1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Talking of power, I've been lucky enough to be commentating 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: one particular, well a couple of Efencier right throughout the show, 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:10,080 Speaker 1: but one in particular in the afternoons, the wood cutting, 4 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 1: the chopping. It ranks as the top three attractions at 5 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: the Royal Adelaide Show consistently in all their marketing and feedback, 6 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: and that's wonderful. But the chairman of wood chopping is 7 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: Graham Height. I guess my boss in the arvots good. Hey, Graham, 8 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: how are you good? 9 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 2: Thank you Matthew. And it's a pleasure to be here, 10 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,120 Speaker 2: and I need to correct you with cutting number one feature. 11 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 2: Thank you very much. 12 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: All right, let's get that's great now. I got to 13 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,879 Speaker 1: say when I started last Saturday, I knew two thirds 14 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: of five fifths of you know what, and I think 15 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:43,959 Speaker 1: I may have moved that up to three thirds now 16 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: or a whole fraction. But it's coming along and I'm 17 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: fascinated with not you know, I've got the physique, I 18 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: keep joking on the MIC's down there. I've got the 19 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: physique of a wood cutter, but none of the strength, stamina, ability, 20 00:00:58,040 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: anything that these guys can do. 21 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, Matthew, technique is very important obviously for zeque 22 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 2: is important, but you must be able to put the 23 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,119 Speaker 2: axe head in the right spot time after tom and 24 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 2: the competitors are the good competitors are able to hit 25 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 2: it at full power and put it on a pencil line. 26 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, as you're absolutely right. I've noticed that the rivalry 27 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,920 Speaker 1: it's pretty fierce. It is competitive, but I am also 28 00:01:30,959 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: amazed at the camaraderie. I'll feel it. 29 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 2: Ah, Yes, the camaraderie is fabulous. The older axemen are 30 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 2: constantly sharpening axes, repairing axes for the younger competitors and 31 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 2: the top competitors, so they're looking after their people, and 32 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 2: also the parents are organizing meals and looking after the 33 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 2: axemen to be able to be there and to do 34 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 2: their best in their events. But once they step up 35 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 2: to that line and the count starts, they're extremely competitive 36 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:13,080 Speaker 2: within families, within siblings, but also outside families and of 37 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:14,519 Speaker 2: course between countries. 38 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:16,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, well that's it. Let's talk about that. So there 39 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: is an international test on in the wood shopping. Who 40 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 1: would have thought but Australia versus New Zealand all Week. 41 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 2: Yes, this week and this year is Australian New Zealand 42 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 2: All week. We started off with the women's Test series 43 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:40,080 Speaker 2: and women woodcutters are extremely competitive, so that's been a 44 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 2: wonderful start to the week. Three tests there which Australia's 45 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 2: won three nil. Then we've followed on with the veterans, 46 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 2: which is wonderful to see the veterans still want to cut. 47 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:57,959 Speaker 2: We had one veteran mister Moore Barrett. He said he's 48 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 2: not quite old enough yet to get to in the 49 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 2: Veterans in another couple of years, but of course he's about 50 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 2: sixty seven. And then we finish off with the test 51 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 2: series for the under twenty one. They are emerging young 52 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 2: axe men. 53 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 1: Okay, three tests one per day, a series of three 54 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,519 Speaker 1: and in those three classes and that's fantastic to see. 55 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 1: And that gets under way. If you're coming to the 56 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,600 Speaker 1: show today tomorrow, you'll see it get underway at around 57 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: ten to two in the afternoon, so don't miss that. 58 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:28,959 Speaker 1: And it's relay, its fast, it is furious. It goes 59 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: about three or four minutes, so that's excellent, doesn't take 60 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: you too much time. And I think the tradition of 61 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: wood shopping for all of us who have been to 62 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: the show over decades as your drudge around the show 63 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: with the kids or whatever you do, put your feet 64 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:43,560 Speaker 1: up there for a little bit and sit down and 65 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: watch it and relax and sure for ten minutes, half 66 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: an hour, four or five events, whatever it is, and 67 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 1: it's wonderful. 68 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 2: Yeah. Indeed, I think as much a tradition as anything 69 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 2: is for the parents to have a sit down for 70 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:58,120 Speaker 2: ten minutes and watch an event. And it also keeps 71 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,480 Speaker 2: the kids entertain because they can see something that is 72 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 2: high energy activity and they love that, and they love 73 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 2: getting out and trying to pick who's going to win. 74 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 2: And especially with the handicap events, some axemen and axe 75 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 2: women can start up to thirty, maybe even fifty seconds behind, 76 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 2: and on a tree up to a minute behind, a 77 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,599 Speaker 2: minute and a half behind, and they can still win. 78 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:29,480 Speaker 2: So it's exciting to see these what we call front 79 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 2: markers and back markers competing with a big gap in 80 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:33,799 Speaker 2: the handicap. 81 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:38,559 Speaker 1: Yeah. Indeed, you talk about sibling rivalry, and that's something 82 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: I've noticed over the week as well, is that the 83 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: family's taking part. For many this is intergenerational, isn't it. 84 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 2: Absolutely. We've got one family that's come down from far 85 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 2: North Queensland for three of the children and the father 86 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 2: in the van and they've driven for four days, camped 87 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,599 Speaker 2: on the side of the ground as I've traveled for 88 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 2: four days to get here, and they hit here with 89 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 2: a big smile on their face. And I think that 90 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 2: the competitive nature between those children once they step out 91 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 2: of that van is going to be huge. They've been 92 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 2: locked up together for four days. 93 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 1: But locked up together with access indeed. 