The Monthly Woodflow - March 2024

Edition #32

March 2024

MONTHLY WOODFLOW EMPLOYEE ANNIVERSARIES

WELCOME JUSTIN ROBBIE

JANURARY

I would like to thank Merrett Logging for the opportunity to join their team.

16 YEARS - TYSON MURPHY 6 YEARS - CRAIG PLOENGES 5 YEARS - HUGH CRAUFORD

During the past 5 weeks, I have had the chance to meet most of the bush

FEBRUARY 11 YEARS - CRAIG MCDONALD 11 YEARS - JASON MANNINEN 10 YEARS - CHRIS CHAPMAN 5 YEARS - NATE SMITH

and workshop crew, and I'm sure I will meet everyone in due course.

However, if we haven't met yet, my name is Justin Robbie. I have beeen married to Tanya for 25 years (you get less for murder) and we have two children: Gorgia and Jacob, both in their early 20s.

My previous experience lies in the wine industry, where I worked for nearly 27 years. I started as a casual cellar hand and worked my way up to a site manager. Although I won't miss harvest time, leaving the wine industry was a difficult decision. Nevertheless, I believe it was the right one.

The last 5 weeks have been a steep learning curve for me, as I have no

MARCH

experience in the forestry industry. There are many different saw lengths

20 YEARS - TED PITMAN 7 YEARS - HARLEY DUNN

operations work. One thing I have noticed is that the landscape is always

and grades, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around how all the changing and you have to adapt very quickly.

Since starting in my role, I would like to thank everybody for welcoming me to the team, especially Tilbs and Hoggett for answering all the questions I have had.

I believe my strong work ethic, vast management experience, and approachability make me well-suited for my new role. I look forward to working with all of you for many years to come.

REDDOGS WORKSHOP WRAPUP

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Welcome to 2024 and hasn’t it started with a bang!! We had We have had a change in personnel in the workshop with a record January in terms of wood harvested and delivered Justin Mansell moving on, we wish Fuzzy and Sharna all which is a great result for all involved. the best and no doubt we will catch up at the footy. Nate Smith our resident machinist and engineer has also started The workshop has also had a fast and furious start to the his own venture in the form of an engineering shop. Nate is year with several on time rebuilds along with general a very talented tradesman and we will continue to use and service work and a few major failures that are always an support Nate in his new venture. Nate has really changed unwelcome surprise. Bombers 1270G had a head re-pin the way we do things and opened our eyes to new and and bush which also needed line boring, the head come up better ways to repair and build components and for that we a treat and Jamie is very happy with the work the lads are very fortunate to have had Nate with us for 5 years. carried out.

Good luck Nate!!

We have had the old 2154D in the workshop for a fair while We continue to try and boost our workshop personnel but it with boom cylinder repairs and a head rebuild and other is a tricky void to fill, moving forward we are going to minor items which should be out next week. We have also promote our apprentice base which we have had a long had two engine failures, one forwarder with a major history of doing and continue the search for quality people structural repair in the steering area. Another which had a to join our crew. major boom repair , and a forwarder which had a fire incident that required major rewiring. The response from the On the truck side of things we have had a good start to the operators on site was exceptional in responding to this fire year and for that point we have had the guys helping on the incident and we cannot praise them enough for preventing field side to catch up on outstanding work. The guys have what could have been a catastrophic event. We have punched out a set of track rollers and helped with previously conducted impromptu fire drills on various sites machinery on site as well as servicing in the field. as well as conducting regular tool box meetings where the risk of fire is talked through and the correct response to Glenn Morely was successful at the recent Apprentice these incidents is paramount when needed. Once again to awards night where he took home the title of best 2nd year Crooky, Seals, Sauce and Nicko who where on site well heavy vehicle mechanic. Glenn has developed into a sound done fellas!!! technician who is happy to go the extra mile and has consistently achieved high results at his trade school visits.

On top of those items we also acquired a good second A well deserved acknowledgement for Glenn and also hand 1910E which has gone to Whitey in the bluegum, a Harley who is directly responsible for the apprentices and second hand 1270G which has low hours which came from their learning.

Tassie which needs a head tickle up and two new machines. Craig McDonald has a shiney new 953MH with a 624c which started just before xmas and Vernon has a new 1910E in the clear fall.

REDDOGS WORKSHOP WRAPUP It was a great opportunity to take a 20 year servant in Andrew Smith to see his new K220 kenworth on the factory line in Melbourne a month ago. We were fortunate to see the cab being dropped onto the chassis and also inspect the whole factory and new robots which build the T610 Cabins. Andrew was stoked with the trip and may have been a little weary on the day in question after the bright lights of Melbourne kept him awake to the wee hours.

Andrew has carted a lot of timber for us and is an extremely efficient operator who possess a lot of mechanical knowledge. Hopefully see this rocket on the road in the coming months.

