2018 International Forest Industries IFI June July 2018 Digital | Page 69

Fennell Forestry purchased the company’s first 1085C forwarder in February 2017.
Prioritizing what needs to get
done each day is critical to her role
and she spends a lot of the time
giving direction to the leadership
team. “My main goal is making
sure our machines are always
running. So planning preventative
maintenance, addressing safety
aspects and making sure we are
working through the required
logistics,” Wendy expresses. “I
really love learning about the
equipment and how we can get
the best out of it. There is always
something on the go and it’s
always evolving.”
Wendy has been in the business
for 25 years and people are still
surprised when they find out what
she does for a living. “I guess they
don’t really understand exactly
what I do and they are typically
shocked at how much knowledge I
have of the machinery.” She knows
some female skidder operators
and truck drivers in the area but
does not know of any other female
forestry business owners.
When asked why she thinks
there are so few females working
in the industry she explains, “It is
the image of the forestry industry
over here that deters women.
It really needs to be uplifted to
showcase the careers possible. In
Canada, most people understand
what forestry is all about. Here in
Australia there are still people that
live in this area that have no idea
I really love learning
about the equipment
and how we can get
the best out of it. There
is always something
on the go and it’s
always evolving.
Wendy Fennell
what goes on behind the trees.
People still believe that you get a
job in forestry if you couldn’t get
a job anywhere else. People think
it is second-class, but it isn’t. With
all the new advanced technology
and innovation, the careers in
this industry are quite good and
the jobs are well paid, dynamic
and interesting. We need to be
promoting the industry better,
especially to young people and to
women.”
Fennell Forestry has an impressive depot with a professional office, spacious workshop, an area dedicated
to chain sharpening, an onsite training room and parts warehouse.
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