Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM).

The Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) is awarded by the Governor General on both Australia Day and Queens Birthday and recognises distinguished service by members of Australian fire services. Congratulations to those many firefighters across the nation that have been awarded today. But it’s been two years (and four missed opportunities) since a Victorian forestContinue reading “Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM).”

Parnaby Doodlings.

David Parnaby graduated from the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) in 1940 and initially worked for the Forests Commission’s Assessment Branch. He later had postings to Heathcote, Powelltown, Dandenong’s, Bruthen and Beechworth Districts. Promoted as District Forester in 1951, David moved to Cann River, and then later back to Heathcote (1955), Castlemaine (1958) and DaylesfordContinue reading “Parnaby Doodlings.”

Forests and Bushfire History of Victoria – Series 3 (2022)

Here is a collection of nearly 100 stories posted on FB over this year.As with series one and two, another free e-book has been lodged in the State and National Library so the stories aren’t lost in the Facebook soup.Please feel free to download and/or share the link… https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3133168195/ Or here…https://drive.google.com/file/d/1F4F8drvu2F3TiIK98X-tOn5aUzSbaTeW/view?usp=sharing

Bjarne Dahl.

The creation of the State Forest Department (SFD) in 1907 represented the most significant institutional reform in Victoria’s history of forest and bushfire management up to that point. The fledgling department had only 66 staff and faced formidable challenges, including protecting ecosystems about which little was scientifically understood, and responsibility for vast areas of rugged,Continue reading “Bjarne Dahl.”

Stanley Robert McDougall VC.

Stan McDougall, soldier and forester, was born in Recherche in Tasmania on 23 July 1889 and became a blacksmith. Illness prevented him from enlisting in the AIF until 31 August 1915 when he was posted to the 12th Reinforcements of the 15th Battalion. In Egypt, on 3 March 1916, he was drafted into the 47thContinue reading “Stanley Robert McDougall VC.”

Colin Colahan – War Artist.

The Australian War Memorial (AWM) holds over 90 artworks of Colin Colahan. Colahan was born in Victoria in 1897 and gave up medical studies to attend the National Gallery School in 1917. He moved to Europe in 1935 and never returned to Australia. In London in August 1942, he was appointed as an official AustralianContinue reading “Colin Colahan – War Artist.”

Forestry Companies.

Soon after the outbreak of World War Two, the British Government requested experienced forestry soldiers from Australia, New Zealand and Canada to be deployed in France as part of the British Expeditionary Force. But the French Government had stipulated that they must be commanded by trained foresters so that the wasteful cutting and forest destructionContinue reading “Forestry Companies.”

Reginald Graham Lindsay.

Reg Lindsay was one of the first foresters to graduate from the Victorian School of Forestry at Creswick in 1912. He was also a member of the famous Creswick artist family and brother of Norman Lindsay, the author of The Magic Pudding. Sadly, Reg was killed instantly in France with four other soldiers while queuingContinue reading Reginald Graham Lindsay.

Frederick Conrad Weickhardt.

Frederick Conrad Weickhardt was born in Clunes in February 1899. Con as he was known to his family, was one of nine candidates to pass the entrance exam into Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) at Creswick in April 1913. Like another of his fellow students who went off to the war, David Kennedy Galbraith, FrederickContinue reading “Frederick Conrad Weickhardt.”