Sawdust
"I’m known all over New Zealand as Sawdust."
"When we left the mill we were all covered in sawdust. We used to go to the pub - four guys and me, had our little corner. By the time we left there was about half a metre of sawdust on the floor. I was called Chuck for a start, and it evolved to Sawdust.
I was not a particularly bright child at school; I was good at woodwork, geography, and things like that. I came here to Akaroa High School. When I was 18, I went into my compulsory military training. That was very successful. I stayed a wee bit long which took us on big trips to Fiji and whatever areas needed peacekeeping overseas.
I did firewood from the age of 15. I built my own saw bench in those days. I bought an Austin Seven, I jacked this Austin Seven up in the air, put the belt on the back wheel and built a sawbench.
My father saw an opening after all the sawmills in Banks Peninsula closed down after 1890. They planted macrocarpa and pine trees to get shelter, and because the trees were big enough to mill he started milling over there in 1945 then we shifted from Okains Bay to Duvauchelle Bay.
I got pretty well involved with it, you know. Dealing with builders all the time and cutting timber for their houses or whatever they were doing. Timber was cut at the sawmill at Duvauchelle - some of it went to the Chatham Islands. The first chainsaws arrived in about 1950 - sometimes it took longer to get the chainsaw going and than if you cut it with a hand saw!
It took me four years to build my house, all made of macrocarpa. I had to keep my business going as well. That's a real thing of self-satisfaction. Going to the bays, cutting down the tree, carting it, sawing it up, bringing it here and building a house out of that - not many people get that opportunity."
- Don (Sawdust)
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org...
Poll: Have you ever been bullied?
People associate bullying with children in schools, but it can actually stretch beyond childhood to workplaces or neighbourhoods.
This Friday is Pink Shirt Day, which began in Canada in 2007 when two students took a stand against homophobic bullying after a new student was harassed for wearing pink. People across the globe are now encouraged to wear pink on this day to take a stand against bullying and promote inclusivity.
Have you or your whānau ever experienced bullying? Share your thoughts on Pink Shirt Day below.
Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the Conversations column of your local paper.
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79.7% Yes
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19.9% No
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0.4% Other - I'll share below
Five Autumn gardening ideas
Hello there!
I love Autumn... The cooler temperatures and changing colours make for a lovely peaceful environment.
If you're looking for inspiration for things to do in the garden at this beautiful time of year, I've put together a list 5 things you could consider. So grab your gloves and let's get started!
1. Harvest fruits and vegetables: Autumn is the time to harvest your crops, such as apples, pears, plums etc. Make sure to pick them before the first frost and store them in a cool, dry place.
2. Plant bulbs for spring: Autumn is the perfect time to plant bulbs like daffodils and tulips, which will produce beautiful blooms in the spring.
3.Clean out garden beds: Before winter sets in, clear out any spent annuals, weeds, and other debris from garden beds. You can also consider adding compost or other organic matter to enrich the soil for next season.
4. Plant autumn flowers: While the weather is cooler, it's a great time to plant autumn flowers such as pansies, chrysanthemums, and asters. These will add some colour to your garden and thrive in the cooler temperatures.
5. Rake up fallen leaves: As the trees begin to shed their leaves, it's important to keep them off the lawn and other areas where they can smother plants or become a slipping hazard.
Give me a call if we can help - 0223 76 79 78
Social climber
Building framed bunk beds and finishing with curtains, Resene Indian Ink and Resene Colorwood Bark elevates the bach classic. Kids also love them at home. Find out how to create your own with these easy step by step instructions.
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