coast remaining in the building trade. Thirteen years ago they were on their way back from their son’s wedding in Sydney and stopped for a break at The Big Banana at Coffs Harbour. Al got a sudden pain in his chest and shoulder. It was a heart attack but being in denial and hoping the pain would disappear he asked Janelle to buy him a frozen banana. That should fix it! Something he and his heart specialist still laugh about today.
But it was the brain tumor that stopped him in his tracks. The tumor was so large that he required major surgery to have it removed. He was unable to work and had several months of rehabilitation therapy.
This lovely gentle man didn’t deserve these major health problems, but Al is a fighter and had worked hard all his life and needed to get back to work. He could no longer carry on his trade as a licenced builder so he applied for a job at Bunnings teaching basic carpentry skills in their workshops. They were delighted to have such a highly qualified man apply and said he had the job but had to fill out the Application form. When they realised his horrendous health problems they decided against employing him.
Janelle’s colourful artwork
Now Al had to do something to earn an income so he “turned his hand” to what he knew best and started his own little business making camphor laurel chopping boards and children’s toys. He works in his “man cave” during the week and sells them at the markets on the weekend and to restaurants and coffee shops.
Janelle also gets involved painting beautiful designs on the lazy susans that Al has made. Janelle also works full time in a dental lab. Together they make a good team.
To locate BIG AL’S next market visit his facebook page below or for bulk orders call him 0419 486669 or 07 55985801.
https://www.facebook.com/bigalsboardsburleighmarkets?fref=ts
NOTE: The unique antibacterial qualities of camphor laurel make it an ideal surface for food preparation reducing microbial growth and cross contamination and being far superior to plastic, glass, marble and other timbers AND has a clean fresh smell.
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