Lower South Island celebrates high achievers
MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE TURNED OUT TO celebrate the achievements of foresters in the deep south of the country at the 2018 Southern Wood Council Forestry Awards.
Held at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, the awards were well supported by forest managers, forestry contractors, transport operators and product and service suppliers to the industry from across the lower South Island.
Held in conjunction with industry training provider, Competenz, the 2018 event saw nine major awards presented.
Additionally, 120 National Training Certificates that had been achieved in forestry and wood processing were awarded to top local contractors and forestry and wood processing employees. Six apprentices that started on a new regional training scheme this year were also recognised at the awards ceremony. All are anticipated to finish the course in October, with another group starting last month (June).
Five FISC certificates for Professional Tree Faller Certification, a scheme that has been implemented in the Otago/ Southland region, were also awarded.
“The turnout by forestry workers, their families and supporters on the night is probably a true reflection on the momentum that’s been building over the last year or so with on-site training and safety in this region,” says Grant Dodson, Chairman of the Southern Wood Council.
“The message on the value of the awards evening certainly found it’s mark with many companies bringing through all of their staff and workers, from Invercargill through to Timaru.
“This year we even had staff from a local West Coast mill along with workers from Stewart Island who had achieved training qualifications over the year come through to Dunedin to be recognised on the night.”
NZL