Entering the world of a Logging legend
It is not often the average punter gets a peek inside the murky world of a logger and trucker.
Lance Duncan has a way with words though - even if they aren’t the sort of words you could say to your mother.
So, when the central North Island logging industry veteran retired from the industry, he sat down and put those words into a book.
He brought to life his years in the bush, in logging and hunting, and the people he has encountered along the way.
All the stories in his book are true, says Duncan.
‘‘Those good times are now gone and they are never coming back.’’
The colourful tales have taken 20 years to write, although he admits that is partly due to fishing commitments.
Allied Publications Ltd, the publishers of NZ Logger, liked his story-telling so much they helped Lance publish his book.
Allied’s managing Director Trevor Woolston, said when Lance came to see them they first tried to get specialist book publishers involved but they weren’t interested, so they decided to do it themselves.
‘‘His book is full with great stories,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s a no-holds-barred account and it certainly isn’t politically incorrect, so if you are easily offended it’s probably not for you, but it is a great read.’’
Duncan’s didn’t have an easy life, and one story in particular
‘‘If I had a chance I wouldn't change a bloody thing, I'd do it all again. ’’ Lance Duncan
hits home particularly hard. He said he came home from a few days away pig hunting in the Waikato to find his solo mum had been buried while he was away, leaving him an orphan. He was just 13.
The love of pig hunting and the outdoors is a recurring theme throughout his book.
Duncan said it contains downto-earth, honest, no-holding-back language throughout, and he reckons it has been a pretty good life.
‘‘If I had a chance I wouldn’t change a bloody thing, I’d do it all again.’’
A book launch and signing will take place at the Putaruru Timber Museum on Saturday July 15, from 11am-4pm.
For each book sold on the day, $10 per book will be donated to the Museum.
Books are also available online at www.timbermuseum.co.nz with additional $5 postage fee.