Hall of Fame
Albert Henry Donnelly
Born Macksville 18th July 1916 Passed away 29th December 1989
Albert Henry Donnelly was born in Macksville 18th July 1916 (died 29th Dec 1989) and was one of 15 children. His father was a teamster and worked in the timber industry. Albert was a timber man by trade and worked with his brother Wes logging. Albert left school when he was 13 to go falling with an axe and owned a bullock team to pull his logs out at 15.
Albert was busy making a living so didn’t start chopping competitively until he was in his early 30’s – he retired from woodchopping in 1976 at the age of 60. Earliest ribbon found was a first at
Dorrigo Bushman’s Carnival 1945. Albert wasn’t a very tall man but was very strong and excelled in the standing block and combination events. Albert was placed 4th in the 14” SB World Championship at Coffs Harbour on 11th April 1964. Albert didn’t travel to the Royal Shows very often as he felt he couldn’t afford the time away from work.
One of Alberts biggest financial wins was in 1955 when he won the ALDCC May Day Sports Day Queensland Axemen’s Association 150 Pound 13” Standing block. This was several months’ pay to Albert.
Bruce Hays
Born 11th January 1944
Bruce’s favourite event was the tree-felling and he won his inaugural tree-felling event at the Burnie New Years Day
Tree in 1973 and again, approximately 30 years later won his final tree at the same event. This event Bruce won on at least 5 occasions. In the 1991-1992 chopping season he won 34 events which included 12 treefelling events. He is the only North West Tasmanian axemen to win a World Championship tree-felling event.
Bruce won championships in all disciplines of the sport; tree-felling, underhand, standing, single and double-handed sawing. He could be considered a true “All-rounder’ axeman. As well as participating in all disciplines, he also perfected the art (or science) of grinding axes. A great many axemen from around Australia were keen to have an axe ground by Bruce in their axe-box and many a championship event was won with the competitor utilising a “Bruce Special”.
From his earliest involvement with wood chopping Bruce assisted with the organisation and preparation of chopping events and for the next 35 years was a member of the North West Axemen’s Association (NWAA) Committee.
Bruce was the driving force behind the Turners Beach chopping carnival for 10 years. One particular year, when the event had outgrown its “One Day “status, and had expanded into a two day carnival; Bruce cut and trimmed 800 logs single handed in order for the show to go ahead. Bruce was especially proud that monies raised from Turners Beach chopping carnivals benefited the community as all proceeds were donated to the Turners Beach Football & Cricket Clubs, assisting with the eventual construction of new clubrooms.
In 1992/93 Bruce was awarded the NWAA “Axeman of the year “and later in 1993 was made a Life-Member of the NWAA for his services to wood chopping.
Cathy Munday
Born 10th May 1968
In 2003 Cathy was appointed Captain of the first Australian Ladies Woodchopping Team and remained in the team competing in Australia and New Zealand until she resigned in 2009 for personal commitments.
Cathy has won and been placed in many other local and interstate championship and handicap woodchop/sawing events during her career.
She remains a true sporting legend and a pioneering inspiration to all other women involved or interested in the sport of woodchopping.
She started woodchopping at the age of 14 and competed in local events along with her family as members of the Southeast Axemen’s Association.
In 1984 she blazed a trail in the sport as the first woman to compete at the Royal Melbourne Show. Her entry was initially rejected on the basis of gender. After strong objection from her and her family based on discrimination issues her entry was accepted and she went on to compete successfully at other Royal Shows.
Cathy has many prestigious wins to her name – dominating the Jack & Jill Sawing Championship at Sydney Royal for many years.
She also has wins in Double Handed Sawing Championship & Handicap events at Royal Shows.
Her successes were not limited to just sawing she has recorded wins in women’s championship & handicap events.
Gordon Harold Andersen
Born 12th February 1952
Gordon is a much valued member of our Sport. He is an example of all that is good in a club member and a sportsman. He is one of the first to arrive when there is work to be done, whether getting or trimming logs, setting up at carnivals or any of the many tasks need for a successful carnival – he also helps with all the cleanup after a carnival.
Gordon has said that this sport of woodchopping has given him many proud moments. He has been a proud son watching his father win many chops and has then a proud father watching his own sons come through the sport. “There is a great deal of pride” when you see them stand on their log and compete well.
Gordon has a love of his sport which has seen him go “above and beyond” to ensure that this great family sport, with three generations of his family, continues.
Gordon is now passing on his skills to our new and our younger axemen as a coach and assessor for the Western Victorian Axemen’s Assoc.
