OUR STORY
Ours Begins with Family, Purpose, and a Pile of Scrap Timber.
How It All Began
Our story begins after Syd and Manni lost two loved ones within just four days — Syd’s wife Enid, and Manni’s stepdad Denis.
They had always been close, but grief made them inseparable. Looking for purpose again, they joined a local wood club — a place to create, talk, and heal.
When Syd began to lose his sight, he didn’t stop turning. With decades of experience, he now works entirely by feel — guided by touch, instinct, and memory.
Turning by Feel, Building a Legacy
When the wood club grew uneasy with Syd’s vision loss, they decided to start their own.
On Syd’s daughter’s (Manni’s mum’s) back veranda,Syd & Manni Penswas born — built on one simple idea:
To give wood a second life and people a reason to connect again.
Workshop Days
These days, they’re in the workshop four to five days a week, from 8 am to 1 pm — before Syd’s afternoon nap and Manni’s next job.
It’s a simple rhythm: make, laugh, sip tea, and share lunch together.
The Response
What started as a small idea in a backyard has become something extraordinary.
The response from the community has been overwhelming — every collection so far has sold out, and messages of support keep pouring in from all over Australia.
Family, friends, and strangers alike have become part of the story.