We have had eleven students on the Course for the first term.

All students completed drug tests in the first two weeks (all negative).

Over the last three months we have completed four unit standards:

17769 – D.K.O General Health, safety and environmental requirements in forestry

22994 – D.K.O Factors that affect the performance of forestry workers

6916 – D.K.O The rules relating to chainsaw use.

6917 – Demonstrate Basic Chainsaw use.

We have visited Wenita, City Forests, and Earnslaw One, The Forest companies from The Southern Wood Council who support our course.

The chainsaw use component of the course was carried out cross cutting logs donated by Wenita into firewood rings over four days. All the student’s confidence and practical skills improved immensely during this time. We also felled a large blue gum tree at the Taieri Lake’s Golf Club and cleared the branches as well as ringing up the stem.

In April we began pruning in a first lift operational which will continue in the second term. Tree selection and pruning quality has been the main focus on the first few days. Improving the student’s physical skills and output will follow.

The Youth Future Foresters Day in Winton on the 18th March was excellent and the students all got value from the visit.

Next term we will be concentrating on pruning and planting when it begins in late May or early June.

There will be visits to a nursery and processing plants at various stages during the term.

Please find attached a slide show of photos of the students during course activities in the first term.

Alistair McKenzie

Tutor

Group Image from Left to Right: Steve Johnson, Varseti McFelin, Michael Bennett, Harvey Tuckey, Connor Brown, Anthony Smart, Tanie Parker, Joel Park, Harvey Pringle, Ranah Herewhini, Luke Hewison, Heath Brevenbeck, Alistair McKenzie

Pruning at Mt Allen