COMPETITIVE tension is steadily building within Australian truck, transport and forest industry ranks as the fifth annual Fennell Forestry Truck Pull Challenge draws close.
An initiative of local harvest and haulage contractor Fennell Forestry, the event will be held at the Mount Gambier and District Saleyards on Saturday.
The truck pull challenge has captured the hearts and garnered the continued support of many local businesses and community members since it started in 2013, raising $60,000 for children’s charity Variety.
The event has gained plenty of national attention, both from within the industry and further afield.
Fennell Forestry managing director and event organiser Wendy Fennell said the truck pull had grown to become the industry’s “unofficial charity event of the year”.
“This event brings together timber and transport executives and workers from across Australia and the world, right here in the heart of the Green Triangle forest region,” she said.
“Add to this the fact we are raising money for a very worthy children’s charity and you’ve got an event which our community is very willing to support – it’s a win-win.”
Adelaide-based Strength Syndicate members and Strongman enthusiasts Jordan Steffens and Steph Davies will travel to Mount Gambier to pull the truck and entertain the crowd with some heavy pine log lifts on the day.
A lengthy list of generous local businesses have pledged their support as sponsors.
As in other years, the challenge will feature teams of six, a 100m course and a 23 tonne Kenworth B-Double.
Team members will be harnessed and attached to ropes anchored to the truck’s front grill – brute strength alone will pull the truck and the unloaded Thinwall chip trailer along the course and over the finish line.
As the captain of last year’s winning Fennell Forestry team, Ms Fennell’s advice to those competing was simple.
“Your legs will burn and you will want to give up long before the truck rolls over the finish line,” Ms Fennell said.
“You’ve got to push through – it’s about camaraderie, community, good old-fashioned fun and doing your bit for Variety.
“You’ve just got to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
The action begins at 10.30am at the saleyards and entry is free.
Visit the official event page at www.facebook.com/FennellForestryTruckPull to find out more or make a donation.
