Category Archives: People

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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.“

Norman Boston was one of the first to attend the Victorian School of Forestry at Creswick in 1912 as nursery staff. He was born in Daylesford and enlisted in the 59 Battalion AIF (#2578) in 1916, at a relatively senior age of 38 and 7 months. He embarked on the Shropshire in September 1916 andContinue reading “Norman Leonard Boston.”

Frederick Anderson was born on 15th July 1893 in Buangor, which is between Ballarat and Stawell. He enlisted for military service with the 14th battalion on 14th September 1914 and remained until 10th May 1919. He was one of the first to join up and his service number was 545. His occupation before enlistment wasContinue reading “Frederick Anderson.”

Reg was born at Beechworth in 1899 and entered the forestry school at Creswick in 1915. It’s reported that he, along with many others, struggled with his subjects and was required to sit supplementary exams. At the time, nearly half of the intake failed. The Board blamed students and the staff for the poor results.Continue reading “Reginald Ingle.”

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.”

Charles was born in Majorca near Maryborough in 1895 and entered the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) in 1913 as one of the first student intakes. He was also a member of the Creswick 71st company militia. Charles graduated in 1915, and in February 1916, he enlisted in the 59th Battalion (#1769) aged 20. CharlesContinue reading “Charles William Watson.”

James joined the 29th Battalion on 12 July 1915 at a relatively senior age of 44 and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Ascanius on 10 November 1915. A native of Stawell, he lived at Brimpaen and worked as a forest officer in the Wartook and Murra Murra state forests on the western side of theContinue reading “James Lees Shaw.”

David Kennedy Tener Galbraith was born in Bendigo in October 1896. He was living in Heathcote when he was one of nine candidates to pass the entrance exam into Victorian School of Forestry (VSF) at Creswick in April 1913. David is not listed as having graduated from the school, but his name is on theContinue reading “David Kennedy Galbraith.”

William Ritchie was a from a forestry family. His father, James Stewart Ritchie, trained as a crown land bailiff in the 1890s at Creswick under the now famous John la Gerche. William was born at Glen Park near Ballarat in 1895 and was one of the first students to enter the Victorian School of Forestry (VSF)Continue reading “William Ritchie.“

Robert Kerr was born in 1885 as the eldest son of Robert Kerr (senior), the assistant head teacher at the Prince of Wales State School in Northcote. Kerr later gained both First and Second Certificates from the Teacher Training College and was appointed junior teacher at Victoria Park in Collingwood, later becoming assistant at Armadale.Continue reading “Robert John Leslie Kerr.”

Reginald was born on 12 February 1900 at Heathcote. He joined the Forests Commission when he was 16 and transferred to Ferntree Gully. On 25 April 1917, when he was only 17 and 3 months, he enlisted with the 23 Battalion of the AIF (# 6866A) by forging his father’s signature because he was stillContinue reading “Reginald Dennis Hall”

Perhaps Australia’s finest fighting soldier, Albert Jacka has the honour of being the first Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross during WW1, the highest decoration for gallantry in the face of the enemy. Albert Jacka is also one of twenty employees displayed on the Forests Department’s Roll of Honour that hangs at the BeechworthContinue reading “Albert Jacka VC.“