Age-old skill passed down through the generations

WHEN James Livingstone takes to the woodchopping arena at the Lismore Show later this month, he’ll bring the skills and knowledge passed down through three generations of woodchoppers.

Mr Livingstone is the chief woodchopping steward at the show. It’s a role he inherited from his father, Jim, who was the steward from 1961 until he died in 1991.

“Dad was one of the best tree fellers in Australia for almost 20 years,” Mr Livingstone said.

The love of woodchopping began with Mr Livingstone’s grandfather Ernie, who chopped from the 1930s through to the 1950s.

Woodchopping has a great tradition on the Northern Rivers, and Ernie was involved in starting the popular Fish ‘n’ Chips Festival at Brunswick Heads.

Despite harking back to an age gone by, woodchopping still fascinates onlookers.

“It’s a heritage skill. It has maintained its popularity with the general public,” Mr Livingstone said.

This year’s show will have three days of action showcasing 26 chopping events.

With three NSW titles and an Australian title to be contested at the show, attracting the best contestants from across the country and state, Mr Livingstone said it’s likely to be a stellar event.

“It will be the biggest woodchop competition in years,” he said.

There is the NSW Butchers Block Championship, where two people cut at once; two 75-millimetre tree felling events, where the competitor climbs the tree using springboards; a NSW Underhand Championship, where the axeman stands on the block and cuts between their feet; and an Australian title, the 300-millimetre standing block event.

The Australian title attracts prize money of $2500.

Mr Livingstone said the competition would attract current and former world champions.

“We’re looking at having approximately 50 competitors at the event on the Friday and Saturday,” he said. “It will be a truly stellar event.”

There will be events for men, women and children, and the wood blocks of scribbly and flooded gum will be sourced locally.

Nominations for the woodchop events have closed, but there will be plenty of action for spectators. The Lismore Show is from Thursday, October 17 to Saturday, October 19.