Over a career spanning 58 years he has seen a great deal of Australia as he followed the sport he has loved since childhood, has made many friends and says “friendships in this sport are for a lifetime.
Gus Blanc
1876 - 1959
In 1903 at Devonport, Tasmania Gus won the World Championship 24 inch standing block in a cutting time of 3 min 58 secs – a record that still stood at the time of his death in 1959. A week later, again at Devonport, Gus won the World Title for a 2 foot Underhand Championship. This completed his first World Double, the first interstate axeman to win the world title.
In 1904 at Launceston Gus again won both world titles. Later in 1904 Gus toured New Zealand and, at Eltham, he won the 2 foot Standing Block Championship of New Zealand. Back in Australia Gus went to Western Australia and won both standing block and underhand championships.
In 1906 Gus won the Australian 6ft girth Underhand Championship in 1 min. 56 secs.
Gus Blanc was a very good all round sportsman, playing football and tennis as well as woodchopping. At one sports carnival Gus won both the 18inch standing block, 20 inch underhand, then went on to win both the 75 yards and 100 yards sprint, high jump and long jump.
For many years Gus was handicapper of the Yarram branch of the South and Central Gippsland Axemen’s Assoc.
In 1950, now retired, he was honoured for 50 years of axemanship. Over many years Gus also shared his knowledge and trained many locals.
Ian Hamilton Duryea
Born 2nd December 1944 Balranald, NSW
Ian had always had an interest in woodchopping & in 1967 commenced assisting the local community of Deans Marsh with their Gymkhana & Sports day – making cradles for the “Mugs Chop” & participating. Even doing this for several years he didn’t take up woodchopping as a sport until an employee entered him in a carnival in 1983 & dared him to have a go. The rest is history. Not only did he compete in all the local events he went to all the trimming sessions, assisted with carnivals on the day and took on anything else that needed doing. When helpers became a bit scarce & Ian took on the job of getting the logs for all the WVAA carnivals with helpers Wray Trotter, then Frank Harrington -this involved taking their own vehicles to the bush, falling the logs, cutting to length, matching , loading and bringing back to the trimmer, then unloaded , trimmed & reloaded & delivered to the carnivals. At this time Ian decided some labour saving devices were needed. He bought an older truck & fitted it with a crane – logs could now be loaded and unloaded more easily & could come home in lengths and a supply could be kept instead of having to get them before each carnival. This meant they needed to be looked after so part of his paddock was given over to a log stack This has been a 27 year commitment. Ian has also been WVAA handicapper for 25 years. Over his time in our Sport he has introduced, trained and supported a number of new members of all ages but has always had leaning to juniors and ensuring they learn correctly & safely. Ian has also built 3 Log Trimmers, all still in use today. While no longer competing Ian’s service to his Sport continues.
Ian loved the competition & travelled all over Victoria & into Sth. Australia to follow the carnivals. He competed at Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne & Sydney Royal Shows and was lucky enough to have a least one win at all of them. Ian was never a champion axeman and really had no expectation that he would be – he was just there to enjoy it. He was a neat & precise cutter & made it to about the middle mark in S/B and a bit beyond middle in the U/H. On one occasion Ian cut for Victoria at the Sydney Royal. Much to his surprise, Ian also cut on World of Sport on channel 7. Ian’s favourite event was the DHS and he achieved quite a lot of success in this with wins at Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne & Sydney Royals.
Ian gave up competitive chopping in 2011 after 3 lots of open heart surgery .
While many people get into the sport via a family connection, this wasn’t the case for Ian but he was very interested, recently, to find a family connection to one of the founding members of WVAA – Thomas Jacka, from Cobden was a great, great uncle.
Ian was made a Life Member of his Association in 2003.
Keith Hooper
Born 20th June 1930, Old Bonalbo, NSW Passes away 9th November 1988, Brisbane
Keith was an active sportsman all his life participating in Australian Rules football, swimming and woodchopping.
Keith competed in his first woodchopping event at the age of 14 in 1944, in Queensland. This was the start of a woodchopping family dynasty spanning 3 generations that is still active in 2015.
He was elected to the committee of the Queensland Axemen’s Assoc. (QAA) in 1950 and went on to hold the offices of Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President and President. Keith was the serving Secretary/Treasurer at the time of his passing in 1988.
Keith was awarded life membership of the QAA in 1980 for his services to woodchopping.
