By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
THE 2015 Timber Memorial Service will be held at the Heritage Pioneers Chapel in Woori Yallock to commemorate those in the timber industry who have lost their lives.
The service will begin at 11am on Saturday 17 October, and will be a time to reflect, remember and pay tribute to the men and women from the timber industry who are no longer with the community.
This year, the service will pay special tribute to the Walker families of the Yarra Valley and Marysville, among others who were integral to the timber industry in the area.
The Heritage Pioneers Chapel was built to care for families in the Yarra Valley affected by the loss of a loved one in their line of work.
It was dedicated to the timber workers of Victoria as a place of honour to the industry and to ensure the memories of those hard, risky days are not forgotten by the workers.
The memorial service has steadily grown in numbers since its inception in 2009, with truck drivers, log carters, sawmillers, fallers and all who have contributed to the timber industry remembered.
The chapel includes a huge red gum log stump that stands as the lectern in the chapel. The red gum trunk from the Barmah forest in northern Victoria is over six feet wide and was dedicated to the memory of Keith ‘Bones’ Poynton, who was killed in a logging accident at Mount Beauty in 2006.
Families who would like to have relatives remembered at this year’s service are asked to submit photos and information to form an honour roll of workers.
To include a loved one’s memories in the forthcomingTimber Memorial Service, photos, stories and memorabilia must be submitted by 9 October.
They can be dropped (by appointment) to the Heritage Pioneers Chapel at 1414 Healesville-Kooweerup Road, Woori Yallock, or emailed to Leonie Lang on info@heritagefunerals.com.au.
Ensure all information is clearly marked with the name of the person to be remembered and contact details for return of photos. For further information, call Leonie Lang on 5964 6500.
