Grant Puklowski is the toast of the Top of the South Forestry Awards after heading home a highly competitive group of his peers to win the Skilled Professional of the Year title 2022 at the TOTS Forestry Awards.
He’s celebrated as a true leader in the industry, a mentor to many, and one who genuinely cares about his team at Puklowski Silviculture, their work, their clients and the ongoing future of forestry.
Mr Puklowski, who earlier in the evening also won the Forestry Excellence certificate, is one of OneFortyOne’s highest-performing silviculture contractors, but he’s quick to share the praise with his team. He invests a lot into training his team and making sure they are well looked after, and that continues to pay off for him with many who have stayed with him for 20-plus years. A leader by example, he also takes on school leavers training them up and giving them a chance in the industry. A 30-year veteran in forestry, Mr Puklowski followed his father into the industry, just as his own children are now working alongside him.
Those who know him say he exemplifies forestry excellence in every aspect. Tonight, also saw the first induction into the Hall of Fame, with Darryl Bird acknowledged for the significant role he has played in the Logging and Forestry Industry Training Board and his contribution to the wider industry. Mr Bird has trained and assessed so many over the years and played a huge part in helping to create the industry that it is today.
Mike Fraser of Fraser Logging was honoured as the Hero of the Industry for his massive investment, contribution and input to forestry in the region.
The Crew of the Year Award went to Bryant Logging 730 Hauler Crew with Kelly Logging taking the Outstanding Environmental Management crown, Steve Borlase from Borlase Transport walking off with the Outstanding Health and Safety Management Award, and Buck Forestry Services rewarded with the Outstanding Regional Service Performance award.
MC Jeremy Corbett kept the sell-out 550-strong crowd well entertained at the Trafalgar Centre in Nelson. The awards, which were started in 2019, have had a lucky run, being able to slide through between lockdowns last year. This is third awards evening that has seen the wider industry come together to celebrate all that is good about forestry and the men and women who make it happen.
The region has weathered well the past two years that have really challenged others. Nathan Taylor, committee chair said it had not felt the brunt of COVID and its related issues, like other regions had. “The diversity of the top of the south has really been to our advantage,” he said. Sawmilling was done locally in Nelson and Marlborough and there hadn’t been the problems with shipping that had been felt elsewhere. A minority of the region’s timber heads out over the port.
“Many forest companies have got in behind our rural communities, which is the secret to success,” he said.
Innovation was also key to the region, with many firsts in the use of new technology. “We are a region that looks after each other, while also seeking to be true leaders in forestry, and I think we can all see that clearly.”
He tipped his hat to the transition from Competenz through to the new Te Pukenga ROVE entity to ensure there would continue to be a good flow of young people coming into the industry.
