| 85 Wood Council award Davaar Logging Davaar Logging was recognised at this year’s Canterbury/West Coast Wood Council awards. Russell Fredric FORESTRY » Davaar Logging Ltd The zillions of hours spent gaming by the PlayStation generation could be far from lost for those who end up working in ground operations in the logging industry. Davaar Logging owner Alan Nicholls says the hand-eye coordination inherent in young people entering the industry means they take to operating the dual joysticks in some logging machinery like a duck to water. “They pick it up in no time because that generation can just do that sort of stuff, these guys are really good at it they can adapt very quickly, their brains are wired that way.” Based in Greta Valley, North Canterbury, Davaar Logging is fully mechanised and has been contracting to Forest Management for the past 20 years. “They’ve really looked after me, I’ve never been out of work in all that time, it’s been a brilliant relationship, they’ve helped me out every step of the way.” Alan started in the industry in a very modest way, helping a mate who operated a small skidder. The pair subsequently created a successful business together before branching out separately. Alan still lives on his family’s farm on which he subdivided some land. “I know all the locals around here, so I think they like dealing with a contractor that they know; a bit of local knowledge helps.” Davaar Logging was recognised at this year’s Canterbury/West Coast Wood Council awards which recognises and celebrates excellence among the skilled workforce of the region. The company won the Harvesting Excellence award and Alan was “a bit surprised, but chuffed” to receive the award against others who had been in the industry longer. “I was absolutely rapt. I’m well aware that there’s a lot of really good loggers in Canterbury. There’s some amazing guys out there and to even be considered is quite an honour really.” Davaar employs a tight knit team of four staff, including Alan’s son, Simon and long-serving employees Harry Smith and Shannon Cooke. It operates a Tigercat machinery comprising a feller/buncher, a skidder, a recently purchased harvester, two diggers and a bulldozer. “There’s not much we can’t handle with that sort of configuration; it works well for us.” The amount of logs a harvester can process in a day is phenomenal, but at a cost of nearly $1 million new for the harvester and its processor head, it needs to, Alan says. “As long as we are working and working quite consistently, the numbers stack up quite nicely, but it is getting tougher with fuel prices going up all the time and maintenance costs have increased.” The hazardous nature of the industry means good training and health and safety are vital. Forest Management provides a structured training programme, plus there are multiple levels of on-site safeguards in place, from team meetings to alerts and advisories along with periodic audits undertaken. The work is extremely satisfying and a great career choice for the right person, Alan says. “Once you get trained up, the job satisfaction is huge; I can see where I’ve been, what I’ve done, doing a good job and making good money for farmers who waited 30 years to harvest a block and seeing them getting good returns is really satisfying.” “If you like machinery and working outdoors it’s the ultimate really.” Diesel and Hydraulics Ltd • Repairs on all machinery • Sales & Service Proudly supporting Davaar Logging 027 273 3869 david@dieselhydraulics.nz A CUT ABOVE THE REST A CUT ABOVE THE REST A CUT ABOVE THE REST CONTACT +64 21 2653813 | QUADCO.COM A CUT ABOVE A CUT ABOVE THE Date: P#: Project Name: Client: 34-21392 Australian Ad Set Quadco Group 07.22.22 Servicing North Canterbury Reduce down time. Get your vital machinery up and running. Don’t settle for 2nd best. We guarantee our products and workmanship. 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