Brickies, sparkies, chippies. What’s in a name?
With wood as one mankind’s ancient building materials, carpenters have passed their skills down through generations and generations over the past 7000 years. The word ‘carpenter’ evolved from the Old French word ‘carpentier’ (later charpentier) which was derived from the Late Latin ‘carpentrius’ (maker of a carriage). How about elsewhere across the globe? Carpintero in Spain; Zimmermann in Germany; Kamuta in Samoa and thợ mộc in Vietnam. How do I lean more?
The term ‘Chippy’ is commonly used in Australia and the UK to refer to carpenters. The term is found as far back as the 16th century – no doubt in reference to the wood chips that flew as carpenters worked their magic. A proverb from 1770 states: ‘A carpenter is known by his chips’. According to the Routledge Dictionary of Historical Slang ‘chippy’ was the ‘inevitable nickname of a man surnamed Carpenter’ within military ranks; while ‘chippy chap’ referred to blue jacket carpenters within the navy. Today it’s used fondly in reference to those with an invaluable skillset: the carpenter.
What you’ll be doing:
- Think “master of wood.” You’ll be framing walls, ceilings, and roofs, putting in floors, windows, and doors, and basically anything else made of timber.
- Level up your Chippie skills: From using power tools like a pro to reading blueprints like a champ, you’ll learn all the tricks of the trade.
- Safety first: Working at heights and with heavy machinery means safety’s gotta be your middle name. We’ll make sure you’re prepped and protected.
What you’ll get:
- The satisfaction of seeing your work come to life: Picture that frame standing tall, that roof keeping out the rain, that door swinging open for the first time – that’s your handiwork, baby!
- A chance to join a friendly, supportive team: We’re not just colleagues, we’re a family. We’ll teach you, cheer you on, and maybe even share a snag or two along the way.
- A killer career path: Chippies are always in demand, and with the skills you learn here, you could be running your own show in no time.
Think you’ve got the right stuff?
If you’re keen to learn, love getting stuck in, and don’t mind a bit of hard work (and maybe a few sawdust showers), then we wanna hear from you!