Heyfield Timber Festival is on this month in Gippsland, Victoria, with two days packed with activities. During the Covid 19 lockdown a small local committee formed to re-establish the fondly remembered Heyfield Timber Festival. Now it is back on 18-19 February. Source: Timberbiz
The organisers’ mission is to demonstrate the sustainability of the hardwood timber industry “Sustainably From the Hills to the Mills and Beyond” is the slogan.
On Friday 18 February, the ASH Timber mill is opening its doors to the local school children for a guided tour which will show them what happens when the logs are brought into town, the processes that are undertaken right through to the finishing products and its many uses, and how it’s regrown for the future. VicForests, Gippsland Water and Parks & Fisheries have information stalls and hands-on learning activities for them as well.
On Saturday 19 February, log trucks from various eras will line the Gordon Street oval for a truck show sponsored by First Super, and it wouldn’t be a timber festival without a good old fashion woodchop event organised by South & Central Victoria – Gippsland Axeman and sponsored by the ASH retail centre.
Throughout the day there will be dog high jumping, along with these events there will be country market stalls, kids rides, a petting zoo, face painting, food trucks, a wood working display, community displays, a vintage chainsaw display, historical draft horse demonstrations, a virtual reality forestry simulator, a historic photo display of timber festivals gone by and an opportunity for to relax with a Devonshire tea or settle up by the campfire for a damper cooking demonstration.
In the evening there will be live music from Matt Peter Fry & The Picassos followed by Low Profile.
The kids rides and carnival will continue on through the night festival and food trucks will be available. Children are welcome as this is a family friendly event however, they must be accompanied by an adult.
On Sunday 20 February starting at 10am the iconic Heyfield Timber Festival street parade will commence with the procession of trucks, vintage trucks, cars and motorbikes, representatives of the Mountain Cattleman’s Association of Victoria, local schools and community groups, and more. It will finish at the timber workers’ memorial for a vigil to pay respects to the hard-working men of the industry.
For more information: https://www.heyfieldtimberfestival.com.au/