The year has flown by already as we are now in March and the footy season kicks off tomorrow. Be sure to get on to the footy tips and try and chase down Sandy the footy tipping guru. As always stay safe and be ever vigilant with the weather finally heating up.

Log On, Reddog

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UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS MARCH 1ST - BRADY BIGGS 2ND - DAVID CROSS 3RD - ANDREW SMITH 4TH - VERNON MANSELL 10TH - PAUL HARRIS 13TH - STEVE KLEMM 17TH - TYLER HOWLETT

APRIL 1ST - KEV GRITTON 11TH - NICOLE MERRETT 13TH - ADAM MERRETT 15TH - ADAM SEALEY 21ST - KATE BRAUN 24TH - DEAN HARRIP 24TH - ALLAN COUTTS 28TH - BOB RYAN 29TH - ALEX MOORE 29TH - ANDREW NOTT

TILBYS TIMBER TRAIL

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CURRENT WORKSITES We have hit the 3rd month of the year already! Christmas is way back in the rear view mirror and winter sports are just around the corner!

There has been a few different production issues to deal with, mainly around the downturn in parts of the blue gum market, to the credit of those we work for we have been able to keep some wood flowing and keep all operators busy.

All pine markets appear to be going well the latest to come back onboard being the posts. We are doing about 2 loads of posts a day across the T2 and T3 after not doing any for a few months Around the Jobs...

OFO – Cave Range

Timberlands – T2 Killara South

One of the more challenging jobs this crew has faced

The crew have had a few months now at Killara South

working next door to the world famous Naracoorte

and have had a fair array of products to chase as they

Caves, there was a large amount of variability across the

have made their way across the blocks. The balance of

plantation and even a section we had to keep clear of

forwarding V harvesting has been the challenge, it is

due to the “flying foxes” moving in.

hard at any jobs to get this balance right but it has been nearly impossible here which has made it hard going at

Timber wise the quality wasn’t fantastic but hopefully

times for the crew. Posts being back on has thrown

after a good thinning the bush will improve for the next

another challenge at the crew but they have done it well

harvest crew. Export has been the main priority up that

and the quality of the posts have been good. The product

way with some Maccas log into Mt Gambier and the odd

range has included chip, Export 3.9m and 4.9m, Random

load of posts as the bush allowed it. Once complete the

Length Pulp and Maccas 3.7m.

crew will head out to the Wattle Range area.

TILBYS TIMBER TRAIL

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Timberlands -T3 Myaring The Myaring West crew have moved about 2km east to the Myaring T3 section, trees look good and the production continues to move along well. Myaring West had a few challenges for the crew including a potentially extremely situation with a machine fire that was contained to a very small area and put out by the fast thinking of the whole crew. There was also some steep terrain down towards the Glenelg river that the crew handled well. The crew are back cutting some loads of strainers as part of the resurgence in the post game along with plenty of local log and nice amount of export log for Portland. Myaring is much flatter and the crew are already well underway there Timberlands – T3 Gills The Gills crew have started in the last week after finishing at Penola Park, the trees are good and the crew have been productive. It is nice going back to jobs where we have thinned and see how the bush has benefited from it, the same crew were responsible for the second thinning of this bush a few years ago. Currently this our closest job to Penola at about 25km out of town, the crew have built a good amount of stock quickly with Tarpeena sawlog and export being the main products. This crew will head closer to town once complete in the next few weeks to Tooloy, just off Border road.

Timberlands – Clear Fall Heatherlie Hetherlie has been a job with plenty of variables to contend with for the crew in particular since the start of the year but to their credit all hurdles have been leapt and with only a week to go we will be on the move to Myaring West just up the road. Creeks, Rivers, Native areas, Neighbours, Steep terrain, T2 CF trees, Powerlines, long extraction and some large ugly trees scattered through some sections it is fair to say that each day has had its challenges but the end is near.

Myaring west has an average tree size of 1.25 which should make for some good production, there is a few obstacles through there also but not as many as Heatherlie!

Timberlands – Clear Fall Werrikoo and Wildling Removal Job It has been a hive of activity out at Werrikoo with the normal clear fall crew doing the normal harvesting and Pete doing the challenging Wildling removal work along and at times nearly in the creek! The work done along there looks fantastic and makes a huge difference to the landscape out there. Productivity has been good out that way and like normal at the clear fall the sawlog has been the big mover with only about 15% heading down to export. The crew will finish over the next 2 weeks and make their way to Killara North to chop about 15000t down there.

ABP – Callendale South The crew out that way has reduced due to a reduction in the weekly quota. Chappy is doing all the chopping at this stage to cover off on the 180t needed for each day. Notty is spreading himself between this job and the job to the north as needed. The jon job continues to prove handy to help get a few trucks down to the Heywood area to then go and get their next load.

