Wood chopping: Traditional sport faces biggest threat to existence

A country show institution is now facing major uncertainty due to the slow collapse of the Victorian timber industry.

Major uncertainty hanging over Victorian wood chopping events is creating a “double whammy” for timber industry workers who double as competitors and volunteers in the sport.

The Victorian government is set to phase out native timber harvesting by 2030, but the current timber shortfall is due to legal action instigated by environmental groups late last year.

It led to a halt on timber harvesting to enable resurveying work to ensure better protection of two possum species.

Victorian Axemen’s Association president Brad Meyer and sons Blake, left, and Kyle. Picture: Jason Edwards

Central Highlands logging contractor Brad Meyer is also president of the Victorian Axemen’s Association that is running out of logs for competitions ranging in size from the Melbourne Show to small country shows.

Last year’s wet spring wreaked havoc with country shows, but organisers had already dealt with the loss of a major attraction.

Alpine Ash, the preferred wood competition, is sourced from VicForests managed areas.

“Depending on what happens with VicForests and the decisions of the government, we’re all at the mercy of those calls,” Mr Meyer said.

“Everyone is frustrated and a large percentage of our woodchopping community are timber workers as well.

“Some of them are getting a double whammy.”

Victorian Axemen’s Association president Brad Meyer. Picture: Jason Edwards

Colac Show president Lindsay Hester said the demise of wood chopping would be another blow for organisers after Covid shutdowns.

“It is hard enough to run a show, particularly post-Covid,” he said.

“We can’t get entertainers and woodchopping is a form of entertainment.

“It is another nail in the coffin that is going to knock ag shows out of the picture.”

Wood chopping at the 1972 Royal Melbourne Show.

His sentiments were shared by Coleraine Show secretary Taylor Warnock.

“We’re not a huge show, but for us it attracts a lot of attention,” she said.

“It would be a real shame to lose it.

“We’ve been showing for a long time and woodchopping has nearly always been a part of it.”

The Victoria Hotel at Alberton recently cancelled a wood chop at Easter due to the log shortage.

“We’re a small hotel, but that is a very big event for us,” pub owner Brendan Farley said.

“We would have on average between 300 to 400 people attend.

“It’s too late for us to find something else.”