- 0480 239 994
- 4 GOLF LINKS DRIVE, GATTON, QLD, 4343
- admin@bootstraps.org.au
- 0900-1500 Wed/Thurs/Fri
Located in the Lockyer Valley in QLD, BOOTSTRAPS is a place where people can come in to have a chat over a brew, learn a new skill, make their own custom items and meet new friends. From humble beginnings in a backyard shed in 2017 to our current location in Gatton, we have had over 800 participants through our doors.
We have a drop-in centre with a fully functional leather workshop that can easily cater for 10 people per class. We run a wide variety of classes (short and long), for a wide range of community groups, (DVA, RSL QLD, Home schooling community). We also facilitate rehabilitation programs and regularly work with third-party rehabilitation providers.
We have a fantastic group of people on our staff, and together they help make BOOTSTRAPS what is it today. The un-written rule at the centre is ‘more good days than bad!’ Creative therapy is not generational or organisational; it has been around in some form or another for ever. We just happen to use leather work as our vehicle to get people together and improve quality of life. Oh, and coffee….lots of coffee.
Sam Kavanagh
CEO/Founder
Enlisted in the Royal Australian Army in 1994. Served for more than 20 years in both regular and reserve forces. Began doing leather work at age 13.
Annette Kavanagh
Co-Founder, Treasurer, Events Organiser, Media Management
Worked in the legal industry for over 30 years. Has been an ADF spouse since 1998 and has two children. Has been doing leather work for over 15 years.
Callum Ashley-Buttler
Senior Instructor
Moved to Australia with his family in 2013 and has worked in Transport and agriculture most of his life.
Grew up watching his Dad leathercrafting and finally picked up his own tools in 2015 and has had his own leathercrafting home business specialising in live-action-roleplay and cosplay since 2016.
Ali Adams
Assistant Instructor
Ali has been doing leather work for over 5 years under the guidance of Callum. Ali’s focus in the trade has been making accessories for LARP and loves to make things that are a bit different, bringing her creative alternate expression into traditional everyday items.
Jeff Goltz
Secretary
Joined the Army Reserve in 1986 and the full time Army in 1999. He specialised in Army and RAAF aviation until 2023.
Jeff loves the tactile nature of leather and the ability to create practical items. He is keen to assist others to learn the love of the craft. Jeff grew up in the Lockyer Valley and loves horses.
Robyn Welch
Assistant Instructor
Joined the RAAF in 2002 as a Personnel Capability Officer and served for 22 years. He has reinvigorated his passion for art and creativity through leatherwork . He excels in artistic design and leather tooling and is keen to share his passion with others.
‘I started BOOTSTRAPS back in 2017 after a particularly bad day where I found myself in my leather workshop struggling to deal with things. I had discovered that there was very little, to nothing, available for veterans where I lived. I have always enjoyed leather work since my father taught me as a child and found it to be very therapeutic.
My dad spent almost 40 years in the RAAF and was a Vietnam Veteran who found comfort in the art of leatherwork as well. Dad began to teach me what he knew, and our first project together was a pencil case that I used throughout high school.
After more than 20 years in the Army, I too find myself using leather craft as a way to de-stress and ‘be’ in the creative mind-set rather than the dark places I found myself.
On that particular day, whether it be coincidence or for some other reason, my 6-year-old son came into my workshop and asked me to teach him how to work with leather. Over the next few hours, I realised that I was reliving what my dad and I had done some 30 years before. It was surreal to say the least. It was also at that time that I realised that I could provide the same ‘moment’ for others who are facing similar issues within my area. Be it an individual project or a joint venture with a loved-one, BOOTSTRAPS has been set up to provide a creative space and veteran friendly drop-in centre’.
‘I encourage you to come down and make not only a leather project that will last you a long time, but just as importantly, make a memory that will last a lifetime’.
“This is the actual pencil I made back when I was thirteen. Even after all these years the memories are still heartfelt and as strong as the day I created this with my Dad” – Sam K
If you are interested in joining our team get in touch today.
