Native timber furniture winner

• Published date: 24 June 2022
• Publication title: Oamaru Mail

But it was not in his nature to not have something on the go, and he had a garage full of tools he could use for future personal projects

‘‘Funnily enough, there have been some tools make their way to home,’’ he said with a laugh.

Mr Willetts heaped praise on all of the ‘‘wonderful’’ staff he had employed over the years. He would love to get everyone together at some stage, and wanted them to know how grateful he was for their — and the wider Oamaru public’s — support over the past 40 years.

On Sunday, all of the remaining Willetts machines, woodstock, hardware, furniture and other equipment was auctioned off. The auction was run by Proctor Auctions, and organised by Grafted’s Aude and Contantin Graf, whom Mr Willetts had contracted to dispose of everything.

Mrs Graf said the auction had been a ‘‘very unique opportunity’’ to see behind the scenes of Willetts — and get a piece of Oamaru’s history. Items up for auction included furniture...