TILBYS TIMBER TRAIL

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ABP – Spencer It is nearly time for the crew to move out and around the corner to Geberts. We have had a couple of goes at Spencer and the crew have done a great job in there working closely with the koala spotters to ensure we are looking after the safety of our furry friends. This crew is currently doing the larger portion of our ABP quota with about 300t a day coming off the site. A major breakdown with Elmos machines has resulted in a bit of moving around but we have made it work with Will moving down that way to cover.

Midway – Callendale North The crew continue to mow down the burnt wood out that way with nearly 2000t a week making its way to Geelong, we have been using a combination of our own trucks and sub contractors to get the quota in. The crew still have plenty to get through out there and will at this stage spend the winter months out there getting it done.

SWF – Warners Warners has experienced some fluctuations with quotas, at one stage they were as high as 500t a day but have now settled in at around 300t per day. The crew have had a few fire bans as they are part of the Wimmera district which has encountered some Catastrophic conditions. Like all jobs at the moment there is no shortage of dust and heat!

Keep up the good work across all sites!

STARTS TONIGHT!

2024

AFL TIPPING COMP

1ST PRIZE $600 2ND PRIZE $300 3RD PRIZE $100 FREE TO ENTER HTTPS://WWW.FOOTYTIPS.COM.AU/COMPS /MERRETT_LOGGING

KEVS SAFETY SUMMARY

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As we dive headfirst into the new year, the company has been buzzing with activity. With multiple new operations kicking off and an influx of fresh faces and machinery, it's been a full-on effort from everyone involved. Each member of our team has been rolling up their sleeves and pitching in to keep things running safely and smoothly. From top to bottom, everyone has been contributing, and it's been extremely impressive to see. We're incredibly proud of the commitment and effort shown by every single staff member as we tackle these undeniably busy and demanding times.

One of the highlights of this bustling period has been witnessing the outstanding preparedness and response of our operators to recent incidents, particularly in the face of fires. From quick thinking to seamless teamwork, our crews have shown exemplary skills and dedication to safety that make us proud to call them our own.

At Callendale Station North, our crew members quick thinking and cohesive actions played a critical role in preventing a grass fire from escalating out of control. Their swift response ensured that potential damage was minimized, reflecting their commitment to protecting our assets and the surrounding environment and most importantly, the protection of life.

Similarly, at Myaring West, when a forwarder caught fire, our operators sprang into action in textbook fashion. They wasted no time activating the fire suppression system and initiating clear communication protocols. What truly sets this incident apart is the remarkable teamwork displayed by our staff. Colleagues rallied together, providing additional firefighting resources and ensuring that the situation was swiftly brought under control, preventing potential loss of assets and, most importantly, lives.

Effective communication, knowledge of response procedures, and seamless teamwork were the cornerstones of these successful interventions. It's moments like these that highlight the strength and unity of our crews and reinforce our commitment to safety above all else.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, we've also been impressed by the general communication from all staff and the proactive efforts of our operators and truck drivers in identifying potential hazards within harvest zones and on the road. Their attentiveness and responsiveness have been instrumental in ensuring a safe working environment, despite the heightened risks associated with the season.

As we move forward, let's carry the lessons learned from these experiences with us. Let's continue to prioritize safety, communication, and teamwork in all that we do. Together, we've shown that we are up to meeting any challenge head on when we work as one.

Thank you to each and every one of you for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to keeping yourselves and your workmates safe.

Remember safety never sleeps.

Kev Safety awards go to Jase and Chappy at Callendale Nth and the Myaring West crew of Crooky, Sealey, Nicko, Sauce and Ted

KESSAHS COMPLIANCE

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As we wait for the long awaited arrival of the new Kenworth K220, our permitted network is starting to take shape. We have also been working with Timberlands to ensure we have networks for any plantations that will come up in the future – it would be nice to think we are a step ahead and prepared.

In the meantime the boys have managed to sneak in a couple extra purchases, with a float truck and B-Double both 909’s landing in the fleet mid March.

In the next couple of months we hope to have a few things finalised that have been bubbling away in the background. With the closing of the 3G and the renewal of new contracts the next couple months will see a lot of our Trucks and fleet vehicles filter through the workshop for upgrades to Trackers, Guardian units and some ifaces. There is lots of positive talk with the closing of 3G making way for 4G & 5G to use that infrastructure, we are hoping that is the way it plays out.

We are really pleased to have the crew from Fosters Haulage getting onboard the technology bandwagon with installations of Guardian unit, Teletrac Navman trackers and Ifaces, making reporting and compliance simpler.

Elphinstone and Teletrac Navman have been doing trials and are now about to finalise their accreditation for the Smart OBM technology that is to be used by our fleet of A-Doubles, this will also mean an update to some of the hardware in these trucks, once again this should all be done by the end of April.

