By ERIKA ALLEN
ONCE a timber town, always a timber town – people say Heyfield’s timber history is a source of pride.
In Heyfield, this pride goes beyond the passionate people who work in the industry or have family ties to it. It’s visible throughout the community, reflected in landmarks and traditions that honour its timber heritage.
One example is the Victorian Timber Workers Memorial, which was established in December 2015.
The memorial is in Lions Park to honour the people who died while working in Victoria’s timber industry. Plaques bearing the names of the fallen are set within stone pillars around the memorial. At its centre, a sculpture of an iron hut symbolises a bush chapel.
It is a place where people go to reflect and pay their respects and is a significant part of the Heyfield Timber Festival, another more jovial celebration of the industry that was revived in 2021. It showcases traditions like the woodchop, woodcarving, and blends a modern industry complete with new technologies to the industry’s historical roots, highlighted in a display of old photographs and vintage machinery.
The newest example of Heyfield’s timber pride is the Timber Workers Hall of Fame that inducted its first honouree, Ray Ralph, last year.
It’s safe to say that despite the hits the industry has taken in recent times, it hasn’t quelled the timber community’s pride.
Off the back of winning the Heyfield Community Group Award at the town’s Australia Day honours, the Heyfield Timber Festival returned, ushering in a fourth successful event since its revival in 2021.
Festival committee president, Felicia Stevenson said although numbers were down this year, likely due to the weather, crowds filtered in and out of Gordon Street Recreation Reserve in their thousands.
“Numbers were down but we still had an amazing crowd of people who came out and every time it rained they ran for shelter, but it didn’t seem to deter people,” Ms Stevenson said.
“Everywhere I went there was a huge number of people in all different sections (of the festival).”
Unique highlights such as the dog high jump, wood chop, and wood carving went ahead despite the weather, and not even Saturday’s fireworks were dampened.
Ms Stevenson said the family-oriented festival is nostalgic for many people.
“I think it’s also because they remember the timber festival from many years ago – it’s a family event and it means a lot to so many people,” she said.
Ms Stevenson said the committee was “honoured” to win the Heyfield Community Group Award earlier this year.
The festival committee is made up of seven members, all with connections to the timber industry. As well as Ms Stevenson, vice-president Jess Stevenson, secretary and treasurer Kayla Stevenson, Leanne Phillips, Shane Phillips, Mark Saleta, and Yvonne Savage make up the committee.
“It was amazing to have people think that we were worthy enough to be nominated. That’s all we’ve done it for, is the community, so it’s good to be recognised,” Ms Stevenson said.
“I think the people who nominated us are still huge supporters of the industry. A lot of people in this town, some of the new people, really don’t know the significance of it – what it means to a lot of us. We were raised through it, we understand that it’s something that’s built our town.
“If the timber industry isn’t anymore, (the festival is) still letting people know that history. It’s a proud history to have.
“We’ve started the Timber Workers Hall of Fame now, so we can actually honour people from all over Australia. We’ve got a lot of the older people in their 80s, and if they’re lucky enough to get to their 90s getting to watch the parade or being at the Timber Festival – the pride that they have remembering it. I think we have to keep that alive in Heyfield.”
The committee is seeking to recreate the Heyfield Railway Station, which was lost to fire, and transform it into a hub and the site of the Timber Workers Hall of Fame.
“Our big plan is to rebuild the railway station in Heyfield and have the Timber Workers Hall of Fame inside of that and where the railway station was – obviously it’s on the rail trail – and it will be beside the Timber Workers Memorial,” Ms Stevenson said.
“That’s my vision – tourism is a big part of any small town and that’s what we’re going to try and aim for, so as soon as the festival is over we’ll kick it into high gear and go for it,” she said.
As tradition goes, people gathered at the Victorian Timber Workers Memorial in Lions Park as part of the festival’s finale, which included a parade down Heyfield’s main streets.
“Sunday went off without a hitch at the Timber Workers Memorial,” Ms Stevenson said.
“We had Barb Cook speak, she’s had generations of her family in the timber industry, and Tim Lester from AFCA (Australian Forest Contractors Association).”
Mr Lester, Australian Forest Contractors Association General Manager, recognised the sacrifices made by employees, past and present, of the timber industry.
“The thing that really strikes me about the contracting and forestry business is that it’s very much about family, it’s multigenerational,” Mr Lester told the Express.
Mr Lester said despite being battered by “external forces” recently, people can be proud of the timber industry.
He said it’s important that communities come together at events like the timber festival to celebrate tradition.
“(The timber industry) provides a really strong foundation for communities like Heyfield and actually right across Gippsland,” Mr Lester said.
“(At) events like the timber festival you see that pride. You see it in the trucks that people bring along, you see the history in things like the woodchop, you see the technology and the future in things like air CTI (Central Tire Inflation), which is amazing technology where you can inflate your tires as you drive along.”
Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester also spoke, commending the determination of Heyfield residents.
He congratulated the organising committee and everyone involved in “another successful timber festival weekend”.
