Terence 'Pnut' Ross has won the top accolade at the 2022 Hawke's Bay Forestry Awards. Photo / Warren Buckland
Terence 'Pnut' Ross has won the top accolade at the 2022 Hawke's Bay Forestry Awards. Photo / Warren Buckland
A forestry identity best known as “Pnut” has won the highest accolade at the Hawke’s Bay Forestry Awards, after working 60 years in the industry.
Terence “Pnut” Ross, 76, a forestry roading supervisor who lives in the rural village of Kotemaori, has put off retirement for years, but will finishup his career later this month.
He received a fitting send-off last Friday when he was named the Skilled Forestry Professional of the Year at the 2022 Hawke’s Bay Forestry Awards - the highest accolade on offer at the ceremony.
Event organisers said Ross was a respected go-to person in the industry with a wealth of knowledge and skills.
“I’m really rapt about it - I did not expect it,” Ross said.
“I just enjoy being out in the air and in the bush.”
Unfortunately, he was ill on the night of the awards, and a workmate received the trophy for him. He also claimed the Roading Excellence Award at the event.
Ross said if he were to pass on any advice to young forestry workers, particularly those in forestry roading, it would be to listen to the supervisors and take time to learn the skills and machinery.
Ross loves getting out into the forest and working with the crews. Photo / Warren Buckland
He laughed when asked where his nickname Pnut originated from.
“That came when I was 18 [working at] Gwavas. One of the supervisors over there gave it to me. I was only four-foot-nothing.”
He said it had stuck ever since.
“Some of my bosses haven’t even known my proper name.”
The grandfather said he had plenty to do around his property in Kotemaori - where he has lived for most of his life - which would keep him busy during retirement.
The forestry awards had not been held since 2019 due to Covid, and returned with a sell-out event on Friday at the Napier War Memorial Conference Centre.
Hawke’s Bay Forestry Group chairman Damon Wise said it was a great night and highlighted the industry was “in excellent health” in Hawke’s Bay.
AWARD WINNERS:
Skilled Forestry Professional of the Year: Terence Ross (Gair Contracting)
NZ Apprentice of the Year:Jovan Hanley (Tresidder Punanga Ltd)
Trainee of the Year:Hannah Allen (Chipmunk Logging Ltd)
Training Company/Contractor of the Year:D G Glenn Logging Ltd