94 00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 2: But that's wonderful and that's that's exciting to see. But 95 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 2: people were prepared to do that to come to the 96 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 2: Adelaide Show to compete. They love it so much. 97 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: It's fantastic. And the crowds, you know, I don't doubt 98 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: it for a second. I was looking around the arena 99 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 1: calling the fireworks and the V eight action and everything 100 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: last night, and there would have been about five thousand 101 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: odd people there last night for that. But I reckon 102 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: if you add everyone who stops by the arena during 103 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: the day, you'd get far more than that. 104 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 2: Oh my word. And for the big events when we 105 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,480 Speaker 2: have tests on, it's standing room only. As long as 106 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 2: the weather's good, they just pack in and they all 107 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 2: seem to turn up and then to spur and the 108 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:01,479 Speaker 2: next lot come. 109 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 1: Now bigger exciting announcement. Are we allowed to talk about 110 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:05,719 Speaker 1: it now today? 111 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 2: I think the woodcutters down in the arena and might 112 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 2: not here, so we can do that. 113 00:06:10,520 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: But there's a Hall of Fame induction. 114 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 2: Yes, there's a wonderful Hall of Fame induction today. Michael Fulgrave. 115 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 2: He is on our woodcutting committee, but he's been he's 116 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: a second he could even be a third generation Axemen 117 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 2: from South Australia. The full Grave family have given a 118 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 2: huge service to woodcutting in this state and we're so 119 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 2: pleased to see he's being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Yeah, 120 00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 2: he is your offsider and he's been giving you a 121 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 2: wealth of information and. 122 00:06:45,839 --> 00:06:49,039 Speaker 1: He's answering every question. I've got so many questions. 123 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's a nice chap along with it. But he's 124 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:57,359 Speaker 2: the sort of chap will be up in the forest 125 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 2: to help us select trees to five am in the 126 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 2: morning and he'll be down here the last load came in. 127 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 2: He was here at nine o'clock at night, goodness to 128 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 2: make sure that it gets in and never a winge. 129 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:14,400 Speaker 2: He does, indeed. 130 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: Tell me about the wood because you have to source 131 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 1: that well at getting it is difficult I recall last 132 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 1: year it was right up to the last minute you 133 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: weren't sure if there was even going to be a competition. 134 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: And this year a little better, but still pretty tight. 135 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 2: Yes, it has been tight traditionally over the last well 136 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 2: for predominantly for the last fifty years in South Australia. 137 00:07:35,920 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 2: We've received our wood from Victoria from the high country 138 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 2: Mountain ash woollly Butt. I have to be careful how 139 00:07:43,480 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: to say that. And that's been a hardwood and that's 140 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,320 Speaker 2: come over. But Victoria has decided to cut down all 141 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 2: their stop all their forestry, even though it can be plantation, 142 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 2: they've stopped the whole lot. So we had to source 143 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: it from somewhere else. We've been fortunate enough to source 144 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 2: it two thirds from around South Australia this year. FORESTRYSA 145 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 2: have been wonderful. A timber coll panasta panasta pine and 146 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 2: it cuts beautifully. Even though it's a pine and it's 147 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: a soft wood, it's actually hard wood cutting ok. And 148 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 2: you have to slope your axe cuts to make the 149 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 2: chips pop out. If you go to square, they chips 150 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:31,640 Speaker 2: won't move and you've just wasted a stroke. So you 151 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 2: have to get your slopes right. Open it up correctly 152 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 2: to be able to cut through that log. 153 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: And so that's coming, as you say, predominantly from South Australia, 154 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: which is excellent. And you've got radiator I know, and 155 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: hoop pine as well as part of the mix. 156 00:08:45,559 --> 00:08:50,040 Speaker 2: Yes, indeed, and we've got a plantation eucalyp that we've 157 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:54,360 Speaker 2: done the trees on, so we've got four species this year. 158 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:57,119 Speaker 2: We're hopeful next year that it will all be radytic 159 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 2: and that way the axemen can have their axe specifically 160 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 2: sharpened for that type of timber. 161 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: Indeed, all right, it's been great chatting with you, Graham. 162 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. Good luck with the rest of 163 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,360 Speaker 1: the competition. I've loved being part of it this year. 164 00:09:11,480 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 2: And we've loved you being there, Matthew. Thank you. 165 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: It's been wonderful. And if anyone wants to see some 166 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,439 Speaker 1: great farming action, you've got to get down to the 167 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,319 Speaker 1: wood cutting here at the Royal Adelaide Show. One of 168 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: the most popular events, Graham will tell you, as he 169 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:26,959 Speaker 1: did number one event at the Royal Adelaide Show. It's 170 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:28,760 Speaker 1: certainly right up there, let me tell you that, and 171 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: look forward to seeing you there over the next couple 172 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: of days as I'll be in and out of the 173 00:09:32,760 --> 00:09:36,400 Speaker 1: arena amongst various other commitments at the show. But I've 174 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: certainly enjoyed it, Graham, and thank you for. 175 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:39,840 Speaker 2: The opportunity triffic. Thank you massive 176 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: Raham Hight, who is Chairman of Wood Chopping Committee here 177 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: at the Royal Adelaide Show.