Released 04/05/2018
The disastrous fires that hit Canberra in 2003 burnt more than 60% of the Territory’s plantation timber, including the Stromlo office with nearly all the ACT Forest’s historical records and photographs.
Thirteen years later, during a routine office clean–up at the Hume Weighbridge transcripts of ten interviews conducted with foresters in 1994, were rediscovered.
The interviews, offering unique viewpoints into the history of forestry in the ACT and seen through the eyes of those that helped shape the industry, have been edited into a book by historian Brendan O’Keefe who conducted the original interviews.
“This book, Forest Capital, is a great introduction to the colourful world of ACT forestry with fascinating first hand insight from those doing the hard yards through to the senior foresters at the top. I thoroughly recommend it,” Minister for Environment and Heritage Mick Gentleman said.
Newly arrived migrant, Attilio Padovan, tells how he was sent from the Bonegilla migrant camp to the isolated Lees Creek in Uriarra Forest, where he worked hard planting and trimming pines and, ultimately, buying a house in Yarralumla.
Ian Gordon tells of life as a demonstrator at the Forestry School in Yarralumla and explains why the Radiata Pine was chosen as our plantation tree despite its origins in Monterey, California.
Forestry executive Ron Murray talks about forestry’s close relationship with and commitment to firefighting.
Professor Lindsay Dixon Pryor AO tells how he decided to become a forester at the age of 12.
Other voices include Harold William Tuson, Thomas William, ‘Bill’ Bates, Frank Rosin, Cecil Robert (‘Bob’) Cruttwell, Anthony (‘Tony’) Fearnside and Terence John (‘Terry’) Connolly.
Forest Capital is available from ACT libraries and online at www.environment.act.gov.au.
- Statement ends -
Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases