Wendie McCaffley

DESIGNER AND METALSMITH
Wrought Artworks

At work ... I spin in circles trying to wear all my hats well: design beret, accounts and payroll pork-pie hat, sales trilby, welding helmet, site supervisor hard hat ...

My first job ... I’ve been self-employed all my life. In the seventies the world was a much bigger oyster and I had a designer clothes shop at 16!

My favourite part of the park ... are the original blacksmithing bays that I have fought to save for 20 years. They are the last tangible remanent of one of the mightiest railway workshops built in the world. They represent the pinnacle of the Victorian industrial revolution in Australia and the pride that people felt in those days.

An influence that shaped my life ... My parents were both trade unionists, so I appreciate trades and don’t appreciate unfair treatment of anyone/anything. They never put mental obstacles in my way, so I really believed I could do anything to make a living.

The place where I grew up ... was the North Shore of Auckland, down a long driveway that ate into the bush. We had a crystal clear stream running through our back yard!

My best choice ... was getting out of the rag trade and retraining to be a metalsmith.

My worst choice ... To be honest, I really don’t think I possess a category of regretful choices in my memory bank.

If I could wave a magic wand ... I would have a ‘wake up to yourself, and go forth and heal the wounds we’ve inflicted on the planet’ implant put in all our brains while we sleep.

The highlight of my week ... is when the gate fits, swings, rings, locks – and the client loves it.

My burning ambition ... has kind of burnt out now, but I do strive to have a well-run, harmonious, successful business with a great reputation for what we do.

wroughtartworks.com