Kerry Corney

Army, Woodturner

Kerry always had the military in his blood. His father joined the army when he was 17 and made it his career, retiring after 45 years. His oldest brother followed their father’s footsteps, as did Kerry Jnr. In his high school years, Kerry joined the Army Cadets and rose to the rank of the Australian RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major). 

“That was pretty cool, for a kid.  We used to do lots of trips down to Canberra,” he reminisces. “We moved back and forth between Singleton, where I was born, Wagga Wagga and Brisbane as Dad’s military career developed. It seemed natural for me to join the army.”

Not only was the army in his childhood memories but so, too, was working with wood. He remembers, as a small child, often visiting his extended Polish family. One day, his aunt put a tool box around his small waist, filled it with nails and pointed at a big pile of timber.  

“She said I could do whatever I wanted. There was mess everywhere, and nails scattered all around. I still remember how good it felt.”

When he left the army, Kerry worked in the construction industry across Southeast Queensland, driven by his passion for building and creating, especially in timber. His prior military service had left its mark on his body and the rigours of construction work only compounded the issue.

Recalling the circumstances, he remarks, “I realised something needed to change. I’ve always been drawn to roles that involve helping and caring for people. When a friend suggested nursing, I thought about it for a while then jumped in.”

He worked in the Emergency Department at the Princess Alexandra hospital in Brisbane after his graduation as a nurse in 2019.  

“I thought that would fit with my personality and I liked that it was the centre of all that was happening. That ended up backfiring, because of the amount of trauma that was coming through.  When I think about it now, I connect with the old saying that ‘some kinks in the armour were starting to show.’ I also had two significant losses during that time.  My father-in-law, whom I was incredibly close to and, tragically, my mother both passed away. Their departures weighed heavily on me and I realised I was struggling to cope with the grief and emotional turmoil.

“It was a shock because everything was going so well when I started nursing. Trying to care for someone in a deep trauma situation is the thing that keeps coming back to me. It’s the intensity of the situation that leaves a lasting impression.

Kerry met his wife, Nadine, after his army discharge.  He soon formed a strong friendship with her dad, Bill. 

He says, “He was an inspiration to me.  He was such a special man who was  amazing at what he built, particularly using metal.  When he retired, Bill (I called him Dad) bought a timber lathe. He’d go out to the shed and tinker away and I’d watch him. He came from the school of hard knocks and he did things the old school way. I learnt so much from him. When he passed, I started tinkering and then my interest went through the roof.

“Woodworking has now become a significant part of my life, providing a sense of calm amid the chaos of daily existence.  Picture it as discovering tranquillity within a bustling city. Even though sirens, traffic and noise may surround me, the moment I start working with wood, all of that fades away. It’s a comforting space for me, an unexpected haven that has had a profound impact on my mental well-being.

“I never anticipated struggling with mental health challenges but, when I immerse myself in woodturning, the external world vanishes, leaving me feeling refreshed. This profound sense of renewal has become a positive habit and it’s liberating to release the mental burdens. Woodturning requires unwavering focus.  A piece of wood spins rapidly at 2000 rpm which demands complete attention with no room for distractions.

“Motivated by the transformative power of this craft, I aimed to share it with others, offering them a source of comfort and a creative outlet. Consequently, I started producing YouTube videos, creating tutorials on woodturning and documenting my personal journey.  My goal is to provide others with a glimpse of the potential benefits they could also experience.”

Kerry’s future plans are firmly based on woodturning. He specialises in timber bowls and platters and uses sustainably sourced timber such as Red Stringybark, Cedar and Camphor Laurel. He loves unleashing the beauty of the wood.

He laughs, “I need it more than it needs me. I think we all need something like that. There are lots of ways to relax. For me, it’s going to the shed. It will always be there for me, whatever happens in the future. It’s now part of who I am.”

@kerry_corney

kerrycorney.com