taa april newsletter - atraes€¦ · an arborist of 22 years, mr murphy said it was "a risky...

T A S M A N I A NA s s o c i a t i o n o f

A R B O R I C U L T U R E

Tasmanian Tree Climbing Workshop 2011

TAA Newsletter April 2011 Issue No 2

This years Tree Climbing Workshop and Climbing Championship held 25th & 26th March at City Park, Launceston proved to be the success that the organisers had hoped for. The sunshine and

serenity of City Park on the Friday and Saturday was in strong contrast to the week of rain and the Cataract Gorge that raged nearby.

The Climbers Workshop was well attended by some twenty Tasmanian Arborist of which eight went on to compete with some of Australia’s best on Saturday. The presence of so many high caliber

tree climbers and the open friendly atmosphere that our interstate and overseas competitors have brought to the last two Tree Climbing Championships is truly awesome.

A special thanks to The Launceston City Council for not only allowing us to use their park and trees but also giving us the use of their spiderlift ewp for the day. We would also like to thank all our

sponsors for their generous support in making this event possible. We encourage everyone that wants to see these events continue, to support the business’ that are getting behind our efforts to

progressively develop the industry.

Tasmanian Association of Arboriculture and friends of Scott Sharpe would like to thank all those who attended this years event and for making it a day to remember. We also wish Nathaniel, Juri,

Warrick and James all the best at the National Tree Climbing Championship in Darwin.

Tasmanian arborists ready to climb above competition

BY MATT MALONEY, Examiner Newspaper, 26 Mar, 2011

“They risk their lives at work but the state's top arborists will be among the treetops for play today for the Tasmanian Tree Climbing Championship.Up to 30 international and Tasmanian climbers will scale 15 metres up Launceston City Park's English oak, plane and poplar trees from 8am.

Competitors will be judged against time and on technique and efficiency in five events: throw-line, foot-lock, aerial rescue, a speed climb, and a work climb, where climbers will move between flagged tree parts.

Event co-organiser Robert Murphy said top climbers would compete against each other in an afternoon masters event, certain to impress spectators.

He said this year's event would be held in memory of arborist Scott Sharpe who died in a felling accident at Deviot last August.

"Scott was a good friend to a lot of these guys and put Tasmania on the map as far as tree climbing is concerned - he was internationally recognised as one of Australia's top arborists," Mr Murphy said.

An arborist of 22 years, Mr Murphy said it was "a risky business" and today's event would raise public awareness of professional tree care and industry advancements.

"But people do get killed - that's why we want to continue to lift the safety standards and Scotty was a great advocate of that," he said.

"You work in rain and mud and that's when the trees come down."

Climbers from France, England and New Zealand were among those involved in a workshop at City Park to prepare for events and share technical knowledge.

Mr Murphy said competition safety was strict with tight equipment checks and an adherence to a 37-page international rule book.“

The 2011 Eastern Trees,Tasmanian Tree Climbing Championship - Results


The Rayco Secured Footlock:

First - Juri MegarritySecond - James Armstrong

Third - Nathaniel Smith

Austalian Chainsaw Products Throw Line Event:

First - Warrick McConnellSecond - Juri Megarrity

Third - Jim Horan

The NewAge Arbor Belayed Speed Climb Event:

First - Warrick McConnellSecond - Trent DowlingThird - Nathaniel Smith



The A1 Tree Services Aerial Rescue Event:

First - Juri MegarritySecond - Warrick McConnell

Third - James Armstrong

The Tree Gear Work Climb Event:

First - Juri MegarritySecond - Warrick McConnell

Third - Nathaniel Smith

The SAS Masters’ Challenge (in honor of Scott Andrew Sharpe):

First - Nathaniel SmithSecond - Juri Megarrity

Third - Warrick McConnellForth - James Armstrong

Posted by Joe Harris on the Victorian Tree Industry Organisation web site 29 March 2011.

“Congratulations to Nathanial Smith for winning the 2011 Tasmanian TCC Master’s Challenge, and becoming the 2011 Tasmanian tree climbing champion. He narrowly beat last year’s champion Juri Megaritty in a tightly fought challenge which also featured great climbs from

Warrick McConnell (3rd) and upcoming climber James Armstrong (4th).

The full prelim results can be downloaded by clicking on the image below. Tasmanian climbers are distinguished from the extremely strong international and interstate contingent

by being highlighted in green.”

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A special thank you to Scott Sharpe’s family for their involvement in this event and to his friends at the Victorian Tree Industry Organisation (VTIO) for their continued support and for

keeping his dream alive.

taa april newsletter - atraes€¦ · an arborist of 22 years, mr murphy said it was "a risky...

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