The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Sorry, I can't tell you what kind of wax to use, but I'm pretty sure you want to let your new load of wood dry slowly under controlled conditions, probably without storing it where it will get too hot. Fast drying and heat would be likely to cause more warping than might otherwise occur. I wouldn't think about sealing it until it's dry and/or whenever you make handles out of it.
What kind of wood is it? Bloodwood? What lengths and thicknesses?
Depending on the moisture content of the wood when you got it and the width and thickness of the wood you brought back, a year may or may not be a long enough time. I'm supposing Tasmania's climate is not much different than yours, in which case, I would still let the wood "rest" for some time. In any event, I would say DO NOT try to seal the pores of the wood, at any time until you've finished a project. THe end grain you can seal with a mixture of yellow (or white) glue and water - paint it on with an acid brush or any cheap throw-away brush. Wax can work on end grain, but glue/water is better.