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Forest Service headquarters, Granville Forest
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DescriptionForest Service headquarters, Granville Forest. Office and workshops in the foreground; at the far end of the nursery is the camp.
From the book
Historical Survey of the Grey County 1877 to 1960
By Mr and Mrs Victor Hawker on behalf of the Grey County CouncilMap[1]
From the book
Historical Survey of the Grey County 1877 to 1960
By Mr and Mrs Victor Hawker on behalf of the Grey County CouncilMap[1]
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)Totara FlatOrganisation (eg business)Forestry ServiceEventForest Service headquarters, Granville Forest
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Category TagForestry
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Date Created17th July 2019CommentsBarbara Macilquham We lived in the cul de sac of 5 houses.loved living there!!awesome weather!!
Jim Galloway My Father worked there, and ran the nursery until he retired in the mid 1960's. George Jones was the boss, (known as the camp commandant). Single mens huts up the far end with the cook house (the larger building in font of the huts).In the mid section,…See More
Glenn Johnston Mason Woolhouse and Arthur Green were there when I was there. George Jones was still at Totara Flat but had retired. Arthur was not a mechanic but a groundsman when I was there unless there were two Arthur Greens? Rod Sheedy was the mechanic and one of the Gallaghers, Kevin? was too. His brother Brian (Foxy) worked at the nursery.
Jim Galloway Sorry Glenn, it was Dave Green who was the mechanic. (might have been Arthurs brother) He was married and lived in one of the new houses in the wee side street not in the photo. George Jones and Bill Kissell lived in those houses as well. This was the …See More
Glenn Johnston Remember one Sheehan from Totara Flat days. Nickname "Nippy" was the name Neville? His father drove Road Service buses and they were from Blackball.
Alan Sheehan Glenn Johnston yep he is my cousin, now has the Nelson Creek Pub.
John Campbell Rod Sheedy was the mehanic, Sam Burrows the carpenter and Arthur Green was the groundsman when I was growing up in Totara Flat. A few I can remember were Neville (Pattsie) Clyne, Red Robertson, Lyndsay Moore, Roger De Malmunche (not sure of spelling), Jack Burbeck, The Kissell's
Colleen Rogers My goodness remember them all loved living there Tom and I lived in one of the houses with the kissells, champions birkbecks the Jones my those were great days all our children about the same age great times
Glenn Johnston Colleen Rogers I worked for Tom whilst in the Bay of Plenty during Timberlands and Forestry Corp days and he loved talking about his forestry days on the West Coast, sport and fishing. I last met him at the time of the Kiwi Rugby Centennial in Hokitika when he visited an Excelsior gathering to pay his respects to old adversaries. He once told me that one of the happiest times in his life was when he was supervising the development work of Hochstetter Forest when based at Totara Flat. In 1966 my uncle and father took me to watch West Coast-Buller play the Lions at Westport and Tom and Mike Gray (Stag) both played in that game. I mentioned this to him and he told me lots of rugby related stories.
M
Anna Hynes I worked at the nursery and lived in the converted cookhouse in the last few years of the NZFS, with Lance Pickering, Graham Kennedy, and Rose to name few who came and went. Dave Pickering ran the nursery. Such great times working for the NZ forest service.
Wendy Bruce Quite a few stories could be told about the ‘single men’s’ huts if any were game to tell them
Trish Griffin I worked at the nursery when Felix was the boss with Carole Moor Margaret Joan Deakin Grant Ces
Deakin. Betty woolhouse. Bob Taylor and Arthur
Green Ena…See More
Glenn Johnston I remember Doug, his father Bob and his brother Robert who was also in the forestry. Used to see Doug occasionally when visiting the Polytec in Grey a few years back. He'd come home to work in the forestry gangs after a stint in the navy when I was at Totara Flat. His father worked in the carpenters shop when I was there but had been in the bush when younger.
Margaret Grant Trish Griffin going back a few years ,,i was thinking of Carol Moore just yesterday going to Timaru wonder if she still under the same name and Arty Green wonder if he still alive..i started there when Trev started school around 35yrs ago where has time gone..
Trish Griffin Thankyou it was a great place to live
Manage
Margaret Standen Used to live on Totara Flat and the Royal Brothers from the single men’s huts used to give us raspberry drink. Then we would break the bottles to get the marbles out.
