Page 30 - Australian Defence Magazine November 2021

30 DEFENCE BUSINESS
NOVEMBER 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
FINDING TREASURE IN THE SCRAP HEAP
RAAF veteran Zach Briggs is preserving history by transforming unserviceable military aeroplanes into one-of-a-kind artworks with help from Prince’s Trust Australia.
LYNDSAY ANNE | GEELONG
BRIGGS has found a unique way to preserve history by repur- posing abandoned military and civilian aircraft into custom furniture after previously serving 12 years in the RAAF as an aviation technician.
As he prepared for transition into civilian life, Briggs completed an industrial design degree at university and, while driving past the RAAF Amberley base museum, he saw an old aeroplane being cut up for scrap. Feeling disheartened at the thought of it going to waste, he ap- proached museum staff.
“You could turn this stuff into things you can use. You could have a conference table in your office made out of an aeroplane wing, you don’t have to throw it out,” he told them.
The museum staff gave him the wing of an ex-RAAF MB.326H Macchi and asked him to make the table.
Over the next 12 months, Briggs built the conference table and made bottle openers and key rings with the off- cuts. Word spread quickly and he began receiving emails asking him to make more. People requested custom made furniture and shared personal stories with him about their
military history. Touched by their sto- ries, Briggs realised his designs meant more to people than he thought - it was a way for people to connect with their own military experiences and those who had served before them.
“That’s when I realised, it also creates emotional connection with people. Peo- ple see value in something that speaks to and connects with them,” he said. “So, I started thinking maybe there’s some level of importance to what I’m doing.”
Briggs discovered many unservice- able military and civilian aeroplanes be- ing used as scrap metal. He realised he could combine his creativity and skills in aviation and engineering to preserve history, contribute to environmental sustainability and create a meaningful future for himself when he transitioned to civilian life.
“I felt it was a tragedy watching these old aeroplanes go to the scrap yard. I had an opportunity here to not only do something I love, but to do something that is sustainable, and preserve history in a unique way,” he added. “It makes me happy, so I thought it would be great idea to try and make a business out of it.”
Feeling inspired, he began sketching more designs but was unsure how to run his own business. While attending a transition seminar in preparation for his discharge, he discovered Prince’s Trust Australia, a not-for-profit charity that helps veterans and their families become entrepreneurs. Shortly after discharge, Briggs completed their Enterprise Pro- gram, equipping him with the skills,
confidence and network he needed to explore his ideas and launch his own business.
“It was easily the best thing I did in my transition,” he said. “It definitely gave me the confidence to get my foot over the line and give it a go, because the hardest thing was that big step.”
It is now two years since Briggs launched his own business, Relic Design & Craft Co. He collects parts from neglected ci- vilian aeroplanes and purchases military aircraft parts from museums, which in turn helps them gather funds to keep operating. He strictly uses only unserviceable parts and, if he is offered a serviceable part, he offers it to museums.
“I think creativity is driven by emotions. There’s defi- nitely an emotional connection with everything I work on. My background in aviation, my passion for art and design, everything I see and experience, is reflected in everything I create,” Briggs said.
Each piece comes with the type of aeroplane, its mili- tary history and which part of the aeroplane it has been made from.
PRINCES TRUST