AFCA board members Wayne Shaw-Johnston, Ricky Leeson, Phillip Dohnt, Karen Hall, Adan Taylor (Chairman) and Christian Stafford.
Australian Forests Contractors Association’s (AFCA) AGM held in Traralgon saw the former board re-elected, together with chairman Adan Taylor. In presenting the AFCA Annual Report, Mr Taylor thanked the board and staff for their contributions and highlighted that board members served in an honorary capacity. Source: Timberbiz
During the AGM and later at the annual dinner attended by 70 members, sponsors, supporters, local councillors and state politicians, Mr Taylor complimented the founding AFCA sponsors including Komatsu, John Deer/RDO Equipment and Waratah, along with the silver and bronze sponsors.
Turning to the forthcoming AUSTimber 2020, he thanked the major event partners of HVP Plantations, LaTrobe City Council, Wellington Shire, for their support for the event which will showcase the whole industry.
“We are pleased to have the well-known identity Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, Australian science communicator and author, as guest speaker for the Hall of Fame dinner and Q&A session the next day”, he said
“Seventy percent of the sites have been sold and we are confident it will be a sell out with strong interest from overseas suppliers”, he said.
General Manager Stacey Gardner covered a range of association issues and programs describing the year as ‘a mixed bag – many positives, frustrations and concerns’.
Ms Gardner expressed concerns surrounding the Victorian Native Forests members being threatened by government policy and uncertainty following AFCA making the case for their future and the industry.
On a more positive note she referred to the association’s work with the Forestry Log Haulage Registered Code (LHC). AFCA delivered safety training to 24 centres with plans to present to further 30 centres in the coming year.
Having secured a significant NSW government contract to design and deliver a Forest Contractor Training and Certification system titled Forest Fit, AFCA is looking forward to the opportunity to deliver a standardise assessment process to gain certification, based on the right type of training, focusing on environment safety and best practice for small and large operators.
“This is an exciting program to deliver another industry first over the next two years, providing opportunities for additional professional development and training to be rolled out nationally,” she said.