Glenn Johnston Margaret Standen I think that marble bottles were out of use in NZ in the early 50's and were no longer being refilled. They had been phased out pre WW2 from what I can gather. We used to find old empty ones lying around and break them for the marbles in the 1960's.
Margaret Standen Glenn Johnston used to be an old dump ( unsure where but think somewhere near the camp) but found them there. Often used to cut down in Kennedy’s paddocks which in season had great mushrooms.
Lorelei Cole Norris Samantha Wedgwood is this where you live now
Trish Griffin We lived on the corner of the cross roads nect Bob and Ena Griffin and across from Leo and Nagrie Sando Ces lived on the other corner he would mow the lawn at so ungodly how in the morning no good complaint he would say only possums and owls are in bed at that hour in morning.
Yvonne Mirfin Yes I remember when we also lived there getting the milk in the Billy from Mrs O Larry by the rail line .
Margaret Standen Yvonne Mirfin reading these posts brings back lots of memories
Lexy Cowlin I went to school in Totara Flat. My stepfather Don Cowlin worked for the forestry and Mum, Alison worked up in the nursery part time. My first after school job was preparing veges at the Camp cookhouse. We lived nextdoor to Felix and Glenda Pickering.…See More
Loved our holidays at Totora flat,Can remember swimming down the river,picking mushrooms,
Loved when the grocer truck came thru from Ikamatua,always a few treats,
Margaret Standen Lexy Cowlin lots of names I recognise again. Knew you in Hokitika but don’t think I realised you grew up in Totara Flat. We later shifted to Hokitika.
Glenn Johnston I lived in the singlemen's camp in the the late 1970's and part of 1980 with a stint in Rotorua in between. I remember nearly all the names mentioned. The cookhouse was run by the Phipps family when I was there and the pub by the O'Dells. Forestry District Rangers were Bill Kissell who was replaced by Frank Crighton. Jack Birkbeck ran the nursery when I was there as Dave Pickering (Felix) was setting up a private nursery at Ahaura and switched to log scaling for the NZFS to avoid a conflict of interest.
Colleen Rogers I remember the shop truck with all the groceries from Ikamatua the fish truck with fresh bread and of course jack burrows with his meat deliveries they were all entertaining and gave a great service
Margaret Standen Colleen Rogers remember the yummy saves he used to give to us kids.
Nova Elizabeth Hichens Spent most of our holidays with the McVicar family & our lovely nephews, the niece hadn’t arrived she came later. The Best holidays kids could want.
Warren Parkin I was up there at times between 77 and 87, on the grader.
Catherine Brian Denton We lived in the little house across the road from the Heather Bell hotel when we first got married.Ramseys were the publicans. My wife Catherine came from Reefton,and I was a cruising Ranger working out of Ahaura.. Bill Kissell was my boss, and I worked with Jim Gardiner ,Tom Rogers, Tony O'Connell. The junior Woodsman at the camp helped us. Great times and wonderful memories. We moved from Totara Flat to Karamea...then to Rotorua..and then Head Office in Wellington ..still doing work in the indigenous forests.Left the FS to go forest contracting in the lower North Island..now live in Otaki. Forestry was a wonderful occupation,with great workmates.
Glenn Johnston Catherine Brian Denton I met Les Champion when he was at Rotoehu and brother Kerry when he was at Waimihia. We must have met at the Timber Cruisers Reunion in 2000. I did cruising on the Coast at Totara Flat but was only a trainee then but later became a fully fledged Cruising Ranger based at Tuatapare in Southland.
Catherine Brian Denton Glenn Johnston Hi Glenn....I only went to the reunion at Hokitika,not the Rotorua one...I worked with Kerry and Bob Grubner in Rotorua.
Brenda Brown I worked.up.there in the cook house when I was 11 my aunt and uncle were running the camp great funColleen Rogers George Jones what a character mrs Jones a lovely lady
John Campbell Billy Campbell
Brenda Brown Arthur Green is in Granger House I
Glenn Johnston He was. I was told he had died.
