38 | Focused on delivering logs to port Hanna works actively on site with Geoff, felling trees manually and now carries Level 4 tree felling qualification. FORESTRY Hawke’s Bay Forestry Awards: Chipmunk Logging T T Richard Loader • WORKSHOP • FIELD SERVICE • UNDERCARRIAGE REBUILD • ENGINEERING / FABRICATION • HYDRAULIC HOSING 447 Rangitikei Line, Palmerston North 0800 KOMATSU • 027 449 1605 • www.machineryspecialists.co.nz Chipmunk Logging is a small company with big attitude. Run by Geoff and Linda Allen and daughter Hanna, the Dargaville-based business is focused on delivering logs to the port and selling off-cut timber as firewood to locals, and Linda says between these two activities, that’s plenty of work for all. Speaking shortly after Cyclone Gabrielle wrecked havoc in the region, she says that one thing Geoff is particularly fussy about is the tidyness of a site when he has finished felling and loading logs for transport. “He checks over the whole site before leaving and brings home any scrap for firewood. It’s something he’s always been very particular about.” Chipmunk Logging Limited fells trees on farmers blocks, not on the large commercial forestry blocks. “We only have two diggers with fix grapples. Geoff’s been doing trees for 30 plus years but has been in business for seven years on his own and now operates under the name Chipmunk Logging Limited. He enjoys doing trees for farmers and its an operation size that we can cope with.” The area Chipmunk Logging Limited works over extends from Eketahuna to Takapau/ Highway 50. Hannah works actively on site with Geoff, felling trees manually. She now carries Level 4 tree felling qualification. Linda says Geoff really enjoys the more challenging blocks. When a tree has been felled it is trimmed up and marked out for logs. Firewood comes home to a firewood yard where it is split, using a Mahoe Wood Splitter the business has owned for just over a year. Linda says both her and Geoff and very proud of Hannah’s achievements within the industry, resulting in receiving Trainee of the Year at last year’s Hawke’s Bay Forestry Awards held on 2 December at the Napier War Memorial Conference Centre. “We’re absolutely thrilled that Hannah’s diligence and hard work and the quality of her work has been recognised with this award,” says Linda. And proud too that Hannah was taught by her father. Before coming into the company 6 ½ years ago Hannah had never used a chainsaw. Prior to logging she completed a Taratahi Course in dairy farming. Her timing, coming into the family-owned business was perfect too as it coincided with Geoff and Linda wanting to bring a third person in. Having no idea, when they attended the awards evening, that Hannah would receive the prestigious award, added magic to the event for the whole family. “As it turns out, Hannah’s assessor wrote something to support her entry. Mum and Dad also inputted their own information on Hannah’s performance and contribution to the business.” The Trainee of the Year is sponsored by Rayonier Matariki Forests. The following was read out at the awards to describe the criteria in more detail and speak to Hannah’s performance. ‘The work of a trainee is physically & mentally demanding and requires a high level of skills and knowledge over a sustained period to be deemed competent for this high-risk task. Gaining multiple skills and completing all qualifications set ahead of them, even excelling in some cases to a very high level has been under the astute guidance of a close family member. When it comes to training, this trainee has become very proficient, very quickly, and deserves recognition for what they have achieved. This trainee is one of the few young people regionally that have applied themselves and successfully achieved level 4 manual commercial tree felling status recently. They have faced a number work and personal challenges along their learning journey that has tested their commitment. They have further ambitions in the forest industry and their next program of study is the New Zealand Certificate in Forestry Harvesting Operations Planning & Monitoring Level 4 which they have already started training towards. Great work Hannah Allen, Chipmunk Logging Limited’.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=