Glenreagh Timber Festival

Just a few days to go and Glenreagh will be buzzing with activity as the Seventh Annual Timber Festival kicks off at 9.30am with the first demonstration of the day with the sheep dog trials followed by the first heat of the Woodchop Competition.

The Festival celebrates and preserves the culture and skills developed and used by our ancestors, the pioneers of this district. Many of those pioneers settled in the area and their descendent families still live here and many will be represented on Saturday. These early pioneers built the timber industry up until it's peak in the 1930's to 1960's when other materials began to replace timber, but it is still a thriving and vital industry today.

One of the pioneer families is that of the Shipman's. Fred Shipman was one such a man who was a former Champion and regularly competed until only a few years ago. Sadly Fred died earlier this year and to commemorate his passing we are  naming the 300mm underhand block Championship in his honour. However the tradition carries on and Fred's sons are very much involved in this Festival.

Among the timber industry and its associated skills, apart from woodchopping, being showcased on Saturday will be sleeper cutting with broad axes, fence post splitting, blacksmiths practising their art and in attendance a wooden boat builder with a steam powered pinnace on show.

The above events will be supported by wood craft stalls and woodcraft demonstrations, timber industry memorabilia photographs and tools displays.

Hunger and thirst will be catered for with plenty of food and drink available. There will be a giant Market with over 50 stalls booked in for the event.

Entry to the festival will be $4 per adult, $2 per child, children under 5 years free. Car parking on the Recreation Grounds is free.