A very special event & recognition – Keith competed in a team of axemen selected to put on a demonstration for Queen Elizabeth 2nd and His Royal Highness, Prince Phillip during their visits to Brisbane in 1956 and 1963.He was awarded a medal in recognition of his services rendered to woodchopping by the Queen in 1963.
Keith was instrumental in ensuring woodchopping was showcased to the world during the 1988 Brisbane Expo. The woodchopping championship series was a wonderful success and was watched by thousands of people from all over the world.
During the 1980’s Keith was the author of a regular article published in the Queensland Timber Magazine which, again, ensured that woodchopping was promoted to the wider community.
Keith was highly competitive throughout his woodchopping career with numerous wins .He was regarded as a particularly fierce competitor with his partner in the butchers block event, 30 inches in diameter, the event lasted many minutes until completed – Keith and his partner would often be the last men chopping & still winning the event.
Ken Kirk
Born at Lithgow 19th November 1946
It was pretty certain Ken would be a woodchopper with his father, Tom Kirk, being one of our greatest Champions.
Ken started chopping when he was ten & has had a very successful career in our Sport winning many championships in all disciplines.
Just a few of Ken’s successes:
- 13” Underhand Australian Title , Newcastle 1971.
- Double Handed Sawing Australian & State Titles. Sawing places with son, Steven.
- Represented NSW at Sydney Royal & Christchurch Shows. Won $5,000 S/Block at Wangaratta. Cut the Underhand in Medley Relay at Old Sydney Showground, with team setting record which still stands today.
Ken’s involvement in woodchopping also included being Vice President & President of the NSW AA also Secretary and Handicapper for the Central Coast AA for over 12 years. After 53 years in the Sport he loved Ken no longer competes due to ill health. He still follows events & enjoys hearing current results.
Caldwell Family
William James Caldwell 1869 to 1942 & his five sons with wife Alice Les 1902 – 1981 Joseph 1902 – 1981 William James jr 1911 - 1981 Alf 1911 - 1987 Ken 1921 – 1994 All Champion Axemen
William arrived in Australia at the age of 3. He became a farmer but, after many years of farming he moved to a bush block & became a very good axeman. He encouraged his sons to follow him into the sport. He was also very good at preparing racing axes and also passed this skill on to his sons.
The eldest son Les was a very good axeman and, at the age of 24, he won the 15inch Underhand World Title, Treefelling and Double Handed Sawing at the Sydney Royal Show.
Les was a better underhand cutter than standing block but his chopping included many notable successes in both disciplines.
Joe was also a very good axeman with one of his most memorable and treasured success being a win in the 15inch Standing Block Championship at the 1929
Royal Melbourne Show. As well as his chopping skills Joe was renowned for his ability in sharpening and grinding racing axes. He was also able to make handles for axes, farming implements and also gun stocks.
Jim (William James jr). Jim’s expertise was no less than that of his older brothers – with a notable win at Dandenong Show, during the depression, of 100 pounds. Jim was very capable & successful in all disciplines of the sport. He held the record of 19secs for the 12inch underhand until early 1970. He was a willing coach for new axemen & ran training days at his property for them
Alf wasn’t quite as successful in all aspects of woodchopping but he was an excellent tree climber, especially with spurs. Alf was employed by sawmills to cut the tops out of trees & was fearless. While not as prolific as his brothers, Alf was an excellent axeman, a very able teacher & willingly shared his knowledge.
Ken carried on the family tradition of excellence & competed well into later life.
He also has the ability to grind axes & readily passed this & his woodchopping skills to younger axemen.
Manny McCarthy
Born in 1902 - Passed away 1994
Manny has an illustrious and enviable record in woodchopping events. He dominated at the Sydney Royal for many years with his first cut at the Show in 1921 when he was 19 – he came 2nd in the Championship.
15in.Commonwealth S/Block Championship
His woodchopping days began on the NSW mid-north coast where he worked as a young man cutting rail way sleepers.
In 1924 he moved to Sydney where he worked for many years chopping bakers’ wood for the fuel ovens of the dozens of bakeries in the metropolitan area – he chopped 2 ton a day at one pound per ton.
Manny’s records include twelve wins in World & Commonwealth championships at the Sydney Royal between 1924 & 1966 & seventeen 2nd or 3rd places in these events. These championships were over all disciplines.
He was also successful in 2 Man events, his partners including sons, Jim & Jack, Leo Appo & Norm Baxter.
He cut for many years in NSW team at Sydney Royal &, often, for a team win.
In 1965 he won the Veteran’s Underhand – also at Sydney.
