Ashburton Courier: August 25, 2022

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Tracy Burrows and Michael May at work. PHOTO: Supplied
Geraldines award-winning loggers
WhenGeraldine wasfounded in the1850s,
it was first known as Talbot Forest, and
logging was the principalindustry. Logging
in Talbot Forest is now history, but for
two Geraldine couples, the loggingtradition
continues in the district, and it does so to
an award-winning standard.
Helen and Michael May and Averill
andTracyBurrows bought their company,
Cable Logging GeraldineLtd, from Michael
andTracysemployer21years ago. Theirs
is averyspecialist enterprise, extracting
timber from the steep slopes of forests
belonging to Port Blakely NZ Ltd.
So goodare they at the job they do that
the recently formed Canterbury West Coast
Wood Council(CWCWC) recently awarded
them acertificate ofachievement as
Contractor of the Year for 2021. The
ceremony was held over to this yearbecause
of Covid. In makingthe award, CWCWC
commendedthe firms leadership,culture,
commitment to people, health and safety
standards and investment in innovative
technology. Inacceptingthe award, Michael
May thanked theircrew; GlenPaul, Roger
Lange,Jim Brown,Brittney Burrows, Cam
Luxton and Jason Hanson, who were all
in attendance. He paid special thanks to
Port Blakley for their support over the
years, saying, They are the best forest
company to contract to.
Michael says they have ahigh-tech
approach toworking on the hill. If you
go out to Moana Gorge, you have an idea
of theterrainweare dealing with. We keep
our workers off the hill for safety and fell
and extract the logs remotely as much as
possible. Helen May says, We work very
close to Geraldine, but most people have
no idea what we do.
While Helen and Averill are officebased,
Tracy and Averills daughter Brittney
Kircher is part of the crew. She has been
nominated for an award at the Southern
Wood Council Awards for Women in
Forestry, which will be held in Dunedin
this coming Friday. HUGH MCCAFFERTY
BERRY | CHARCOAL | DENIM
The OldPo
dPost Office, Geraldine
PHONE 03 6939070
OPEN 7 DAYS
geraldine
toylibrary
OPENING HOURS:
TUES 10.30am-12pm |SAT 2pm-3.30pm
117 Talbot Street, Geraldine |geraldine.mibase.co.nz
Verde staff with new owners chef Joe McKenzie (at rear) and David Keen (at right). PHOTO: Supplied
Cafe Verde has afriendly vibe says new owner
Popular Geraldine eatery Cafe Verde is
under new management.Co-owner Dave
Keen isquick to assure regulars that no
dramatic changes are planned. He says,
It has remained more or less the same
through the three previous owners and
works well.
On the other hand,co-ownerand chef
Joe McKenzie,who has aminor share in
the business, says he plans to introduce
afew new ideas to the menu. Joe has 15
yearsexperience as achef,both overseas
andmore recentlyfor atimeatthe Oxford
in Timaru.
While Dave got behind thecounter for
the photo, hesays heplans to keep his
feet firmly on the otherside.Ican make
acoffee,but Ill leaveittothe staff.Theyre
great. Some have been with the café for
years. Itisavery positive culture,like
afamily. Lotsofthem evencome in for a
coffee on theirdays off.The friendlyvibe
is what makes it special. Theowners change,
but the culture stays the same.
Dave is no stranger to the hospitality
business, owning the Barn in Waimate.
He is better known inGeraldine as the
presidentand managerofthe goldenoldies
rugby team, the Raukāpuka Roosters.He
also sits on the Geraldine Rugby Football
Club committeeand is partofthe jubilee
planning committee. In between,heisan
agronomist with PG Wrightson Seeds.
HUGH MCCAFFERTY