The state’s woodchopping sports fraternity is mourning the recent loss of one of its favourite locals, Korweinguboora’s Harold Suckling.
Mr Suckling’s dedication to responsible management of the timber industry in which he worked – hands-on – for much of his life, and his prowess as a champion woodchopper led to widespread recognition in his community and much further afield.
Harold passed away on August 23 at the age of 79 after many years of receiving dialysis. However his loss still came as a shock. Behind him this well-known local has left a legacy of many friends and of advocating for the responsible management of the forests in which he spent so much of his life.
His daughter Linda says her father’s recognition particularly in woodchopping circles meant that he had made friends nationwide.
“He had a very welcoming character,” Linda says. “Everyone knew him. You could go anywhere and people knew him. He’d stop and talk to everyone and say g’day to anyone.”

Highlights of Harold’s life ranged from taking tea with former Prime Minister John Howard in 2005 when he was advocating for his industry sector, to taking out numerous woodchopping championships including those at famed local events in Glenlyon, Blackwood and Daylesford.

Harold’s prowess in the sport saw him travel Australia to compete successfully in numerous high-profile woodchopping events and later, together with his son Gary, in crosscut-sawing events. Father and son made a formidable team, frequently dominating their sport at events.
In 2002 Harold was squad captain for the Victorian woodchopping side that competed in Perth to take out the state titles three-nil.
Born and bred in Korweinguboora where he resided all his life, the young Harold entered the timber industry at the tender age of 14, working at his father’s Barkstead sawmill initially before branching out more widely in the sector.
He went on to become president of the Central Highlands branch of Timber Communities Australia (TCA).
Former TCA state manager Kersten Gentle once previously reported that Harold had “dedicated his working life to the wellbeing of the forest and wood products industry, leading a team of passionate volunteers who either worked in or supported the sector”.
As president of the TCA branch he engaged with politicians, interacted with the media, gave talks at schools and generously offered his time at local shows, Ms Gentle had reported when Harold was earlier undergoing dialysis.
Having spent many years of his life as a timber worker Harold’s “affinity for the forest was deeply ingrained,” Ms Gentle wrote, adding: “he grew up with sawdust in his boots cherishing the laborious work in this natural setting”.
Gentle had also reported that Harold: “worked to ensure the forests were responsibly managed by replanting one to three seedlings for every tree harvested”.
“In his capacity as president of the TCA branch Harold actively engaged with politicians from all sides of the spectrum. He met with ministers at Victoria’s Parliament House and orchestrated forest tours for key decision makers. Due to his tireless efforts timber workers who faced job displacement received appropriate compensation with provisions for retraining for those in need.”
As part of TCA Harold attended conferences in Canberra, Tasmania and Western Australia. Through his infectious charm he forged lasting friendships nationwide while woodchop events he helped to organise became significant fundraisers for local causes including the Daylesford Hospital.
Harold also served as president of the Midland Axemen’s Association for a quarter of a century and was made a life member. The association has described him as “a true legend of our club,” in its recent online post announcing his passing.
Harold once appeared on Channel Seven’s World of Sport much to the delight and entertainment of his family who also have especially fond memories of watching him compete in woodchopping events at the Royal Melbourne Show.
“Growing up as kids we’d be in the car and be off to the Melbourne show to watch him compete,” Linda says. “He loved family and he loved family life and teaching the kids, especially the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

Harold is survived by his wife of 58 years, Gwen. “But we were actually together for 61 years,” Gwen says.
Harold is also survived by the couple’s children Linda, Gary and Kerrie, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
While there’s a lane in Korweinguboora that already bears the Suckling name, Gary says it’s definitely on the cards that some kind of lasting memorial to his father, perhaps a woodchopping event, will be named in Harold’s honour. Watch this space.
Words: Eve Lamb | Images: Kyle Barnes (top image) and Contributed

KORWEINGUBOORA local Abigail (Abbey) Wehrung loves where she lives on the fringes of the Wombat Forest.

Surrounded by her menagerie of animals including nine horses, dogs, chooks and a goat, she knows there is no place like home. But her day job as a professional women’s basketball star is constantly demanding her time, energy and commitment.

As well as local games she was part of the Australian women’s national basketball team (The Opals) in the 2021 Asia Cup in Jordan, taking third place. Abbey was born in Daylesford in 1995 and began her professional basketball career in 2014 when she joined the Canberra Capitals competing in the Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) but her interest goes back many years before that.

One of three competitive siblings, she began by playing basketball with her dad Duane in the backyard. Unfortunately he died before seeing Abbey begin playing organised matches at the age of nine.

After rising through the junior leagues in Ballarat and making her international debut at the 2011 FIBA U16 Oceania Championship, she won a scholarship to study at the Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, graduating in 2013.

“When I first moved away it was really hard,” recalls Abbey.“It was just Mum and my two brothers at home and I was pretty used to the country lifestyle and a quiet household. It was a bit of a shock to the system initially. It is always hard moving away and leaving. I just love home so much.”

However travel has remained a large part of Abbey’s life and sports career. She did four years with the Canberra Capitals and during the off seasons would come back and play with the Ballarat Rush in what was the South East Australian Basketball League (SEABL) competition now known as NBL1 South.

“After I finished with the Caps (Canberra Capitals) I came home and played for Bendigo Spirit in the Women’s National Basketball League before joining Adelaide Lightning. Now I’m back for another season with Bendigo Spirit again. So I’m back home, which is really nice.”

To maintain this form of high level commitment is trying for any talented player no matter what sport they play but Abbey must call on an inner strength beyond that of many of her colleagues. In 2020 Abbey along with her brothers Nathan and Dan also lost their mother Kerryn; a loss that put an incredible strain on Abbey’s sporting commitments, almost prompting her to retire.

“Mum did a tremendous job raising and supporting us when Dad passed. To then lose her was really hard. I had to go to Adelaide pretty soon after and I kinda tossed and turned about whether I went or stayed home. But I knew she would not have wanted me to stop so you just kind of have to keep going. I know she would be looking over us happy that we are still happy and finding joy in, kind of a shit storm, I guess.”

To embody this form of personal loss says so much about Abbey’s personal motivation and personal resilience; qualities she will have to call on again and again with more trips away from her beloved Korweinguboora. And while she is developing business plans to put in place post-career, at this stage she considers herself blessed to be able to purely focus on basketball as a job with all the future experiences it can offer.

“Female athletes, specifically basketballers don’t really hit their peak until 28-29,” she says, “and I’m just enjoying it while I can. My next goal is to make the Opals squad again and hopefully take part in the 2024 Paris Olympics.”

Words: Tony Sawrey | Top image: Contributed |On court action image: Craig Dilks