Brenda Brown Glenn Johnston ok he might have
Brenda Brown George Jones use to take us to church on Sundays Arthur Green be all dress up in his suit coming home from church singing and dancing George Young man was a lively gentleman
Glenn Johnston Who was the guy that used to drink at the pub that had his forearm missing and may have been blind in one eye. Think Deak told me it happened when using gelignite to stun trout. (this may or may not be true as Ces (Taipo) Deakin was always telling yarns not all of which were credible) I moved around a lot with forestry but of all the stations I worked Totara Flat had the largest number of memorable characters in the single mens camp. Arthur Green, Viv Tomo Momo Collins, Black Jack John Gardiner and Bob Taylor all had their eccentricities and were regulars of the Heather Bell. (Arthur would get banned from the local pub for his own good at times)
Wendy Bruce Glenn Johnston the story was true and he was commonly known by a rather colourful name
John Campbell Joe Fitzgerald from Waipuna Rd
Glenn Johnston Thanks John Campbell the name Fitzgerald rings a bell now. Now and again some of us younger camp guys would help with haymaking. I think Campbell's were involved or did they just do carting? We definitely did hay at Burrows and McInroe properties.
John Campbell Dad had some of the Forestry workers help on hay. Fitzgeralds used to do small round bales Joe would put his stump into the end of the bale and a bale hook in his hand. He could keep up with guys half his age. I think Pat and Cactus Kennedy did small r…See More
Catherine Brian Denton Great to catch up on Totara Flat news. We did hay making too on the State Farm between Totara Flat and Ahaura, and I did a couple of seasons working in a shearing gang at Waipuna Station with Neil Sadlers crew. George...?...was the owner at that time.
Catherine Brian Denton Rod Sheedy had a carrying business in Ahaura and we helped him with the hay making.
Doug Griffin A lot of memories in these photo's -
Des Weston Woodies at camp 1978 or 1977 Brian Tepuni John Hutt Des Weston great times one of the best cookhouses. Lots of pig hunting, drinking, rugby league I had a great boss Warren Parkin Des Weston Jack was a character
Brenda Brown
Bown There was a young married couple Fred ? They lived on the same road as the camp my aunt Dela and Wal Wilson Wal was brought up dry the Deacons they lived on the corner coming into Totara Flat had lots of meals there
Glenn Johnston I'll try and recall the Forestry staff at Totara Flat when I was there circa 1978 - 80. District Rangers: Bill Kissell and then Frank Crighton, now the native forest staff, Senior Ranger: John (Jack) McDonald, Cruising-Indigenous Management Rangers: Cliff Wastney, Bob Baxter, Euan Tomlinson, Roger DeMalmanche and Foremen: Alan Bruhn. Foresters: who did a mix of exotic & native forestry work were Murray Cowan and Murray Ingles. Curt Gleason was a research forester who concentrated on the native forests and had a separate office at Ahaura though was regularly at the Totara Flat office. Technician: a Ranger grade was Lindsay Moore who had an offsider Bruce Hamilton who may have been a leading hand?
Glenn Johnston Now for the exotic forestry side etc.; Ranger: Mason Woolhouse performed the operations manager role with various crew bosses reporting to him. Those remembered are: Lachie Grant who ran a very good chainsaw crew that that would also do planting in the winter and occasional pruning, John Gardiner (Black Jack), Robin Thomas, Fred Ransby?, Norman Dunn, ------ Ashby who ran a womens crew, myself who looked after the "winter employment" crew one winter and also had what was Norman Dunn's crew for a while. Now for the nursery it was Ranger: Jack Birkbeck in charge however Dave (Felix) Pickering who was log scaling while I was there was nursery bosses other years. Woodsman Des Weston was at the nursery as was foreman or leading hand Brian Gallagher. Big Joe Mackinnon was the working boss of the roading crew with some oversight from the cruising rangers and an engineer who would visit from Hoki. Jake Tamepo came and lived at Totara Flat for a while when doing bridge engineering work. Jakes brother Andre was an operator for the roading crew mainly driving trucks.
