Axeman honour

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE axeman Ron Young has been posthumously recognised for a lifetime contribution to the sport of woodchopping.
Mr Young, who died in 2007, was inducted into the Australian Axemen’s Hall of Fame at Latrobe in Tasmania, on Australia Day.
He was a pioneer and life-long advocate of the sport in Healesville throughout Victoria, interstate and overseas.
His son Michael Young said it was a great honour for any axeman to be nominated by his peers, and then accorded the ultimate recognition as someone who had contributed to the sport at the highest level.
“It’s a huge honour; Dad would have been tickled pink,” he said.
Mr Young’s six children and several grand-children attended the induction ceremony.
“Dad was introduced to the sport of woodchopping by Jack Ayres during his teens, however he did not return to the sport until his early 30s after injuries forced him to retire from his other love, football,” Mr Young said.
He said it was his father’s contribution in running many of the country shows over the years and getting countless logs from the bush for the shows, along with his outstanding service to the Royal Melbourne Show which was recognised with the Hall of Fame honour.
He competed in all disciplines; the Standing Block, Underhand, and Tree Felling, until his late 60s where his expertise as an exponent of the chainsaw was brought to the fore.
Mr Young achieved a great number of wins in both Victorian and interstate competitions and was very proud to have represented Australia in Hong Kong and New Zealand in the 1970s.
He also captained a Victorian team in New Zealand and competed in the World Masters Games returning with a bagful of gold, silver and bronze medals. His association with the Royal Melbourne Show as the Chief Supervisor of the Woodchopping events and its ground staff stretched over 50 years.
“Dad attended every Melbourne show from 1957 until 2007, when he was unable to attend any longer due to poor health,” Mr Young said. “Dad would be extremely proud and humble to have been firstly nominated and secondly, accepted to the Hall of Fame.
“There are not very many Victorians who have been inducted,” Mr Young said.