26 | FORESTRY Northland Forestry Awards: FICA (Forest Industry Contractors Association) Richard Loader Awards celebrate industry and region The Skilled Professional of the Year was won by Luke Rosewarne from Rosewarne Yarding. The 2022 Northland Forestry Awards proved to be a huge winner in more ways than one. Not only did the annual event attract record nominations, it was a perfect celebration of all that was good about forestry and the region. Held in Whangarei’s McKay Stadium in September, the celebratory evening attracted 450 people across the whole spectrum of the industry, and was close to a sell-out event. The Northland Forestry Awards are now in their sixth year, though 2021 was held as a virtual event because of Covid, and has continued to gain momentum from a very supportive industry. In the middle of last year the Northland forestry industry was going through challenging times. Covid had taken its toll, production levels had dipped because of lower plantings 20 years ago, and the Chinese market was in decline. “The whole of the industry was in a market decline and there were some last minute decisions about whether the awards should be held,” reflects Prue Younger, whose event management company, Public Impressions, ran the event. “A survey was put out and people clearly indicated they wanted the event, wanted to support it. The crazy thing was that we received the most nominations/entries out of any of the past years. “We also got huge support for the dinner. Right from the early days, the rationale for holding the awards was to give the industry something to celebrate, to get together in one room, recognise the hard work and contribution that forestry and those working in the industry makes to the region. “The 2022 event in Northland was a really good showcase that the outcomes were exactly what people wanted. After the Covid years and the previous event was cancelled, they were after an opportunity to get together and have a great social night out.” Public Impressions brings 14 years’ experience developing and delivering the forestry industry awards throughout New Zealand’s regions, and is engaged by the Northland Health and Safety Forestry Group and the Northland Wood Council to deliver the Northland Forestry Awards evening. Prue also carries the mantle of Chief Executive of the Forest Industry Contractors Association (FICA) and is well known for her positive attitude, energy and ability to get things done. “The forestry awards originated in Gisborne 14 years ago,” says Prue. “The awards are a ticketed event attended by a diverse range of people across the industry including award sponsor, nominees, industry crews and forest managers. In total, 18 awards were issued on the night including the Skilled Professional of the Year award, which is the individual categories Supreme Award. In previous years, not all the forestry supply chain had been recognised in the awards but in 2021 a Log Truck Driver Excellence category was introduced and the trucking industry took away three of the awards including Contractor of the Year. “That was huge recognition for the work that part of the supply chain does,” says Prue. The Skilled Professional of the Year was won by Luke Rosewarne from Rosewarne Yarding, who also walked away with the Harvesting Excellence award. “In the early years the award recipients were quite brief in their acceptance commentary when they picked up an award. But as the years have gone by the awards almost grow people — they get better at their speeches and thankyous. “It becomes a very genuine, honest and heart-warming evening, from these forestry workers who are stoked that they are being recognised. “The awards has become a wonderful night out for the people attending and they have all started getting dressed up, with many bringing their partners and families along to celebrate with them. It is wonderful to see. “The person receiving the accolades on stage becomes a role model and mentor for others in the audience, who look up to the winners, to reach their level to get recognised. So the awards is quite self-perpetuating.” The closest many of us will come to forestry is seeing the trees growing in the distance as we drive down a highway, or those massive 50-tonne truck and trailer units, driven by highly skilled drivers. But there is a diverse and very skilled group of people working in the industry who are largely unseen by the public. “If it wasn’t for the people on the ground planting the trees to establish them in the first place, the harvesting logging crews – who sometimes go into plantations for years on end harvesting and the roading crews, along with the transport companies, there would be no industry,” says Prue “People under-estimate the skill and dedication that is required to do the job, and the millions of dollars that have been invested often by small family businesses. It’s quite hard work, and the general public don’t get to see or experience that. “So as a forestry contractor, they are not really recognised for the huge contribution they make in the supply chain, and to New Zealand’s economy. “The awards provide an opportunity for the forest owners and managers to recognise their contractor workforce through award nominations and endorsements. “The awards also provide an opportunity for recruitment and to showcase the career opportunities.” The awards are a chance for those in the industry to get together and celebrate their success.; right, the winning team from Aztec Forestry Transport Developments
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