Glenn Johnston In the office at Totara Flat there was Vern Curtain and ------ McLaughlin? a very efficient women who married Gary McLennan from Lachie Grant's crew. Boss carpenter was Sam Burrows and he had Bob Griffin (senior) and Viv Collins working for him. Mechanical workshop boss was Rod Sheedy and mechanic Kevin Gallagher worked for him. Groundsman was Arthur Green. Handyman was Ces Deakin who would float about doing spraying, clearing roads of windfalls, salvage logging, building cattlestops, helping in the nursery etc. Totara Flat was a training forest to some extent for young Woodsmen and Ranger Trainees. I have mentioned elsewhere the names of various woodsmen who worked at Totara Flat. The only other Ranger Trainee besides myself who was there 78 - 80 was Kim Ferguson. Before us in 1977 John Mead did a stint at Totara Flat. Research staff from the Forest & Range Experimental Station often stayed at the Totara Flat camp. I got to know a few of them such as John Bilkey and Andy Basset but there were many more. I could probably list many of the workers who were in the different crews but will stop here for now.
Glenn Johnston Oops I forgot the EF Ranger: Ces Clark who I loved working for during part of 1978. Ces reported to Totara Flat but worked direct from Blackball if working in the Paparoa Ranges. Ces would usually have a Blackball based offsider but I slotted in there …See More
Lexy Cowlin Travelling to highschool was a bit of an exercise for those of us who went to Grey High from Totara Flat. We d get up at half 6, catch tge Ape Wagon (woodchucks trucks) to Ahaura. Wait for Mrs Sheedy to arrive wuth the small school bus and take us to Ngahere. She always had hottie bottles for girls in winter too lol. Then we would get on the Railway bus and travel to Grey. Vica versa coming home. Often didnt get home till after 5pm. Long days lol.
Glenn Johnston Regarding transportation a major assembly point was Ngahere for a lot but not all of the forestry crews. Vehicles from Greymouth, Blackball, Totara Flat etc. converged on Ngahere morning and night and there was a shuffle of personnel into the respective transport that their gang used. For a while I drove the "biscuit tin" a small bus down to Ngahere daily. (It was while at Totara Flat I needed to get bus and passenger service licences though already had heavy trade from time at Ashley Forest) Any early knock offs due to particularly wet weather had to be co-ordinated by radio between the crews so that wet workers were not left standing around or sitting wet in the buses too long waiting for other crews. Lachie's crew took pride in generally working a bit longer in the wet than the other crews and would likely have worked all day if the other crews were not knocking off early. (perhaps because they were often on a production rate affected bonus whereas other crews were mainly on straight wages) At least one of the gang buses had a fold out card table so that 45's could be played while travelling to and from work.
Jim Galloway My Father worked there, and ran the nursery until he retired in the mid 1960's. George Jones was the boss, (known as the camp commandant). Single mens huts up the far end with the cook house (the larger building in font of the huts).In the mid section,…See More
Glenn Johnston Mason Woolhouse and Arthur Green were there when I was there. George Jones was still at Totara Flat but had retired. Arthur was not a mechanic but a groundsman when I was there unless there were two Arthur Greens? Rod Sheedy was the mechanic and one of the Gallaghers, Kevin? was too. His brother Brian (Foxy) worked at the nursery.
Jim Galloway Sorry Glenn, it was Dave Green who was the mechanic. (might have been Arthurs brother) He was married and lived in one of the new houses in the wee side street not in the photo. George Jones and Bill Kissell lived in those houses as well. This was the …See More
Glenn Johnston Remember one Sheehan from Totara Flat days. Nickname "Nippy" was the name Neville? His father drove Road Service buses and they were from Blackball.
Alan Sheehan Glenn Johnston yep he is my cousin, now has the Nelson Creek Pub.
John Campbell Rod Sheedy was the mehanic, Sam Burrows the carpenter and Arthur Green was the groundsman when I was growing up in Totara Flat. A few I can remember were Neville (Pattsie) Clyne, Red Robertson, Lyndsay Moore, Roger De Malmunche (not sure of spelling), Jack Burbeck, The Kissell's
Colleen Rogers My goodness remember them all loved living there Tom and I lived in one of the houses with the kissells, champions birkbecks the Jones my those were great days all our children about the same age great times
Glenn Johnston Colleen Rogers I worked for Tom whilst in the Bay of Plenty during Timberlands and Forestry Corp days and he loved talking about his forestry days on the West Coast, sport and fishing. I last met him at the time of the Kiwi Rugby Centennial in Hokitika when he visited an Excelsior gathering to pay his respects to old adversaries. He once told me that one of the happiest times in his life was when he was supervising the development work of Hochstetter Forest when based at Totara Flat. In 1966 my uncle and father took me to watch West Coast-Buller play the Lions at Westport and Tom and Mike Gray (Stag) both played in that game. I mentioned this to him and he told me lots of rugby related stories.
