NEW to town and ready to make Goondiwindi a “pottering” community is Heather Rohde.
Heather has moved back to Goondiwindi after 29 years of living in Bribie Island with a passion for pottery and all things clay.
“I have always loved craft, sewing, knitting and crochet.
“My idea then, and now, is that if you can roll out pastry, you can do pottery,” said Heather.
She first started pottery when the Bribie Island Community Art Centre opened as a bicentennial project in 1988.
She became joint tutor-in-charge of children’s activities eventually taking on the program herself.
Over 40 years ago she was a club leader in Millmerran and was involved in building the scout facilities at Coolmunda Dam before the dam was complete.
“I still love to fish and camp at Coolmunda Dam,” she said.
She began a hand-making pottery course and after two sessions began to teach children.
“My tutor kept me one step ahead of the kids and 23 years later I still love clay, hand building, my pottery wheel, loading and firing kilns, tutoring and reading pottery books - I have a very extensive library.”
Heather’s knowledge of clay is extensive and she has attended many workshops with top Australian and overseas tutors.
“Teaching comes easily to me, and over the years I have taught pottery to adults, children, the frail aged and young disabled and look forward to continuing with this.”
Her all-absorbing passion is researching glazes and recipes for glass and has found out some interesting facts since returning to Goondiwindi.
“My shed here in Gundy seems full of raw oxides and ingredients.”
Her love for clay extends further than what one might think.
“I love all aspects of clay, digging my own and experimenting with raw clays, mixing and adding to the commercial clay, and I am very involved with paper clay which I really love using.”
She is now providing Goondiwindi residents with the opportunity to be involved in the ancient art of pottery.
Heather began pottery classes yesterday (Tuesday) and hopes to continue providing this artistic service to childrne and adults.
She will be having classes on silk painting, felting, pottery, hand building, table water features and paper clay.
Classes will be held twice a week and Heather can found once a month at the town park markets where she will be doing clay work and where people can get involved with the ancient art.
Currently Heather is working on getting Goondiwindi a public kiln.
“I will try to apply for Government funding to get the kiln,” she said.
“It would be great for the people of Goondiwindi to be able to have their own kiln for their works.
“If I can get enough people at my lessons it will certainly help,” Heather said.
Lessons will be held at Heather’s house in a shed which has been fully renovated to suit her pottery classes.
“I have done a lot of work in the shed and it is ready to go.”
She has a current blue card and public liability to teach from her studio shed.
For more information contact Heather on 0417 202 814 or 4671 4914.
Alternatively you can email her on heatherpots@bigpond.com.
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