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Coles Moe store manager Jarrod Ryan and Moe footballer Ben Daniher, son of Fight MND co-founder and AFL champion Neale, hope to see a big crowd at Ted Summerton Reserve this Saturday, as a host of special guests including Sam Kekovich and Archie Thompson join the local community in the fight against Motor Neurone Disease. STORY - PAGE 37
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the local representatives were all talk and no action, asking: “What are you doing for us?” Others heckled by asking why the state representatives, Tim Bull and Danny O’Brien, weren’t present at the event. Mr Chester answered by saying both men were in Parliament, lobbying on their constituents’ behalf. While it was the promise of national media coverage that drew people to Apex Park, many in attendance used the event to vent their frustrations at the state government’s decision to bring forward the cessation of native timber harvesting by six years to January 1, 2024. Cr Bye described the move as “a bit of a disgrace”. “It’s very disappointing that the Andrew’s (state) government … (has) given six months’ notice instead of the six years that it should have been, and rather than actually trying to fix the industry, decided to shut it down early,” Cr Bye told the Express.
His sentiments were echoed by many on the day. Small business owners Jason and Julie Weir - who travelled from Melbourne to attend the event - noted that their business, which specialises in hardwood flooring, had planned to transition away from native timber, but “in six years, not in six months”. Truck driver Jason Cook, who has been involved in the timber industry for more than 15 years, said he was “literally lost for words” regarding the decision. “We were given a timeline (of six years) and now we’ve lost that timeline,” Mr Cook said. “The rug’s been pulled straight from under us.” Heyfield Timber Festival committee president Felicia Stevenson, who was also in attendance, said the decision was wrong. “We’ve got the most sustainable industry in the whole wide world here, and they want to end it,” Ms Stevenson said. Continued Page 9
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HEYFIELD was out in-force last week, hoping to bring national attention to the native timber industry’s shutdown. A crowd of more than 200 people gathered in Apex Park on Monday, May 29 after hearing word that the Nine Network’s Today program would be filming in the area. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester, Wellington Shire Council Mayor Ian Bye, Wellington Shire councillor Carmel Ripper and Australian Sustainable Hardwoods managing director, Vince Hurley were among the attendees. Timberline General Store manager and owner, Allison Akers was also in attendance, representing her business and the wider community. Ms Akers told the Express she was hoping that Heyfield can make a change. “If the industry does get shut down, and the mills struggle and they have to put staff off, it affects everyone in the town,” Ms Akers said.
“It’ll be not just our business; it’s every business that’ll be affected.” The gathering was hastily organised via social media, with most attendees - including Mr Chester and Cr Bye learning of it less than 24 hours before it occurred. Although posts shared on Facebook instructed people to arrive at 2pm, the Today crew - consisting of journalist Izabella Staskowski and a videographer - didn’t arrive until around 2.40pm. Upon Today’s arrival, impromptu speeches of support were given by Mr Chester, Cr Bye and Mr Hurley on the banks of the Heyfield Pump Track, each earning applause from the crowd. Questions were then taken from the crowd, with one “born and bred” Heyfield resident asking what the opposition’s business plan was “going forward” in the absence of a native timber industry. No clear answer was given, but Mr Hurley indicated that his business was diversifying their interests. Another passionate attendee implied
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By TOM PARRY
NEW YORK SCHOLARSHIP