M
Anna Hynes I worked at the nursery and lived in the converted cookhouse in the last few years of the NZFS, with Lance Pickering, Graham Kennedy, and Rose to name few who came and went. Dave Pickering ran the nursery. Such great times working for the NZ forest service.
Wendy Bruce Quite a few stories could be told about the ‘single men’s’ huts if any were game to tell them
Trish Griffin I worked at the nursery when Felix was the boss with Carole Moor Margaret Joan Deakin Grant Ces
Deakin. Betty woolhouse. Bob Taylor and Arthur
Green Ena…See More
Glenn Johnston I remember Doug, his father Bob and his brother Robert who was also in the forestry. Used to see Doug occasionally when visiting the Polytec in Grey a few years back. He'd come home to work in the forestry gangs after a stint in the navy when I was at Totara Flat. His father worked in the carpenters shop when I was there but had been in the bush when younger.
Margaret Grant Trish Griffin going back a few years ,,i was thinking of Carol Moore just yesterday going to Timaru wonder if she still under the same name and Arty Green wonder if he still alive..i started there when Trev started school around 35yrs ago where has time gone..
Trish Griffin Thankyou it was a great place to live
Manage
Margaret Standen Used to live on Totara Flat and the Royal Brothers from the single men’s huts used to give us raspberry drink. Then we would break the bottles to get the marbles out.
Glenn Johnston Margaret Standen I think that marble bottles were out of use in NZ in the early 50's and were no longer being refilled. They had been phased out pre WW2 from what I can gather. We used to find old empty ones lying around and break them for the marbles in the 1960's.
Margaret Standen Glenn Johnston used to be an old dump ( unsure where but think somewhere near the camp) but found them there. Often used to cut down in Kennedy’s paddocks which in season had great mushrooms.
Lorelei Cole Norris Samantha Wedgwood is this where you live now
Trish Griffin We lived on the corner of the cross roads nect Bob and Ena Griffin and across from Leo and Nagrie Sando Ces lived on the other corner he would mow the lawn at so ungodly how in the morning no good complaint he would say only possums and owls are in bed at that hour in morning.
Yvonne Mirfin Yes I remember when we also lived there getting the milk in the Billy from Mrs O Larry by the rail line .
Margaret Standen Yvonne Mirfin reading these posts brings back lots of memories
Lexy Cowlin I went to school in Totara Flat. My stepfather Don Cowlin worked for the forestry and Mum, Alison worked up in the nursery part time. My first after school job was preparing veges at the Camp cookhouse. We lived nextdoor to Felix and Glenda Pickering.…See More
Loved our holidays at Totora flat,Can remember swimming down the river,picking mushrooms,
Loved when the grocer truck came thru from Ikamatua,always a few treats,
Margaret Standen Lexy Cowlin lots of names I recognise again. Knew you in Hokitika but don’t think I realised you grew up in Totara Flat. We later shifted to Hokitika.
Glenn Johnston I lived in the singlemen's camp in the the late 1970's and part of 1980 with a stint in Rotorua in between. I remember nearly all the names mentioned. The cookhouse was run by the Phipps family when I was there and the pub by the O'Dells. Forestry District Rangers were Bill Kissell who was replaced by Frank Crighton. Jack Birkbeck ran the nursery when I was there as Dave Pickering (Felix) was setting up a private nursery at Ahaura and switched to log scaling for the NZFS to avoid a conflict of interest.
Colleen Rogers I remember the shop truck with all the groceries from Ikamatua the fish truck with fresh bread and of course jack burrows with his meat deliveries they were all entertaining and gave a great service
Margaret Standen Colleen Rogers remember the yummy saves he used to give to us kids.
Nova Elizabeth Hichens Spent most of our holidays with the McVicar family & our lovely nephews, the niece hadn’t arrived she came later. The Best holidays kids could want.
