Latest news with #TonyWilliams
Otago Daily Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Putting ‘soul' into every piece key to endurance
This year, Dunedin jeweller Tony Williams notches up 50 years of being in business in the city. He talks to business editor Sally Rae about his successful career. Back in 1975, Tony Williams was told the life expectancy of a small business in New Zealand was five years. Notching up a 50 year career as an artist craftsman, which has included manufacturing jewellery, employing, training, exporting, retailing and wholesaling, he has blown that timeframe out the window of his Dunedin workshop. While semi-retired, Mr Williams (76) continues to make fabulous pieces from a bench he refers to as his "world" and he has an exhibition at the Otago Art Society later this month. When it came to business success, the goldsmith and enamelist believed those that thought of it only in dollar terms had missed the point. His tenure had been successful because he had made a living, which had varied from "being appalling to quite good". He had done some great work and he had a reputation that expanded outside New Zealand. And it was a lot more than just an object that was being sold. "If you haven't dripped blood — sometimes literally — into the piece, does it really have a soul? "Being aware of that is part of how you survive." Born in England, where his father Robert (known to his family as Robin) Williams was embarking on post-graduate study at Cambridge University, he was brought up in Wellington. Robin was an influential civil servant and scientist who moved into university administration, taking the position of vice-chancellor at the University of Otago in 1967 where he oversaw a review of the struggling Otago Medical School. Describing himself as "one of those kids who didn't know what to do", the young Mr Williams dropped out of university. While there was some expectation, due to his father's standing, that he would complete his tertiary studies "and get a uni-type career", he said his father was supportive of his desire to get into jewellery making. The significant arts and crafts movement in New Zealand at that time was at its peak. While he tried to get an apprenticeship, he was too old, as, because of the economics of the time, businesses could not afford to pay adult wages, rather than a youth rate. His father made some inquiries and Mr Williams returned to England where he trained at the Birmingham School of Jewellery, receiving an honours diploma in jewellery and a diploma in gem diamonds. He later worked for Anglo-Italian jewellery designer Andrew Grima in London, the leading contemporary jeweller of the time and whose clients included members of the British Royal Family. It was a large workshop, with 20 or so staff, and Mr Williams thought he once saw the late Princess Margaret — a major customer — walk through the workshop. At lunchtime, staff were allowed to remain in the workshop and work on their own designs, but if anyone came through the workshop, they had to drop their own pieces — and their lunch — and quickly return to working on Grima designs. Returning to New Zealand, Mr Williams set up in a historic stone cottage in Port Chalmers, where the rent was the princely sum of $8 a week. The trade was very supportive, and it was also very strong; he recalled doing a headcount of retail jewellers in Dunedin and reaching 27, not counting those in South Dunedin. Dunedin jeweller John Bezett convinced him to join the local jewellers and watchmakers branch, and he also had "a foot in both camps" — which was uncommon then — as he was also on the executive of the crafts council. He attributed that to one of the reasons why his business endured, as he had always been able to cater to "both ends of the spectrum". As well as top-end pieces, he also liked to be able to find something for people who did not have much money, and the mix also provided some cashflow. In 1989, Mr Williams received an Arts Council grant for overseas study which he used to further his skills in enamelling, visiting workshops in Italy and Scotland and working for a firm in London where objet d'art were also created, some destined for the Sultan of Brunei. In 1990, he was commended in the enamelling section of the London Goldsmiths' Hall Competitions. When Mr Williams first looked at exporting, he planned to target England, but he discovered it was too far away. Diamond merchants told him he would need to be there at least twice a year, and it was too expensive and too far to go. So, in the 1990s, he started focusing on Australia, promising himself he would go at least twice a year, which he did for about 15 years. Door-knocking at first, he slowly established a few firms, and his work ended up being commissioned by some leading retailers. One reason for his success across the Tasman was the fact he did things nobody else would tackle — "fairly impossible stuff", he said. A later move into the Moray Chambers in the city coincided with changes in the Australian market but he had always ensured he had "kept things rolling" back home. When his landlord doubled the rent — "during the Global Financial Crisis, rents in Dunedin were horrendous" — he moved to the Carnegie Centre and the business became much more retail-oriented. After six years, he decided to move to a workshop next to his home where he has remained for the past 10 years. There was romance involved in working with precious stones and metals. Even as a small boy, he was a romantic and he quipped he was almost able to recite The Hobbit, long before Sir Peter Jackson adapted it to the screen. He was looking forward to his exhibition at the art society from July 18-27, his first show for about 18 months. He had some new pieces which he was very pleased with. He still also enjoyed helping anyone who was interested in learning about the jewellery trade, most recently teaching an 11-year-old girl how to make a pair of earrings.
