Master Tree Growers Course

In August - September 2003, 23 members of NUFG completed the Australian Master Tree Grower Program.  The course included 8 full day sessions run over 5 weeks and was coordinated locally by private forestry staff from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (now Department of Primary Industries) 

During the course members learned about designing, establishing and managing their plantations for multiple benefits, including timber production, salinity control, biodiversity enhancement, shelter and much more. 

Visits were made to small and large plantations, sawmills, furniture manufacturers, species trials and saline sites where experts presented relevant information. 

Most importantly, members visited each other's sites to learn from their respective experiences and so build a collective body of knowledge for commercial tree growing in the region.

 The course was also a lot of fun.

Shaun Quayle successfully executes the obligatory bogging of the bus	Warwick Williams of Hancock Victoria Plantations talks about pine silviculture	James Williams having fun at  Bonum Sawmill
John and Zoe Toll measuring trees	BBQ lunch at James Williams place at Kamarooka	The impromptu board meeting
MTG bus tour	Ian Rankin's plantation	Pruning Lynda's trees
Phil Dyson talks about salinity	Marg Dack pruning	The Graduates