December 1940 School Magazine

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

Decemoer, 1940

B~isbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

December, 1940

After the tree is selected, the cutters begin with their long cross-cut saws and after cutting through part of the tree, wedges are driven into the cut so that the saw will not be jammed. When it is almost cut through, a few blows with their sledge- hammers will bring the lofty tree crashing to the ground. This work of cutting timber is sometimes very dangerous as the tree-top may get caught up in the other trees when it is falling. The limbs are left hanging manacingly from vines and tree forks. It is, therefore, necessary to clear the scrub about the tree before cutting it. The cutters, after barking the tree and cutting off the limbs, cut the tree into lengths, to suit the size of the truck. The next stage of the timber getting is the snigging. This is mostly done by bullock-teams, but tractors are gradually re- placing them. The team snigs the logs out of the scrub into a clearing where stands a "ramp." The ramp consists of three or four logs, two or three of which are placed horizontally upon the other. It is usually built on a slope so that the ramp is level. The logs are rolled on to the ramp and await the arrival of the truck, which hauls them to the mill. Before they are loaded, the forestry man comes to measure and number the logs . The truck is driven into position so that the logs on the ramp are level with its bolsters. After the logs are rolled into position on the truck chains are placed round them. After the truck, which has been driven for miles through scrub and forest, comes in sight of a small township ,it is driven into the log-yards of the mill. Then the unloading commences. This work is also a dangerous one, as the logs, when slippery, have fallen from the truck on to the ground, and cost the life of the hauler who was standing beneath. The logs are just rolled off the truck and let roll down to the mill. Then the logs are taken into the mill, and, after going through several automatic saws, emerge as sawn timber. This is then stacked and is carted away, either by truck to the factory or by rail. The timber is manufactured, and perhaps made into a beautiful cabinet or even a rough case, such as a "kerosene case. The timber helps to make our homes comfortable and happy, when manufactured into beautiful furniture pieces and this ·is only obtained by the efforts of the timbE)r-getters. . Audrey Wright, Form III. G. 39

WANDERING IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA. Have you ever thought of spending a vacation in Central Australia? Probably not, because you have said to yourself "oh, that's only a desert and who would go holidaying there!" Many of us had this point of yiew, until a short time ago Dr. Whitehouse took the Vvanderers' Club on a tour of Central Australia. First, our imagination carried us past large towns and allowed us to alight on the sparsely populated Barkley Tableland, and soon we wandered to rivers whose banks were covered with tropical growth, although within a short distance of the streams the trees were stunted, forming a contrast to the dark growth lining the banks of the river. As we wandered on we were somewhat surprised at the beauty of the sand hills, and we were amused at Dr. White- house's description of the manner in which both the ascent and descent are accomplished. The most thrilling part' of our wander was the flooding of the Mulligan River, at one time so dry that a car could be driven down it and half an hour later a roaring torrent. Dr. Whitehouse stressed the wonder of radio, by which the inhabitants keep in communication with each other, so that, although there may not be a neighbour for fifty miles or more, there is a comradeship among them which is stronger, perhaps, than that found among many city people. It was with reluctance that we brought ourselves back from our imaginary wandering, and in many it left the hope that they might travel to this strange country some day in reality, · not only on the wings of imagination. · L.L.,VI.A. OUT WITH THE TIMBER-GETTERS. One source of wealth to Queensland is the Timber Industry. Especially in time of war, when timber is necessary to case ammunition and stores for the fighting men overseas, limber is a valuable product. Now let us go for a trip to where we can see just how the timber is treated. There are usually four different processes through which the tree must pass before it becomes sawn timber. The first of these is the timber cutting. Cutters, ~s they are called, go out into the scrub and begin hewing down the trees which they have selected as being large enough to sup- ply a quantity of timber. The cutters usually work in pairs, two of them can handle their tools much better than one man.

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