Vale David Efron

NATIONAL VICTORIA

David Efron, a stalwart of the timber industry, passed away on 25 December 2021 at Melbourne’s Cabrini Hospital surrounded by his family. David had a long and rich history in the timber industry. In the mid 1960’s, he responded to a newspaper advertisement which read “learn to be a manager.” His application was successful and there began his first role with timber, working for a local timber merchant, WK Witt, supplying plywood.

David owned a number of timber businesses over the years, including Writron Timber (Cheltenham) in the late 1960’s, Lorimer Timber (Port Melbourne) in the 1970’s, before moving to Southey Street in Williamstown. This business mainly sold Philippine mahogany and radiata pine. He also had a part ownership of Otago Timber Exports (New Zealand) and a sawmill in Milton (New Zealand) during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

David sold Lorimer Timber to Wills Timber in 1981. In 1983, David opened Ascot Timber along Mount Alexander Road in Ascot Vale. This business supplied retail and trade customers. Ascot Timber was sold, and David had a career change and moved into pubs. In 1990, he returned to the timber industry when he and his son Maurice, purchased The Fencing Place in Dandenong. This business was soon re-named David’s Timber, and shortly after, they decided to specialise in treated pine. The company’s first timber treatment plant opened in Dandenong South in 1994. David’s Timber relocated to Noble Park in 1997, and traded there till 2004, where they moved again to their current premises on Princes Highway in Dandenong South.

Over the years, David had ownership/ part ownership of sawmills in New Zealand, Wodonga and most recently Broadford Sawmills, for the last 11 years.

David Efron was a supporter of TMA for many years and was a passionate committee member during the 1990’s. He was also a long-standing member of the Hoo-Hoo Club and attended a number of international conventions. During the years, David developed many close industry friends and was passionate about the timber industry until the end.

On behalf of MGA TMA and our members, we acknowledge the valued contributions that David made to TMA and the industry as a whole and we extend our deepest condolences to the Efron family at this difficult time.

Members wishing to submit an obituary should email communications@mga.asn.au

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