Within 24 hours of opening an exhibition of fine woodwork by master craftsman Geoff Hannah OAM and his students, one of his students, Colin Fardon, was contacted by Brisbane investor John Dunne wanting to purchase Colin’s exquisite cabinet created for the exhibition.

Colin Fardon’s Inlayed Collector's Cabinet took just over two years to make and is made from 15 different species of timber including Brazilian Mahogany, East Indian Rosewood, Ebony, Pomelle Sapele, Ivory wood and serpentine stone from Lightning Ridge. 

It has 40 hand dove tailed drawers, including 3 secret compartments and features intricate hand drawn inlays of Australian flora and fauna.

Lismore based Colin started working with master craftsman Geoff Hannah as a work-experience high school kid in 2003 and has been doing weekly classes with Geoff ever since. 

Geoff Hannah, creator of the famous Hannah Cabinet, himself started working at Brown & Jolly’s furniture in Lismore before starting his own furniture business in 1973. 

“I am privileged enough to have attended Geoff's classes for the past 16 years. I have a small furniture making and restoration business which, until now has been part time, but at the close of this exhibition I will commence as my full-time career,” Fardon said.

“I have always loved working in timber, especially exotics from around the world. Woodworking has been a dream from me for many years, so I am very excited for the future."

The cabinet is tied to Colin’s future in more ways than one – at a private viewing of the cabinet Colin hid an engagement ring in one of the drawers for his girlfriend which she discovered and joyfully accepted his proposal. 

John Dunne purchased the cabinet as an heirloom for his family and considers it not only to be an investment in the work but also an investment in Colin as a practitioner.

Colin Fardon’s cabinet will be on display at Lismore Regional Gallery until 1st December along with Geoff Hannah’s extraordinary new cabinet Jubilee House and the works of 26 of Geoff Hannah’s students. 

You can see the exhibition Chesta Drawz and the LowBoys: An exhibition of fine woodwork by Geoff Hannah and his students until December 1 at Lismore Regional Gallery, 11 Rural St, Lismore.

Free daily tours: 11am Chesta Drawz and the LowBoys exhibition; 11:45am The Hannah Cabinet.

For information, visit http://www.lismoregallery.org

Admission to Lismore Regional Gallery is a suggested $5 donation. Gallery opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10am to 4pm (Thursdays to 6pm)