Tilley had a tough start in the construction industry, but now says it’s the ‘best thing’ she’s ever done

When artist Tilley Wood decided to become an apprentice builder, the community backed her.

That support continued when the first-year chippy had her beloved red ute “Ruby” stolen along with all her tools.

“Initially it was a huge setback, mostly financially,” she told Lucie Cutting on ABC Radio Hobart.

“But it’s actually been a catalyst for so much positivity and support and encouragement from people I work with and people I’ve never met.”

Members of the building industry locally and interstate have been getting in touch with her to offer messages of support, and more than 50 people have donated money to help replace the tools.

“People have been saying, ‘Look, this has happened to me before and you’ll come back stronger’,” she said.

‘She was just gone’

Wood, who is still in her first year of the apprenticeship, had slowly built up a collection of tools and bought a ute to get to work.

She said her tools and ute were her livelihood and a symbol of pride and independence.

“I ended up with this sweet red ute called Ruby,” she said.

But on one weekend recently Ruby disappeared.

“I woke up on a Saturday and went to have a good weekend and my car was not where I left it,” she said.

“There was no sign of a struggle, no signs of red paint flakes left behind, she was just gone.”

All her tools, worth about $6,000, were also gone. While the ute was insured, the tools were not.

She was shocked by the community’s support after posting about the theft on social media.

More than 50 people sent her cash through an online fundraising page — many anonymously.

“I am so grateful for all the support, donations and encouragement I’ve received since losing my gear,” she said.

“It goes to show how many really wonderful people are in my community.”

Getting ‘chicks on the tools’

Wood has always loved timber and grew up around wood workshops.

“I always wanted to learn more about it,” she said.

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When she decided she wanted to learn about building things properly, she spoke with friends who put her in contact with another female carpenter who was “keen to get other chicks on the tools”.

“She said, ‘There’s literally nothing stopping you’.”

Later, she was put in touch with a builder who invited her to do work experience with his construction company, which turned into paid work.

“I didn’t know anything but they welcomed me with open arms,” she said.

On the first day of the work experience, the builder bought her a hammer.

“He didn’t know me from a bar of soap, and backed me straight away and that was so cool.”

‘Best thing I’ve ever done’

Wood said she had been well supported during her short time in the building industry.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” she said.

“I’ve been really fortunate to never have experienced discrimination because of my gender onsite or in this role.

“A large part of the construction industry are good people and they have wives, girlfriends and mothers and people they care about and to see a woman there, they are just stoked,” she said.

Becoming a builder has helped her art career as she now has the skills to make her own frames.

“You work for ages in the studio on a painting but it’s not until it’s framed and on the wall that it feels resolved,” she said.

“To be able to be responsible for that again myself was a really cool feeling and a source of pride.”

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