Top of the South Forestry Awards announced

The region’s loggers, fellers and harvesters were celebrated with a 560 strong crowd at the industry’s second annual awards on Friday night.

Held at the Trafalgar Centre, the Top of the South Forestry Awards celebrated the Nelson and Marlborough forest industry and recognised the skilled workforce across both regions.

Event organiser Prue Younger says there were many deserving winners at the awards.

“This is a real celebration of all that is good about our industry and particularly in such challenging and unknown times.”

MJ Fraser Logging crew manager Glen Holmwood triumphed as the Skilled Professional of the Year, also winning the Harvesting Excellence Award earlier in the night.

Glen has been the crew's manager for almost 20 years and was celebrated as someone who has made a real difference to forestry, always been supportive of other crews and with an outstanding work ethic.

Those who have worked with Glen say he is never shy in challenging the status quo to improve both themselves and those around him.

MJ Fraser Logging was a big winner on the night, their crew were also runner-up in the hotly contested Crew of the Year category.

KD Harvesting was also well represented in the awards, winning the Crew of the Year trophy and finishing runner-up in both the Trainee of the Year with Tuwhare Pui, and Harvesting Excellence Award with John Jamieson.

Judges were most impressed with the calibre of nominees and sometimes struggled to find clear winners, with the Forestry Excellence Award having Mark Bryant (OneFortyOne) and Honza (Jan) Melecky (Rai Silviculture Ltd) first equal.

Also shining were those in the log processor category where all had significant skills and challenged the judges as they narrowed nominations down to their final selections.

Results –

Skilled Professional of the Year Award (trophy) – sponsored by Top of the South Forestry Awards: Glen Holmwood (MJ Fraser Logging Ltd)

NZ Apprentice of the Year (certificate) sponsored by Taylors Contracting Co Ltd: Jack Pool (Kelly Logging), Runner-up Connor Berkett (MJ Fraser Logging Ltd)

Trainee of the Year (certificate) sponsored by Competenz: Zach Coote (Nigel Bryant Logging). Runner-up: Tuwhare Pui (KD Harvesting Ltd)

Training Company/Contractor of the Year (certificate) sponsored by Waratah: Rai Silviculture Ltd.

Forestry Excellence Award (certificate) – sponsored by Tasman Pine Forests Ltd: Mark Bryant (OneFortyOne) and Honza (Jan) Melecky (Rai Silviculture Ltd).

Roading Excellence Award (certificate) sponsored by OneFortyOne: Marc Nightingale (Taylors Contracting Company Ltd).

Harvesting Excellence Award (certificate) – sponsored by Marlborough Forest Industry Association: Glen Holmwood (MJ Fraser Logging Ltd). Runner-up: John Jamieson (KD Harvesting).

Distribution Excellence Award (certificate) sponsored by OneFortyOne: Shane King (Port Nelson).

Wood Processing Excellence Award (certificate) sponsored by Hauler Engineering: Benge Toniza (MLC Group).

Tree Faller Excellence Award – mechanised (certificate)– sponsored by EMS: Matt Goodall (Moutere Logging Ltd). Runner-up: Paul Gardiner (Kelly Logging).

Tree Faller Excellence Award – manual (certificate) – sponsored by Brent Searle Forest Services Ltd: Blair Crawford (Moutere Logging).

Woman in Forestry (certificate) – sponsored by Total: Joan Lang (Nigel Bryant Logging).

Log Truck Driver Excellence Award (certificate) – sponsored by NPD: Kevan Balck (Borlase Transport).

Log Processor Excellence Award (certificate) – sponsored by CrediFlex: Brett Williams (Reed Contracting). Runner-up: Chris Flanagan (Kelly Logging).

Crew of the Year Award (trophy) – sponsored by Transdiesel: KD Harvesting. Runners-up: MJ Fraser Logging Ltd.

Outstanding H&S Management Award (trophy) – sponsored by DC Equipment: Priscilla Ivory (Kaituna Sawmill/OneFortyOne).

Outstanding Environmental Management – sponsored by Tasman District Council: Warwick Winn (Nigel Bryant Ltd).

Outstanding Regional Service Performance – sponsored by AB Equipment: Lorraine Klenner (Nelson Marlborough Traffic Management).