Warren Parkin I was up there at times between 77 and 87, on the grader.
Catherine Brian Denton We lived in the little house across the road from the Heather Bell hotel when we first got married.Ramseys were the publicans. My wife Catherine came from Reefton,and I was a cruising Ranger working out of Ahaura.. Bill Kissell was my boss, and I worked with Jim Gardiner ,Tom Rogers, Tony O'Connell. The junior Woodsman at the camp helped us. Great times and wonderful memories. We moved from Totara Flat to Karamea...then to Rotorua..and then Head Office in Wellington ..still doing work in the indigenous forests.Left the FS to go forest contracting in the lower North Island..now live in Otaki. Forestry was a wonderful occupation,with great workmates.
Glenn Johnston Catherine Brian Denton I met Les Champion when he was at Rotoehu and brother Kerry when he was at Waimihia. We must have met at the Timber Cruisers Reunion in 2000. I did cruising on the Coast at Totara Flat but was only a trainee then but later became a fully fledged Cruising Ranger based at Tuatapare in Southland.
Catherine Brian Denton Glenn Johnston Hi Glenn....I only went to the reunion at Hokitika,not the Rotorua one...I worked with Kerry and Bob Grubner in Rotorua.
Brenda Brown I worked.up.there in the cook house when I was 11 my aunt and uncle were running the camp great funColleen Rogers George Jones what a character mrs Jones a lovely lady
John Campbell Billy Campbell
Brenda Brown Arthur Green is in Granger House I
Glenn Johnston He was. I was told he had died.
Brenda Brown Glenn Johnston ok he might have
Brenda Brown George Jones use to take us to church on Sundays Arthur Green be all dress up in his suit coming home from church singing and dancing George Young man was a lively gentleman
Glenn Johnston Who was the guy that used to drink at the pub that had his forearm missing and may have been blind in one eye. Think Deak told me it happened when using gelignite to stun trout. (this may or may not be true as Ces (Taipo) Deakin was always telling yarns not all of which were credible) I moved around a lot with forestry but of all the stations I worked Totara Flat had the largest number of memorable characters in the single mens camp. Arthur Green, Viv Tomo Momo Collins, Black Jack John Gardiner and Bob Taylor all had their eccentricities and were regulars of the Heather Bell. (Arthur would get banned from the local pub for his own good at times)
Wendy Bruce Glenn Johnston the story was true and he was commonly known by a rather colourful name
John Campbell Joe Fitzgerald from Waipuna Rd
Glenn Johnston Thanks John Campbell the name Fitzgerald rings a bell now. Now and again some of us younger camp guys would help with haymaking. I think Campbell's were involved or did they just do carting? We definitely did hay at Burrows and McInroe properties.
John Campbell Dad had some of the Forestry workers help on hay. Fitzgeralds used to do small round bales Joe would put his stump into the end of the bale and a bale hook in his hand. He could keep up with guys half his age. I think Pat and Cactus Kennedy did small r…See More
Catherine Brian Denton Great to catch up on Totara Flat news. We did hay making too on the State Farm between Totara Flat and Ahaura, and I did a couple of seasons working in a shearing gang at Waipuna Station with Neil Sadlers crew. George...?...was the owner at that time.
Catherine Brian Denton Rod Sheedy had a carrying business in Ahaura and we helped him with the hay making.
Doug Griffin A lot of memories in these photo's -
Des Weston Woodies at camp 1978 or 1977 Brian Tepuni John Hutt Des Weston great times one of the best cookhouses. Lots of pig hunting, drinking, rugby league I had a great boss Warren Parkin Des Weston Jack was a character
Brenda Brown
Bown There was a young married couple Fred ? They lived on the same road as the camp my aunt Dela and Wal Wilson Wal was brought up dry the Deacons they lived on the corner coming into Totara Flat had lots of meals there
Glenn Johnston I'll try and recall the Forestry staff at Totara Flat when I was there circa 1978 - 80. District Rangers: Bill Kissell and then Frank Crighton, now the native forest staff, Senior Ranger: John (Jack) McDonald, Cruising-Indigenous Management Rangers: Cliff Wastney, Bob Baxter, Euan Tomlinson, Roger DeMalmanche and Foremen: Alan Bruhn. Foresters: who did a mix of exotic & native forestry work were Murray Cowan and Murray Ingles. Curt Gleason was a research forester who concentrated on the native forests and had a separate office at Ahaura though was regularly at the Totara Flat office. Technician: a Ranger grade was Lindsay Moore who had an offsider Bruce Hamilton who may have been a leading hand?