He had many successes in championships and handicap events at country and interstate shows.
He still holds the record for an 18inch Underhand cut at Dandenong Show in Victoria – an impressive 52.4seconds.
Manny was particularly proud of the fact that his sons Jack and Jim often competed alongside him and sometimes partnered him in events.
Milton Gallagher
Born 1 September 1942 at Inglewood, Western Australia.
Milton has worked in the timber industry as a faller, log hauler and log inspector. He is now retired.
Milton’s father was a forester and the family lived in the forestry settlement at Dwellingup, Western Australia for many years and then moved to another settlement at Wanneroo. Their maternal grandfather, William Plunkett always lived with them and he was an axeman who competed until age 80. He always had the boys with an axe in the hand from a young age.
Milton has been married to Cheryl for 47 years and has a son Todd who currently competes and a daughter Kellie. He is the proud “Pop” to four grandchildren.
As a strapping 6’3½” well-built 16 year old, his first chop was in 1958 at the Bindoon Show in the “Mugs” chop which was a 10” underhand. Milton won this event with grand prize money of 6 pound. His grandfather paid the nomination entry of 5 pound.
Underhand events continued to be his favourite. He competed continuously for 44 years, before retiring due to health concerns.
During that time he was the handicapper for the PAAWA for 20 years, as well as getting the logs and carting them for the competitions. He holds a Life Membership with the PAA. His passion for the sport still continues with being on the Royal Show Committee, Ring Judge and following son Todd to all the local events and helping prepare with axes.
Having his great grandfather, grandfathers and father competing, chopping was in the family blood and it was a natural sport for him to follow in their footsteps. With history dating back to 1898 it was an incentive to continue with the sport. The Gallagher family now has 100 years of participating.
At the age of 18, Milton and his brother drove an old Austin A30 ute, top speed of 80kms to all the country log chops with their ‘Pop’ and his pipe sitting in the back of the ute. This went on to be a family tradition for many years until brother Stan updated to an X2 Holden so that they could fit brother John in as well and all travel together.
Neville Meyer
Neville has had a long career in woodchopping. That career has included a lot of chopping, which he has enjoyed, and a great deal of hard work and dedication in doing the hard work behind the scenes to support his fellow competitors, his sport and his Association.
Represented Australia in Jakarta, twice in New Zealand.
Nev has won 12 C.V.A.A Aggregate Trophies, 2 Grand Aggregate Trophies, and many trophies and sashes from all around Victoria.
Australian Axeman’s Association presented him with The Award of Merit 1984.
Presented with a brass Nivek axe. Appreciation hard work & dedication as President of C.V.A.A.
2007 President’s Award
2012 Award for over 40 years member C.V.A.A
Nev’s brother Geoff had organised the logs for all C.V.A.A woodchops, after Geoff had finished, Nev was supplying the logs himself, many times having great difficulty getting the logs and often in all kinds of weather. 2010 son Bradley and his sons took on the job.
He has been involved with the committee side of the C.V.A.A. for over 50 years & still is.
Glen Ryan
Born 1941
Glen Ryan was born in 1941. He was one of 13 children in his family, with 6 brothers and 6 sisters. He was active with his family in racing bikes and his forestry career working with the Edwards family introduced him to wood chopping.
Glen started wood chopping in 1959. He won show champion in numerous western division shows. He has won countless handicap events and was a very successful treefelling competitor. Glen has been competing at the Sydney Royal Easter since 1960, where he has won a number of handicap events. He has also successfully competed Interstate.
Glen became handicapper of the Mid-West Axemen’s Association when Tom Kirk retired in 1966. He continues to handicap a few shows.
For over 50 years Glen has also dedicated many hours to cut chopping blocks for Western District and Metropolitan Shows. He still continues to cut blocks for a few smaller shows.
In Feb 2009, Glen was inducted into the Lithgow Sporting Hall of Fame, as the Reg Cowden Memorial Trust nominated him for all his years of dedication and work as the handicapper for the Mid West Axemen, achievements from his participation in the mountain run and cycling and for his first place in the doubles World coal shovelling championship.
Neville Meyer
Neville has had a long career in woodchopping. That career has included a lot of chopping, which he has enjoyed, and a great deal of hard work and dedication in doing the hard work behind the scenes to support his fellow competitors, his sport and his Association.
Represented Australia in Jakarta, twice in New Zealand.
Nev has won 12 C.V.A.A Aggregate Trophies, 2 Grand Aggregate Trophies, and many trophies and sashes from all around Victoria.
