WORKSHOPS & DEMONSTRATIONS
2026 Demonstrations
We have a variety of different demonstrations this year.
Wood Carving, Reptiles, Spinning and Weaving, Lace Making and other crafts.
If you would like to offer up a workshop sharing your skills and knowledge – please contact Dee White on 0434 630 510.
DISPLAY AND Q & A
Saturday and Sunday
9:00am – 4:00pm
Venomous snakes are part of Australia’s workplace reality, especially on construction sites, at mining operations, and in council-managed environments.
RADOA delivers snake safety and awareness programs that replace fear with understanding and uncertainty with clear, evidence-based decision-making.
Led by experienced wildlife professionals, including a PhD herpetologist specialising in snake ecology and behaviour, our sessions go beyond education.
Participants learn how to identify and avoid risk, understand why encounters occur, and know exactly what to do if an incident happens.
Beyond education, we also provide consultancy services, onsite snake management, tailored snake management strategies, and professional property inspections, helping organisations reduce risk, meet compliance requirements, and create safer workplaces.
No myths. No scare tactics.
Science, experience, and real-world solutions for safer workplaces.
Thanks to sponsorship from Rain Again Tanks, Certified Energy Solutions and Adventure Concepts, we are able to have the Reptile Awareness Displays of Australia at this years Expo.
They offer important information, especially for those who live on the land and interesting facts about our some of our native reptiles.
Wood Carving
Keith will be doing a demo on the hour every hour – Look for the Orange Flag.
In late 1999 I started a wood carving using chainsaws and chisels and then, 6 months later the Silky Oak tree stump was transformed into 21 Aussie animals and on its way to the Sydney Olympics.
It was part of the Bicentennial celebrations in 2001, stayed at Australia Zoo, toured SE Queensland, helped save the Mary river from being dammed, and then semi-retired at the Wood Works museum in Gympie for 15 years.
Now comes the fun bit.
In 2023 I started an organisation called the Silky Project Inc. Our goal is to make a life-size bronze copy of the statue, take it to the Brisbane Olympics in 2032, go on tour again and then find a permanent home in the Gympie Region.
So that’s the plan.
We have partnered with the Australian Menshed organisation Tin Can Bay group to carry out the preparation, mould making, bronze casting and assembly. Thanks to everyone there at The Shed.
Also a huge thanks to the SLEEPY LAGOON HOTEL for all of their support for our fundraising with live music Saturday night Raffle prizes and Sunday arvo entertainment from 12.
You can meet the artist at the Menshed weekday mornings from 9-12 at Amity place off Gympie Rd.
Uniqueartz – Demonstrations and Workshops
All Workshops Are $10 Per Person. Early Bookings Ring Trish 0428 524 469 otherwise book on the day. Look for the Purple Flag
Demonstrations
Peter, Trish and other members of Uniqueartz will be on hand doing demonstrations over the weekend.
Rush Essentials will be holding workshops at their marquee
Kara will be doing a variety of different workshops through the day on Saturday and Sunday.
Rollers, Room Sprays, Bath Soaks, Hand and Body Scrubs, Linen Cupboard Deodoriser.
Times will be flexible depending on how many people want to do a workshop.
Look for the Green Flag.
See Rush Essentials marquee for more details on times and costs.
12pm – Hand and Body Scrubs
Gympie Spinners, Weavers and Crafters
Spin, Dye, Felt, Weave, Knit and Crochet
Local group that meets weekly to share crafts and learn new skills.
Wool spinning is the process of transforming raw wool fibers into yarn by twisting and pulling them together. This age-old craft can be done by hand with a drop spindle or with a spinning wheel. The twist in the yarn is what holds the fibers together, creating a continuous strand.
Weaving is a textile production method that involves interlacing two sets of yarns or threads at right angles to create fabric or cloth. The lengthwise yarns are called the warp, and the crosswise yarns are the weft. Weaving is one of the oldest textile techniques, traditionally done on a loom.
Felting is a process of creating fabric by interlocking and matting fibers, typically wool, through agitation and compression. This can be achieved through various methods, including wet felting and needle felting.
Demonstrations throughout the weekend.
Creative Cultures
Tim from Creative Cultures will be demonstrating how to make Viili Yoghurt. Viili Yoghurt is a dairy ferment from Finland, also called Stringy Yoghurt or Ropey Yoghurt.
It ferments in 4-6 hours, without the need for an incubator that I needed for making normal yoghurts.
Viili Yoghurt can be made by using some saved from a previous batch. It is simple to make and has a creamy flavour and thick texture – delicious by itself or mixed with fruit or anywhere else you would use yoghurt. It contains roughly 30 different strains of beneficial bacteria.
I will have tastings available, and the culture for purchase.
Fraser Coast Lacemakers
Come along and watch the art of Bobbin Lace being made. It is an art that is centuries old and is made using surprisingly few moves of the bobbins that can be varied endlessly.
There will be a display of traditional lace and contemporary lace for you to compare and admire.
Event Organisers:
Dee White: dee@offgridexpo.com.au – 0434 630 510 | Di Woodstock: di@offgridexpo.com.au – 0419 224 628