To Doris We Go: History of Blacksmith Doris

The History of Blacksmith Doris

Mary Hackett

Snippets of Blacksmith Doris’ history can be found within the archives of The Drift. Dr Susan Lowish first writes about Doris’ first day in 2009 stating:

I was just a slacker who turned up for a look in the afternoon; didn’t even

get my hands dirty. Nevertheless, I was inspired by the beautiful objects

being made and the enthusiasm of all involved.

S Lowish 2009

She mentions the generosity of the men blacksmiths who worked tirelessly on that first day; and the three junior blacksmiths, including our daughter, Bridget Hackett. One junior was there due to her own interest in blacksmithing, but others had to come because their mums were there.

The first Doris Day event was hosted by Brendan Hackett at Blueprint Sculpture Studio on Saturday 21st of November 2009. Four men volunteered to teach twenty-one women and three children simple blacksmithing skills. We hadn’t advertised. Those who came had heard through friends.

Earlier that year the Australian Blacksmiths Association of Victoria (ABA Vic) held a celebration for their twentieth anniversary of it being established. Among the normal celebratory fair on offer at the weekend-long party was an exhibition of work made by members. There was a vast array of pieces shown from hobbyists, those who had undergone apprenticeships and artists. Simple and technically proficient work sat side by side. My work was among them. It felt strange to be the only woman represented and I mentioned my concerns to Nick, who agreed.

There were blacksmithing demonstrations and some of the women had asked to join in. Two blacksmiths obliged them. Doug Tarrant instructed a group of women to make leaves and Malcolm Payne taught his version of chain making to the more experienced women blacksmiths. Though generous, the opportunity offered to the women disturbed us more as it reenforced the imbalance within the Australian blacksmithing scene. We shared our thoughts with Kirstie Stewart and Sonya Hurst, two South Australian women blacksmiths who we met there and we all of the same opinion that something needed to be done. We agreed that women would probably feel more comfortable learning without men around.

The problem of how to bring gender balance to the craft sat in the back of our minds for a few more months before we eventually tackled the logistics of bringing women together to try blacksmithing. Eventually Nick asked to borrow Blueprint Sculpture Studio space for the day and we sent the word out.

Kirstie came over from South Australia for the weekend. We borrowed forges and anvils from the Association, and asked a few blacksmiths to supervise. These blacksmiths were Nick Hackett, Doug Tarrant, Steve Nicoll and Paul Mills. Rick Stadler kindly loaned us his forge and some of the teaching blacksmiths brought along their own forges, anvils, tongs and other equipment.

Nick had kept a demonstration sign from the anniversary weekend which we intended to use as a guide into the West Melbourne studio and we sat pulling off some of the sticky letters of the word ‘Demonstration’ from ‘Blacksmith Demonstrations’. We were down to just a few and, serendipitously, within those letters was a Northern English slang word for women - Doris. We had to use it.

Our first day was fabulous bedlam. There were anvils close together under a tarp outside and some inside the shed. Other anvils were situated around the side near the spring hammer belonging to Nick and myself. Kirstie Stewart, in her newsletter to the Artist Blacksmiths Association of South Australia recalled:

Doug began with a demonstration of making a rat’s tail – a good place to start for a group of

mostly first-timers, but pretty soon we were all attempting to make spoons after Mary asked

Paul to show us this technique. Nick was keen for us to try the spring hammer (‘Uber Doris’)

which was huge fun, and allowed us to make huge spoons! Spoons kept most of us occupied for

the rest of the day, but those interested were able to try making and forge-welding chain links

under Paul’s instruction.

K Stewart 2010

There were risks. There were so many women at the anvils that any wrong move with a hot piece of iron meant branding a fellow maker without their consent. In addition, some of the women were given the opportunity to work on the power hammer which was made by an engineering firm possibly 30 years prior to us owning it, and by nature was a little 'rural'. It squashes steel as if it were twigs and would do the same with fingers or arms. Those who used it were in awe. It was dubbed Uber Doris as mentioned earlier by Kirstie. I believe that everyone enjoyed their first day, although maybe not so much the men. One of those first women still comes to Doris, Debbie Harman.

Eventually we convinced ABA Vic to allow us a day every second month to run Doris, though now we have one day every month. The first Doris Day at the barn was held on Saturday 27th March, 2010. Steve Nicoll, in his report as President at the time, refers to the first ABA Vic Doris Day in the June Edition, 2010. He dubs it ‘The Legion of Mary’, which, even though it was just a Steve witticism, it turned out to be prophetic because, as a group, we became more tenacious. In hindsight Steve probably rues the day that the committee let us hold a women’s only group, though we are glad that they did.