Forestry awards success for Stormy Merritt

Leading a crew of men and driving a 20-tonne hauler are all in a day's work for forestry apprentice of the year Stormy Merritt.

The 20-year-old Whakatane woman received the title at the Fitec National Forestry and Wood Processing Training Awards at Rotorua's Energy Events Centre last night.

Merritt works for her family's business, Storm Logging Ltd, as a hauler driver and is in charge of a crew of men.

"If it were not for my dad, I would not be working in the industry. It could be quite intimidating for a young woman."

But having grown up around the business, she new most of the team before she joined the company more than two years ago. And she insists she is not really a foreman. "People just seem to listen to what I say."

Merritt hopes to work her way up to forest management or possibly marketing.

The other local winner was Norske Skog's Terry Phillips, whose work with the Kawerau paper plant's 300 employees earned him the title of Training Leader of the Year.

Phillips said this was a huge award and he was truly honoured to receive it. But he modestly deflected the credit for the training successes of the company and its staff.

"I am lucky to work with a company committed to professional development. I am just a very small part in the bigger scheme of things."

He enjoys watching others achieve and said the award was recognition for helping other people do well.

2011  Winners

 Modern Forestry Apprentice - Stormy Merritt, Storm Logging Ltd, Whakatane

Modern Wood Manufacturing Apprentice - Cameron Kirby, Pacific Wood Products Ltd, Napier

Forestry Trainee - Daniel Nickerson, Johnson Forestry Services Ltd, Mosgiel

Wood Manufacturing Trainee - Rochelle Russell, CHH Woodproducts LVL, Whangarei

Furniture Trainee - Eric Abbot, Danske Mobler, Auckland

Forestry Training Company - GJ Sole Transport Ltd, New Plymouth

Wood Manufacturing Training Company - Taranaki Pine, New Plymouth

Furniture Training Company - Ferndale Furniture Ltd, Lower Hutt

Outstanding Business Performance through People Development - GJ Sole Transport Ltd, New Plymouth

Fitec Training Leader - Terry Phillips, Norske Skog Tasman, Kawerau

Health & Safety Initiative - Nelson Forests Ltd, Nelson