Ten-year celebration for Eastland awards
THE EASTLAND FORESTRY AWARDS IS celebrating its tenth anniversary as it opens up for entries for the 2019 edition.
Eastland Wood Council (EWXC)Chief Executive, Kim Holland, says the anniversary is a time to celebrate and reflect on past awards and achievements.
“It is a huge milestone for the industry nationally,” she says. “EWC led the way in 2010 with the first (regional) forestry awards in New Zealand and they’ve now been replicated across the country.”
Kim believes the ongoing success of the awards are a real credit to the industry and an opportunity to recognise excellence and achievement of the people and companies involved, adding: “The people who make our industry what it is are all passionate, skilled and hard-working, and they deserved to be recognized for the outstanding work they do.”
Event manager Prue Younger, who has been involved from the start, has seen the calibre of entries rise over the years, along with the numbers attending the awards evening.
She says: “Each one has been memorable, and the evening is always a sell-out – this year will be no different with around 600 people expected.”
Previous supreme winners will be invited to attend the 10-year anniversary dinner and Kim is hopeful all will be on hand to toast the 2019 stars.
A new category this year is the Woman in Forestry Certificate, which seeks to recognise a female forester who demonstrates excellence across a range of skills, going above and beyond in any area of the timber industry.
Other categories include forestry excellence, roading, harvesting, distribution, wood processing, construction, individual faller, pavement excellence, health and safety, regional service, contractor of the year and the environment.
The concept of local forestry awards was first floated by Matt Wakelin, then a member of the Eastland Wood Council, who says: “I just thought it would be good to recognise the workers in the forest and in doing so present the positive side of the industry.”
While he left Gisborne before the first awards evening was even held, he returns to help toast those he sought to be recognised and says it was quite special to attend.
“Seeing that room full of people, with people being recognised for their work in the forest and just the community support it – it is great to see,” adds Matt, who now works for Carter Holt Harvey as the manager of fibre supply.
“Hats off to (the organisers). These awards have now been replicated around the country but importantly Gisborne has been successful in reaching its 10-year milestone.”
Entries for the Eastland Wood Council Forestry Awards 2019 remain open until March 31 and the awards will be made at a dinner held in the Gisborne Showgrounds Park Event Centre on May 17, 2019.