By JESSE GRAHAM
A HEALESVILLE community icon has been recognised for his work with the timber industry, which he said helps the community and often gets a bad rap.
Chamber of Commerce president Graham Taylor was awarded for his community support by the Victorian Association of Forest Industries (VAFI) on Friday 15 November.
VAFI CEO Lisa Marty said that Mr Taylor’s award came from his ongoing contribution to the industry, to business and tourism, with an emphasis on the forestry work donated to the Yarra Valley Railway earlier this year.
Ms Marty said that Mr Taylor had organised the work, which totalled more than $500,000 in donated labour and machinery used by Friends of Forestry (FoF) to remove a number of pine trees along the railway’s path.
“It’s really important – the industry is part of the fabric of the local community and the work that Graham has done shows that contribution is valued,” she said.
“It’s also important to recognise that Graham is a pillar of the local community and has done a lot of work to support community events, charity and local business commerce generally.”
Mr Taylor said he was embarrassed but appreciated the award, which he believes is symbolic for anyone who has “gone in to bat” for the timber industry.
“The timber industry is the backbone of this area and one of the first ones to get in and help,” he said.
“It annoys the life out of me that hardworking old families in this area get treated like lepers.”
He said that the industry often works with the community to minimise any harm, giving the example of the Leadbeater’s Possum Advisory Group (LPAG), which is currently chaired by VicForests and Zoos Victoria.
“VicForests is so stringent and aware of the situation, and I believe the panel will take the best logical approach to make the situation for the Leadbeater’s possum better,” Mr Taylor said.
The advisory group is set to hand its recommendations to the Victorian Government in the near future, with $1 million allocated to implement the group’s recommendation.
