“Thank you for welcoming our 14 year old son into your forge and ‘beautiful bit of country in the city’. He has absolutely loved his blacksmithing experience and Rob's patient and enthusiastic teaching and encouragement has kindled a love for handicrafts and confidence in tool use. Per chance, the opportunity to join a small group of teenage home-schooled boys came at a perfect time for us as we were establishing a home-school routine. Highly recommended. Heartfelt thanks.”
Parent of a teenager, Home Forge Blacksmithing Mentoring Workshops, 2022
Dear Rob, thank you so much for teaching us how to blacksmith. It was very fun. It was so cool to be that close to the fire and feel the heat come off it. You are very kind…
Dear Rob, blacksmithing was really fun, so I’m writing this for you. You helped us so much and you are such a great person. Making the bookmarks was so much fun. I can’t thank you enough for letting us make bookmarks…
Dear Rob, thanks for helping me with fixing my bookmark at the end, it was a very big help. It was a lot of fun learning how to blacksmith. All the things we used were so interesting, like the stumps with the anvil…
Dear Rob, thank you for coming to our school and teaching us blacksmithing. It was a really good experience and I hope we can do it again. You also helped me overcome my fear of fire…
Dear Rob, when you explain things to me I understand you very well…
Dear Rob, thank you for doing blacksmithing with us. You made us to be careful and to focus…
Dear Rob, I really enjoyed making the bookmark. I use it a lot and whenever I look at it I remember how fun it was to do it. Thank you also for showing us how to be careful around hot metal…
Dear Rob, thank you for the blacksmithing activity. It was really fun. I enjoyed hammering and putting the metal in the fire. You are great at teaching. You’re also nice, funny and amazing…
Dear Rob, thank you for bringing blacksmithing into my life. I thought that it would be confusing and hard but you made it quick and easy to do. You are a great teacher, very encouraging and kind…
Dear Rob, you’ve been an amazing teacher. You’re so calm about what you do even when everything gets hectic. Thank you again…
Grade 4 Thank you letter extracts from a School Mobile Blacksmithing Workshop, Collingwood College, 2022
“Our youth really engaged with the experience. It was very hands-on and rewarding. There is something about working your own piece of metal into a useful tool that brings enormous satisfaction. Rob’s approach to education is very warm and personal. He makes everyone feel included and valued. I love that the kids were having such a good time that they did not realise they were learning valuable lessons about patience and perseverance. The whole booking process was easy and simple. Rob provides all the required equipment, including safety gear; very easy for the end user.”
Scout Leader, Mobile Blacksmithing Workshops in Sale, Country Victoria, 2022
“Our son’s favourite activity of all time are his classes with Rob.”
Parent of a primary school-age child, Home Forge Mentoring Workshops, 2022
“I just want to take the opportunity to say a very big huge thank you for the lesson that I had on Saturday making a Shave horse. From the moment I met you and your beautiful family I knew instantly I was going to be in for a wonderful experience and I certainly was not wrong. I have taken part in a few training courses but I never felt right at home, relaxed, confident, excited and comfortable as I felt on Saturday taking part in your Bush Furniture lesson. I have been inspired with a renewed sense of recycling, making things out of what is around and what Mother Nature has so gracefully provided. What a wonderful experience and I will be in-touch once I have mastered the new addition to my little workshop for another lesson.”
Adult participant to a Home Forge Bush Furniture Workshop, 2022
“Rob has been working with my teenage son with a disability for a couple of years now. Rob works to connect with his students, encourage their blacksmithing skills and support their growth in confidence. He focuses on strengths and independence, encouraging motivation and pride in skills development and achievements. He teaches with patience and clear instructions and makes the sessions fun and entertaining. We've seen great growth in workmanship skills but also socially through Rob's classes.”
Parent of a teenager, Home Forge Blacksmithing Mentoring Workshops, 2021
“Rob provides a great space where success is guaranteed. Our son struggles academically at school, and is so often faced with failure each day. We love the way Rob provides gentle instruction, giving him a skill-set and a confidence. He walks out of Rob’s sessions with his shoulders back, head held high, and a smile on his soot-smudged face.”
Parents of a primary school-age child, Home Forge Blacksmithing Mentoring Workshops, 2019
“Dromkeen has had the pleasure of hosting blacksmith classes with Rob Nansen for about 2 years. Rob’s ability to work with people of all ages is evident, as is his kind and patient manner. He is highly professional, well organised and makes sure he gives every student individual attention. At the end of every class there is wonderful sense of community between Rob and his students as a direct result of the shared endeavour. Every student leaves with a sense of satisfaction and a quality, hand made item. We highly recommend Rob’s blacksmithing classes.”
Dromkeen Homestead Blacksmithing Workshop, Riddells Creek, 2019
“A lovely day for blacksmithing. Lovely company. Great food and a product to take home!”
“Fabulous instructor and community to work with.”
“Thank you so much! Such a great day with a great team.”
Yarraville Community Garden Adult Blacksmithing Workshop, 2019
“Very helpful instructor and fun activity. Very enjoyable class and pleased with the end product.”
“Awesome fun. Super chill and great instructor.”
“Great overall coverage.”
“Definitely ok if someone messed up and was very approachable.”
“Rob was a lovely tutor”.
“Very well run course, well explained and interesting.”
“A great, practical and informative course. I really enjoyed the skills I learnt and method of instruction.”
“The blacksmithing workshop was an excellent course, located conveniently to home.”
“Was good fun and the time flew by.”
“Creative. So great to learn an old trade.”
Yarraville Community Centre Adult Blacksmithing Workshops, 2019
“Blacksmithing with Rob was a wonderful experience I will never forget, and I think my class will always remember too. Rob was kind, present and so knowledgeable in many areas of blacksmithing and life! The week-long blacksmithing we undertook was engaging and really gave each child a unique opportunity to work on their focus, teamwork and perseverance. Rob told stories and gave talks on areas of resilience and self-talk. He was gentle and firm when needed and so very in the moment with the children and adults supporting the activities. Rob’s background working in schools in Welfare, along with the hands-on work, engaging with the real elements of fire, water and metal, created an event for all of us unlike any other. Many of the class, and myself for that matter, had a fire lit within us to delve further into this art-form and to continue learning the skills, not only of blacksmithing, but personal growth and perseverance that Rob had begun with us.”
Collingwood College, Grade 4 Teacher, School Blacksmithing Workshop, 2018