25/06/2025
This is all.. a tad special 🤭
It’s been an incredible journey, completing the DSWA UK Master’s mission from the other side of the planet, returning to the UK year on year. But, at each stage I’ve valued the incentive to develop my expertise, being gifted generous amounts of support and guidance and experiencing how well the system advances and tests your skills.
A young master once advised me “There are no short cuts, it’s not until hundreds of tons of stone have purposefully passed through your hands that you become capable of building a 5m feature, to the required standards, on a masters timed test”.
I now fully understand this, and would add ..whilst honing every skill from stone selection and placement, forward planning, problem solving, research, design, building techniques and efficient shaping.. to a highly developed rack in your eye, good fitness and more!”
I hope this personal achievement, becoming the worlds 4th and Australia’s 1st female master dry stone waller, at 52.. will inspire others to take up the wonderfully challenging challenge and contribute towards the exciting revival of the trade Downunder ☺️⚒️
Last week, Emma Knowles travelled all the way from New South Wales, Australia to (unusually sunny!) DSWA National Training Site at Crooklands, to take on her Masters Part B accreditation.
This challenging assessment involves building 5 metres of wall, including a feature and Emma chose a right-angled corner.
Not only did she complete it within the timeframe, but she also did so to a very high standard.
Huge congratulations to Emma on officially becoming a DSWA Master Craftsman!