Over the past couple months we have had some positive feedback from the general public about good driving practices and courteous behaviours of our drivers. It is great to see you all representing Merrett Logging in this way. Behaviours like reduced speed past private properties, exercisers and stock does not go unnoticed. Keep it up!

We have our NHVR Mass and Maintenance Audit coming up in mid April. I have been fortunate to step into a role that has been policies and procedures in place to make our preparation straight forward. I would like to thank all the drivers for doing their bit, it is the little things that you do each day that make my job a lot easier. I have appreciated the opportunity to learn from all your industry experience.

HOGGYS HAULAGE HEADLINES

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Boy o boy, where has the first 2 months of the year gone… GONE! That’s where, gone to a busy start of just everything.

Anywhere you look that has a Merrett Logging sticker on it, has been busy!

It reminds me of the days when Smithy use to start at sparrow’s fart and we were talking about him one day at the shed and John said, “Smithy starts that early that he will go to start work one day and his truck won’t be there as he will already be in it”. Talking Reven Smithers, he ticked over 20 years’ service not long ago and we thought we better treat him and take him to Melbourne for a look at his new K220. Much fun was had, and some great knowledge shared from the Kenworth and Cummins staff had us spoilt to them bream. Unfortunately for Smithy, I thought it was a better idea to check out the bars in the city, that made it a long day for the factory tour but heck, you only live once…

Another 20 years’ service is fast approaching, we have Ted (Edmond) Pitman sneaking up for this on the 22nd of March 2024. What a story from a bloke I met at footy playing at Glenelg in the juniors, I made mates with his son, Ted would help get the gear ready and his wife, Leanne would be there anytime to cart us around. Ted decided when I jet setted back for the country life that the city was not his calling and asked, “you got a job for me?”. The rest is history, Ted started on the post run and worked his way up into B doubles and carting all sorts around the southeast. Ted’s last 5 or so years he has been loading trucks most of the time and just getting stuck in. Ted has had 2 knee replacements, 1 hip replacement, and fell over and fractured his spine last Christmas! But still just wants to get up and get the job done. What a bloke, better mate and all-round top fella!

Trucks are big, bad and bloody sexy, so keeping them clean for the general public is a must. Most of our staff pride themselves to keep them clean even though they do big hours all week, thanks to our drivers for keeping them clean.

Truck maintenance for us is critical, we have a strict schedule to have our units over the pit every 5,000kms for a grease and check then every 20,000km for an oil change and check. That works out to be every 8 to 10 days our units are crossing our pit for piece of mind. On top of that, we pull every truck and trailer off the road once a year for it’s “annual”.

The annual is a full front back check on every moving part or bit that can be worn, this is what gives us reliability up and down the round day in and day out. It also provides confidence to our drivers and gives our company less ‘day-to-day’ roadside issues. Well done to the maintenance crew for your ongoing commitment to our program.

Kessah, you have joined our team, and it feels like you have been here forever! Your ongoing learning and attention to detail is amazing! Keep asking questions and “poking the bear” when needed. There is a lot that goes on to keep our compliance on road to the highest standard, from drivers to management, we all have an important job.

Production has been up from last year to date, increase in our clear fall operations and our thinning’s crews are running hotter than Tay Tay’s latest concert’s…did I say I went to Pink last week, she was on fire too Local blue gum deliveries started the year well, back at 100% but has slowed to 60/70% but manageable, Midway Geelong deliveries have been strong offering weekend work for the truckies which hasn’t happened since mid-last year.

😊

The pine post-game had been very quiet but the flood gates have opened in the last month, which has had the 3 postman pats busy and the forwarder drivers back on the match sticks. Good quality as always cut, extracted and delivered. Well done getting them sorted so quick lads.

Fatigue! It’s a real problem on roads, however we have had a great start to the year with minimal problems or events coming through. Thanks to the drivers for keeping safe and well rested away from the wheel!!! All in all, the start of the year has been top notch with seamless movements of quality timber across the green triangle.

Stay safe and LOG ON.

EMPLOYEE PROFILE

Name

Justin Robbie

Nickname

JR

How long have you worked at Merrett Logging

6 Weeks

What do you enjoy about your job?

Learning an industry I knew nothing about

Any Pets?

Nope

Favourite Employee

Too Early to Tell

Favourite Movie

The Shawshank Redemption

3 Things on Your Bucket List

Holiday to the Maldives, Lords for an Ashes Test, Skiing in Whistler

Stranded On An Island, What Are Your 3 Essential Items?

Endless supply of West End, Kayo & a Beach Towel

What would your last meal be?

Can’t beat Roast Lamb

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?

Honeycomb

How do you have your steak cooked?

The rare side of medium

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