Glenn Johnston Now for the exotic forestry side etc.; Ranger: Mason Woolhouse performed the operations manager role with various crew bosses reporting to him. Those remembered are: Lachie Grant who ran a very good chainsaw crew that that would also do planting in the winter and occasional pruning, John Gardiner (Black Jack), Robin Thomas, Fred Ransby?, Norman Dunn, ------ Ashby who ran a womens crew, myself who looked after the "winter employment" crew one winter and also had what was Norman Dunn's crew for a while. Now for the nursery it was Ranger: Jack Birkbeck in charge however Dave (Felix) Pickering who was log scaling while I was there was nursery bosses other years. Woodsman Des Weston was at the nursery as was foreman or leading hand Brian Gallagher. Big Joe Mackinnon was the working boss of the roading crew with some oversight from the cruising rangers and an engineer who would visit from Hoki. Jake Tamepo came and lived at Totara Flat for a while when doing bridge engineering work. Jakes brother Andre was an operator for the roading crew mainly driving trucks.
Glenn Johnston In the office at Totara Flat there was Vern Curtain and ------ McLaughlin? a very efficient women who married Gary McLennan from Lachie Grant's crew. Boss carpenter was Sam Burrows and he had Bob Griffin (senior) and Viv Collins working for him. Mechanical workshop boss was Rod Sheedy and mechanic Kevin Gallagher worked for him. Groundsman was Arthur Green. Handyman was Ces Deakin who would float about doing spraying, clearing roads of windfalls, salvage logging, building cattlestops, helping in the nursery etc. Totara Flat was a training forest to some extent for young Woodsmen and Ranger Trainees. I have mentioned elsewhere the names of various woodsmen who worked at Totara Flat. The only other Ranger Trainee besides myself who was there 78 - 80 was Kim Ferguson. Before us in 1977 John Mead did a stint at Totara Flat. Research staff from the Forest & Range Experimental Station often stayed at the Totara Flat camp. I got to know a few of them such as John Bilkey and Andy Basset but there were many more. I could probably list many of the workers who were in the different crews but will stop here for now.
Glenn Johnston Oops I forgot the EF Ranger: Ces Clark who I loved working for during part of 1978. Ces reported to Totara Flat but worked direct from Blackball if working in the Paparoa Ranges. Ces would usually have a Blackball based offsider but I slotted in there …See More
Lexy Cowlin Travelling to highschool was a bit of an exercise for those of us who went to Grey High from Totara Flat. We d get up at half 6, catch tge Ape Wagon (woodchucks trucks) to Ahaura. Wait for Mrs Sheedy to arrive wuth the small school bus and take us to Ngahere. She always had hottie bottles for girls in winter too lol. Then we would get on the Railway bus and travel to Grey. Vica versa coming home. Often didnt get home till after 5pm. Long days lol.
Glenn Johnston Regarding transportation a major assembly point was Ngahere for a lot but not all of the forestry crews. Vehicles from Greymouth, Blackball, Totara Flat etc. converged on Ngahere morning and night and there was a shuffle of personnel into the respective transport that their gang used. For a while I drove the "biscuit tin" a small bus down to Ngahere daily. (It was while at Totara Flat I needed to get bus and passenger service licences though already had heavy trade from time at Ashley Forest) Any early knock offs due to particularly wet weather had to be co-ordinated by radio between the crews so that wet workers were not left standing around or sitting wet in the buses too long waiting for other crews. Lachie's crew took pride in generally working a bit longer in the wet than the other crews and would likely have worked all day if the other crews were not knocking off early. (perhaps because they were often on a production rate affected bonus whereas other crews were mainly on straight wages) At least one of the gang buses had a fold out card table so that 45's could be played while travelling to and from work.
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West Coast New Zealand History (25th Nov 2022). Forest Service headquarters, Granville Forest. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 4th Apr 2026 16:31, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25686