Category Archives: People

Unlike other military conflicts, the records of Forests Commission staff who served in Vietnam are not consolidated or recognised on honour boards. I know a few names… One of the most notable was Des Collins who worked on the crew at Daylesford and was killed along with his workmate, Alan Lynch, at the Greendale fireContinue reading “National Service – Vietnam Veterans Day.”

Margaret March-Mount began working for the U.S. Forest Service in 1913 as a clerk on the Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming. Growing up in southern Illinois and Kansas, Margaret had witnessed the devastating effects of erosion from wind and rain. She envisioned a nation of healthy trees so began writing and speaking about the benefitsContinue reading “Pennies for Pines.”

Almost 11 inches of torrential rain fell over 18 hours during the evening of Wednesday 15 February 1954. The deluge pushed soil and debris down the steep hills adjoining the Great Ocean Road and blocked a small culvert at Hutt Gully, just west of Anglesea. Water spilled across the road, gouging two impassable gaps upContinue reading “Bailey Bridge – Great Ocean Road.”

The 1929 timber workers strike was the first in Australia after the onset of the Great Depression. The strike lasted nearly six months and affected all sections of the timber industry including the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) which supplied logs from State forest. The Commission also operated its own sawmill at Nayook, near Noojee, asContinue reading “Timber Workers Strike – 1929.”

The main gates to the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) at Creswick were dedicated to Sir Alexander Peacock KCMG by the Minister for Lands and Forests, Sir Albert Lind, on 10 October 1952. Prior to the new gates there was just a simple wire fence. Peacock was born at Creswick in 1861 and was theContinue reading “Gateway to a Man’s Career.”

Les Ortlipp was born on 18 May 1925 at Culcairn in New South Wales but moved to Bright in NE Victoria in 1933 after his father died and his mother remarried. Les left school aged 12 and took an apprenticeship at the local Jack Sharp’s bakery. When aged only 16, Les lied about his ageContinue reading “Leslie (Les) Thomas Ortlipp.”

Jackie Lewis began as a Ranger in 1924 with the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) and worked in the remote Upper Yarra water catchments beyond Warburton and Woods Point. The legendary “Iron Man” of the bush enjoyed the solitary nature of his work. As a champion long-distance runner Jackie was selected for theContinue reading “Jackie Lewis – MMBW Ranger.”

For many years, the number of students at the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) at Creswick was too small to field its own competitive football team. In 1942 there were only about 17 students, but in 1944 the annual intake increased, with the result that by 1946 the number in residence had more than doubledContinue reading “Footy and Rabbits.”

The grounds at the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) at Creswick have many significant trees, some dating back over more than a century. When Prince Charles stayed overnight at VSF on 28 October 1974 he planted a Yellow Gum (E. leucoxylon) near the science lab. The tree survives but it’s a bit overshadowed by someContinue reading “Yellow Gum – VSF.”

Philip Thomas Crosbie Morrison, sometimes known as PTCM, but more commonly as just plain Tom, was born in 1931 and grew up in Brighton. It’s alleged that on New Years Eve, Tom, and his younger brother James, climbed the statue of Victoria’s infamous and colourful Premier Sir Thomas Bent, which overlooked the Nepean Highway, andContinue reading “Tom Crosbie Morrison.”

Forty years ago today, on 4 May 1983, the Minister for Forests, Rod Mackenzie, announced in Parliament the State Government’s intention to “shake up” the forest service. The Forests Commission Victoria (FCV), and its predecessor the State Forests Department (SFD), had been stable and relatively autonomous authorities responsible for management and protection from bushfire ofContinue reading “Yes Minister.”

Most Australians would have heard the legendary story of the solitary Turkish Pine (Pinus brutia) that grew on the slopes of the Gallipoli Peninsula made famous as marking the site of the Battle of Lone Pine in August 1915. But few may have heard about the Gallipoli Oak (Quercus coccifera subsp. Calliprinos) that grew along the ridges and valleys.Continue reading “Gallipoli Oak.”

Joseph Firth was born in the Orkney Islands in Scotland on 12 August 1854 and emigrated to Australia in 1872 when he was just 17. Joseph married Mary Ridden and arrived at Mount Macedon to begin a lifelong and distinguished career in horticulture, firstly as gardener at Glencairn and later at Government Cottage. In 1885,Continue reading “Joseph Firth – Macedon Nursery.”

This pack saddle was thought to be owned by the Forests Commission and used by fireguards from Orbost at remote fire towers like Stringers Knob, or by forest assessors measuring stands of timber. They could spend up to a week away at time and the saddle was designed to be secured on the back ofContinue reading “Pack Saddle.”

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).”

Albert Eli Lind was born on 21 February 1878 at East Charlton in northwest Victoria, but drought drove the family to East Gippsland in 1882 where they settled. Albert attended Lucknow and Bairnsdale State schools and found work in the hop and maize fields. At 12 he was apprenticed to local builders and later selfContinue reading “Sir Albert Lind.”

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.”