One of Ken Williams’ last wishes before he died in 2012 from bone cancer was for Mr Rickard to help him sell his beloved woodworking tools and models. 

Among the items, Mr Rickard found a hand-crafted, motorised ferris wheel that had been damaged during packaging. 

“Some seats, the drive belt and the battery holder were all broken,” Mr Rickard said.

Mr Rickard attended the Ballarat Woodworkers Guild with Mr Williams and spent a week restoring the remarkable piece.

“I’m very pleased to restore it in memory of Ken because he was a great mate and craftsman,” he said.

Mr Rickard now takes the ferris wheel in its display box to markets and woodworking shows including a scroll saw show in Moe and the Pleasant Street Market.

“I say to kids at the market: ‘It’s not as big as the one in Melbourne, but at least it works’,” Mr Rickard said.

Mr Rickard plans to attach human figurines and an artistic backdrop to the display.