Firefighter stars in new display
From the Autumn 2007 edition of Bush Telegraph Magazine.
Hunter Valley bushfire fighting legend Cec Gavenlock has been immortalised in a new display at the Timbertown heritage village at Wauchope on the NSW mid north coast.
Cec has become a cardboard cut-out figure, fully decked out in his Forests NSW overalls, hard hat and rake hoe, behind which visitors stand to have their photograph taken.
Close by, there is a fire tanker and a fire scene.
“Port Macquarie – Hastings Council and Timbertown have created a new entrance which reflects their theme of a ‘step back in time’,” says NSW Department of Primary Industries education coordinator, Carmen Perry.
“Forests NSW developed the concept for the foyer and donated $5000 plus the writing, design and photographic work for key parts of the project.”
The entrance walk begins with colour posters and interpretations of forestry in today’s world, as told by foresters, ecologists and Aboriginal cultural heritage officers.
There is a re-creation of a forest floor that visitors can touch and feel.
Visitors will then move to a façade of a modern building showing how timber is used today.
When they pass through, they reach a timbergetter’s house of the 1890s, and move into the world of the sleepercutter and bullocky.
“Timbertown has created a place for regional events, including a schools education program,” Carmen said. “It is an educational experience the kids can actually live.”
Timbertown is on the Oxley Highway a few kilometres west of Wauchope.It is an entire village set in 87 acres of natural forest and has attracted more than two million visitors since it opened in 1976.
A steam train still runs, timber is still sawn and the bullock team still hauls its load of timber.
Public Affairs & Media, Coffs Harbour
