Heyfield Timber Workers Hall of Fame
Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (16:22): I rise today to pay tribute to the men and women of the Gippsland timber industry, specifically those who were recently inducted to the Heyfield Timber Workers Hall of Fame. There were 12 inductees on the day, but I specifically want to congratulate those from the Gippsland South electorate. The Leeson family of Rosedale were inducted as the first multigenerational hall of fame members – currently three generations in and counting. The Leesons have had a strong history in the timber industry broadly and are currently key players in the plantation softwood industry and major employers across our region. Frank Balcombe from Toongabbie and the late Ernie Hug Snr were other inductees, and it was great to see Mr Hug’s family members there, including daughter-in-law Kaylene Wheeler and her children Bernadene Voss and Ernie Hug Jnr. The timber industry remains strong, despite the Labor government’s disastrous policy to shut down the native sector, and it will endure thanks to the people like those behind the hall of fame.