Three generations, one passion. Lucy is carrying on a carpentry legacy built by her father and grandfather. Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
Despite coming from a family of tradesmen, third-generation carpenter Lucy Hickson battled imposter syndrome as the only female in her class in a male-dominated field.
The TAFE NSW Wagga Wagga third-year apprentice initially found being the only female student nerve-racking.
“At times, I felt anxious about asking for help, but I also knew I could rely on my classmates. My peers and teachers have been absolutely amazing — respectful, polite, and always willing to help,” Lucy said.
“Even those I don’t interact with regularly at TAFE are always ready to assist. If I’m struggling with something — whether it’s building a project or learning a new skill — someone will step in, show me their tricks, and teach me.
“It’s a two-way street; some students have more experience with metalwork, while others are more skilled with timber, and we all help each other out.”
The 21-year-old considers it an honour to follow in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, who have been her biggest role models.
“It’s exciting, but there’s also a bit of pressure to make them proud and perform well, just like they have in their careers. I strive to be like them as I grow in my trade and continue learning new skills,” she said.
“My father never pushed me to become a carpenter, and it wasn’t something I had ever considered.”
That changed one day when she asked her dad to fix something for her. While talking, he showed her photos of a house he was rebuilding.
Lucy immediately recognised it. As a five-year-old, she used to swim in the pool there while her dad was renovating the property.
“Sadly, the house burned down in a fire, but now he was restoring it. I found it so exciting that he was working on a place that held memories for both of us — and even my grandfather had worked on it in the past,” she said.
In 2022, just before heading to a job interview, Lucy’s dad unexpectedly offered her an apprenticeship if things didn’t work out. Initially thinking he was joking, she asked if he was serious.
“I asked him, ‘You want me to become your apprentice?’ and he said, ‘Yeah.’
“And that’s how I got my job with my dad. I’ve been working alongside him ever since, and I plan to continue learning from him for many years to come.”
Growing up watching her father and grandfather helped Lucy develop skills naturally.
“A lot of things just come from observing my dad work — whether it’s building something or understanding how things should be done with precision.
“I’ve developed a bit of a perfectionist mindset because when you’re creating something for someone — especially when they’re paying for it — you want to make it as perfect as possible.
“Not everything has come easily, but my dad’s explanations help me pick things up much faster than I otherwise might have.
“That being said, everything takes time to learn. Some things feel like common sense to me, but I realise that’s not the case for everyone.”
Born and raised in Tumut, Lucy travels to Wagga once a week for her classes. Unlike her, her siblings did not follow in the family trade — her sister works at Coles, while her brother is an electrician.
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