South China Morning Post
02-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
11 injured in stabbing attack at Oregon homeless shelter, suspect arrested
A dozen people were injured in a stabbing attack at an Oregon homeless shelter on Sunday night. A suspect has been arrested, police said. Advertisement A man with a knife walked into the lobby of the Union Gospel Mission in Salem at around 7.15pm local time, the Salem Police Department said on Monday. The man had been talking to people in the lobby when he allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed several people, according to police. Other people in the vicinity were hurt when they tried to intervene, police said. The man then left the building and stabbed others who were nearby, sitting outside. Police arrested a suspect identified as Tony Williams, 42, across the street from the shelter. Eleven victims, including two shelter staff members, were taken to a hospital for treatment and a 12th victim was identified as officers interviewed witnesses. Police said the victims suffered 'varying types of injuries'. All of the injured were men between the ages of 26 and 57, police said. Advertisement Five people remained hospitalised on Monday with serious injuries. Police have not specified a motive for the stabbings, but said it did not seem targeted at people who are homeless.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Celebrate elusive morel at Up North annual festival this weekend
With Michigan smack dab in the middle of morel season, an annual celebration of the much-sought-after mushroom is this weekend. Devotees can celebrate all things morels at the National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City from May 15 through May 18. Now in its 65th year, the event will feature a morel-hunting seminar presented by Tony Williams, a five-time winner of the National Competitive Hunt, and a Morel Wine & Dine event sponsored by the Boyne Area Chamber. Two seatings are available for the wine-and-dine event, where chefs will showcase morel-infused dishes. Tickets are $115 per person and available by calling 231-582-6222. Tasting tickets for the evening are available at $10 per person. Throughout the weekend, there will be entertainment events, a morel mushroom giveaway, craft shows and food truck vendors. For information, visit Morels are prized for their meaty flavor and cone-like shape. Foragers often find them in Michigan's forests and fields. 'Large burn sites in forested areas are ideal for morel mushroom hunting, especially in burned areas where jack, white or red pine once grew,' according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. It has produced an interactive map marking the state's burn field spots from the last couple of years that you'll find at Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@ Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: National Morel Mushroom Festival in Boyne City: What to know
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Thousands of health-care products under the microscope as N.L. examines U.S.-procured items
Tony Williams is Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services' senior director of supply chain management. (Mark Cumby/CBC) Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services says everything it buys is under the microscope as it looks for alternatives to U.S. products, but adds it can't come at the cost of affecting patients. Tony Williams, the senior director of supply chain for NLHS, says thousands of items are housed inside the health authority's new 85,000-sq. ft warehouse in St. John's — which he says serves as the backbone of the health system. "We're doing that deep dive now to say, 'What's under the covers, what actually is manufactured in the States versus Canadian.' So that's the work we're doing now," Williams said in a recent interview. "We want to make sure that any transition from a U.S. product to something else, hopefully Canadian, ... [that] the health-care provider is OK with that. We want to make sure that that achieves those high standards." In March, Health Minister John Haggie said the province is reviewing its procurement of American medical goods. Williams said that's easier said than done given the volume of products — and how those products are sourced. For example, the warehouse stores multiple products from the same company, but some shipments come from Canada and others come from the U.S. as they are sourced by the contractor. There are thousands of boxes inside the NLHS warehouse, each of which have been looked at. A review of where products come from has found examples like this one, where two boxes of product from the same company came from different countries. (Heather Gillis/CBC) More than 200 expiring contracts with U.S. suppliers are under review, Williams said. And while there are local solutions on the table, quantity is a key facet of any dealing. "There's a lot of competence here to make health-care products, [but] we want to make sure that they can also provide in the quantities that we need for the health system," he said. "Our number one concern in all this is patient care." However, there are some American products that can't be avoided, like imaging machines and parts for orthopedic surgeries like hip and knee replacements. Christine Donaldson, president of Health Pro Canada, which bulk buys for more than 2,000 health facilities across Canada, said about a third of their contracts have ties to the U.S. Christine Donaldson, president and CEO of Health Pro Canada, says governments need to ensure there aren't unforeseen consequences in retaliatory tariffs, especially around medical equipment. (CBC) That accounts for 38 per cent of medical devices imported into Canada in 2022, which represents a cost of $5.2 billion. "[The] U.S. has been our strongest trading partner for many, many years. And to unravel that would, you know, take a long time to get into all those details," Donaldson said. "While we definitely stand with the government that ... U.S. tariffs can't go answered, it is really [something] we are exploring as far as how much we can, you know, work with Canadian partners." Donaldson said Health Pro Canada is advocating to ensure the trade war doesn't increase cost for those seeking medical care or open the door to supply chain shortages. Part of that work ensures medical equipment isn't part of retaliatory tariffs placed by Canada on the U.S., she said. "Canadians' health-care system must be protected from those unintended consequences…. Ultimately, the patient at the end of that will suffer." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