Australian Axeman’s Association presented him with The Award of Merit 1984.
Presented with a brass Nivek axe. Appreciation hard work & dedication as President of C.V.A.A.
2007 President’s Award
2012 Award for over 40 years member C.V.A.A
Nev’s brother Geoff had organised the logs for all C.V.A.A woodchops, after Geoff had finished, Nev was supplying the logs himself, many times having great difficulty getting the logs and often in all kinds of weather. 2010 son Bradley and his sons took on the job.
He has been involved with the committee side of the C.V.A.A. for over 50 years & still is.
Phillip Williams
Phillip started woodchopping in 1967 at Neerim South Show, coached by his Father-in-law, Jim Caldwell.
Phillip was made a Life member of South & Central Gippsland Axemen’s Association in 1997, received Australian Axemen’s Assoc. Award of Merit 1997. Selector for Victoria Axemen’s Council and Australian Axemen’s Assoc. Starter for SCGAA for 40 years – helped the late Russ Rees for a couple of years, also starter for East Gippsland Axemen’s Assoc. at Buchan, Bruthen, Bairnsdale & Omeo Shows. Handicapper for SCGAA for 40 years and now assistant handicapper to Brian Hall.
He still helps getting logs for chops and also does a bit of starting with a new stop watch given to him by daughter Sonia in 2015 when he attended 2015 Hall of Fame induction for the Caldwell Family.
Phillip has enjoyed his sport with his most treasured wins being a Father & Son at Sydney Royal & Melbourne Show, also winning the double handed sawing at Melbourne with Brian & Les Caldwell wedger, also any teams race at any show.
Phillip had 41 years as handicapper for SCGAA – he was widely recognized as being fair & accurate, he kept meticulous records and was happy to explain marks. When Phillip took on handicapping some 40 plus years ago he was given some advice from his Father in Law – “ if an axeman he did not know entered a championship that the great Jack O’Toole was in he should put him on the same mark as Jack because he must think he could beat Jack.
While enjoying his long career in woodchopping as a competitor Phillip has also enjoyed being handicapper & helping with all the “behind the scenes” work. His time has been dedicated to the service of his sport and his fellow competitors. He believes it has been a privilege to handicap some of our great axemen – Fosters, French, Stewart, Phillips, Stubbs, Lovell, Duggan, Youds plus many “dark horses’’ not well known in Victoria – a handicappers delight. Others were Standing block, G Parker, N French great to watch – Underhand, P Caldwell – great style, T Caldwell, D Bolstad also Youd my best axeman, Garry Hewitt Qu. another great axeman. O’Toole family – all of them, David & George Foster, Harold Winkel underhand great. Youd boys “Tree Kings”, M Lentz USA a handicappers delight.
While stepping back a little, Phillip is still an active and valued member of his Association and of our wider woodchopping fraternity. Phillip also ably served as VAC secretary for a period.
Martin William Conole
Born 15th February 1932 - Atherton, Queensland
Martin started his wood chopping career in 1952 competing at The Butchers Creek Sports Day winning his first novice 12″‘ standing block.
His second win of his career was at the May Day Sports in Malanda in 1954 chopping a l3″ standing block. In 1956 he had another Novice win at the Malanda Show in September chopping a 12″ Standing Block.
In November 2006 Martin suffered a heart attack and underwent bypass surgery, 20th March 2007 and he competed at the Peeramon Pub Pig Hunt woodchop on 10th June 2007, less than 3 months after his surgery.
Martin has been the chief organizer for block trimming since 1959, sourcing all the timber, cutting & snigging. Before 1983 all blocks were trimmed by broad axe. All tractors, dozers and equipment are supplied by Martin for the block cutting & trimming process. In 1982 Martin and Arthur Lynch approached NQAA in Cairns to construct a block trimming machine, the block trimmer has been redesigned over the years but is still in operation to this day. Martin is the only surviving foundation member of the NQAA Inc. founded in 1960. Both Martin and Joan are Life Members of the NQAA.
Martin has chopped at 60 consecutive Malanda Shows since 1954. He has also chopped at consecutive Atherton Shows since 1957, Mossman Show since 1960, Tully Shows 1960, Mareeba Rodeo 1960 and Malanda Pub Chop 1986 and many other festivals and events around local and broader areas. Adelaide Show has been a favourite of Martins cutting 20 out of 21 years beginning in 1986.
At 83 years of age martin is still chopping, trimming and preparing for the upcoming show circuit with the same enthusiasm as in early career.