Q What made you start in the industry and at what age?
A When I was at school in Ashburton an old family friend owned a tree nursery and I worked there in the school holidays. Even though it was boring work hand weeding long rows of seedlings, it interested me enough to apply to join the NZ Forest Service as a cadet woodsman back at Golden Downs in 1975.

Q What are your greatest achievements in work and life?
A I’ve always focused on creating strong working relationships with staff, contractors, customers and other industry and community stakeholders. I particularly enjoyed my time at either ends of my career with the Forest Service and with Rayonier culminating in various leadership and management roles. My last dual role as Canterbury Regional Manager / General Manager of Operations for Rayonier Matariki Forests was a highlight in my Industry career.

Q What is your role now?
A I’ve been retired now for just over a year but still take a keen interest on what’s happening in the forest and timber processing industry.

A How do you see yourself and the business fitting into the local forestry community?
Q I enjoy getting involved in community activities both on the home front and professionally, it’s satisfying to give your time in this space and on the work front to be seen as a good corporate citizen especially where we were able to promote our industry with educational groups in particular.

By Chris Murphy 

The SML and TrackIT awards dinner has now been running for three years. It is held every October as this is the anniversary from when Julie and I took over SML and TrackIT from Mum and Dad. Julie and I thought this was a perfect point in time to recognise long service and those that have shined throughout the year. The long service awards have been running for a few years prior to this as we generally award staff with these once they reach 10, 15, 20 and 25 years.

Listed below are the award categories we recognise and this year's award winners:

Best Eroad performance – Alastair Ward

Consistent loaded weights – Wayne Stewart

Best Kept Rig – Craig Marks

Good Bugger – Nigel Welsh

Emerging Talent – Steve Terrell (aka Taz)

Best Attendance – Jason Lyon (aka Bert)

TrackIT data accuracy – Nathan Barltrop

TrackIT Health and Safety reporting – Brendan Taylor (aka Boris)

15 Year long service awards went to Rachael Mahan, Adrian Bartle, Graeme Dempsey and Craig Marks

The awards evening gives us a great opportunity to connect with our staff and their partners, share some company statistics and give them an insight to our performance and our vision going forward. As part of this we are now including our customers as they are an integral part of the SML group.

The Discover Forestry team are planning their education programme for 2025 in Canterbury and the West Coast. They are always looking for interested people from the industry to get involved. Please contact discover@discoverforestry.co.nz if you can offer your support. 

Primary School Program
Booked Events:
5 June Hororata School (TBC)
6 June Glentunnel School

Planned events:
An additional Canterbury primary school in June and potentially West Coast Primary Schools in Term 3.

Secondary School Program
Booked Events:
7 May St Andrew’s College Career Expo Senior College Common Room

Planned events:
8 & 9 May 2025 NZ Career Expo –Christchurch
March 26-28 2025 South Island Agricultural Field days, Kirwee
Coast Employment Expo (to confirm dates)
St Bede's College Year 13 Careers 'Speed Dating' Event
Christchurch Girls’ High School Mini Career Expo
St Andrew’s College Career Expo, Christchurch
St Bedes - The Careers Expo
Clash of the Colleges Ashburton

Bus trips:
St Andrews has requested a bus trip for 2025
Rangiora High has requested another bus trip for2025
St. Bedes has expressed interest for 2025