THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 23 #32 Tuesday, January 20, 2009 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 21,000 copies every week
NOW WITH ADDED OUTRAGE
Champions shine at woodchop Jann Gilbert
Timber cracked and chips flew at the annual Brunswick Heads Woodchop, which began last Wednesday and culminated in the finals on Friday and Saturday. Well-known as a family event the woodchop attracts axemen and women, and their entourages, from around Australia and New Zealand. It’s a particular highlight on the axe women’s circuit because it is one of only two events in the country where women can compete in both championship and handicap heats and finals. While New Zealand women competitors now take this as a given, captain of the visiting NZ women’s team Sheree Taylor started competing 23 years ago and laughs, ‘There were no women’s events then, and a lot of resistance to the merest mention of any.’ But that didn’t stop the feisty New Zealander, who says she took to the sport ‘instantly’. ‘My husband was an axeman. It’s been a hard battle to break the barrier of competing in what’s traditionally a “man’s” sport but it’s been tremendous. We’ve travelled all over the world competing and met so many people through the sport,’ says Sheree. ‘Brunswick Heads is a really good show. It’s well catered for and the women’s teams are treated with a lot of respect.’ Fellow team member Karmyn Wynyard, whose husband Jason is a world champion axeman she met in the arena, has only been competing for five years but shares the passion of the rest of the team. ‘I started in the Jack and Jill saw events with my Dad,’ says Karmyn, ‘and it just grew from there. I love it.’ There’s no shortage of passion on the Australian women’s team either. Team members come from all over Australia with hopes and aspirations, and a healthy dose of friendly crossTasman rivalry. ‘We love the New Zealand girls,’ says Kathy Munday, captain
Jamie Head gives good axe, so much so that he was overall points winner in the woodchop carnival. Photo Jeff ‘Where Do I Cash In My Chips?’ Dawson.
of the Australian women’s team. ‘Particularly when we beat them!’ Kathy’s brother was an axeman who was killed in an accident out in the forest. Rescuers didn’t bring his axe back so Kathy went looking for it and found it. She started chopping and hasn’t stopped since. The men’s teams are also representative of the family tradition in wood chopping with the Head family providing three generations of championship axemen in grandfather Kel, father Kerry and son Jim. Ironically enough, rather than Kel influencing Kerry’s decision with the axe, it was the other way around. ‘Dad’s brother chopped,’ says Kerry, ‘but it wasn’t until I started chop-
ping that he got involved.’ Naturally enough, son Jim decided to follow the family tradition. The Shipman/Pearson family are also veterans of the circuit with fatherin-law Les Pearson chalking up 29 years at the Brunswick Heads event. ‘Not that much has changed,’ says Kel. ‘There’s a few less choppers, a few getting older and a bit slower, but there’s still lots of families. It’s a real family event.’ Son-in-law, Peter Shipman, who has also been coming for 20-odd years, is the log getter for the wood chop. ‘All the timber comes from the poplar plantations near Grafton. They were planted for the match factory but it closed down.’
Peter’s father was an axeman who chopped until he was 75. Now 81, he didn’t come with them this year but is hoping to make it for the 50th anniversary of the event next year. Peter’s son Dan, in only his fifth year of competition, took out first place in the 13 inch Underhand. Brunswick Heads Woodchop executive committee members, Joy Slater and Rosslyn Hogan, were delighted with this year’s event and praised the hard work of the many volunteers in making it a success. ‘We’re looking forward to the 50th next year,’ says Joy. We hope to get a heritage listing to ensure the event can continue, as it is, for another 50 years.’
Australia Day events Various events will be held throughout the Shire to mark Australia Day on Monday January 26: Byron Bay – Breakfast in the Park with Rotary Club of Byron Bay, 8am11am, Byron Bay Surf Club. Free Australian flags, live entertainment. Come celebrate the survival of Aboriginal culture at Apex Park, opposite the Beach Hotel. Welcome to Country at 11am. Barbecue tea, coffee, flags, souvenirs, and the chance to yarn it up with friends old and new. Brunswick Heads – Combined Services Clubs stage Breakfast in the Park, 7.30am-9am. Geoff Dart on organ, Tracy Devine leads community singing until about 10am, with Ray Linabury as MC. Brunswick Valley Coaches provide free transport from Mullum newsagency at 7.30am, returning around 10am. Bring your own chair if you wish. Enquiries to Margaret 6680 1305. Bangalow – Bangalow Historical Society Family Fun Day at the Moller Pavilion, Bangalow Showground, 8am-11am. Hearty breakfast provided. Mullumbimby – Offical ceremony at the Brunswick Valley Historical Society Museum, Summers Park, Stuart Street (wet weather venue Byron Shire Council Chambers), 11.30am-1pm. Australia Day address by author Robert Drewe, community awards and citizenship ceremony. Mullumbimby Community Action Network’s first birthday is also on Australia Day and there will be a celebration at Heritage Park at the end of Stuart Street at 5pm. Please bring a plate to share and your party piece: a song, poem or short performance. All welcome. Ocean Shores –Ocean Shores Community Association Aussie Tea at New Brighton Oval, 5.30pm-7pm. Sausage sizzle, mullet throwing, games for kids. Special guest speaker is Steve Foreman, coach of surfing great Layne Beachley. Suffolk Park – The Byron Bay Rural Fire Brigade will be holding Australia continued on page 2