Knysna2017 Timber Festival to go ahead as #KnysnaRises – Knysna https://showme.co.za/knysna Knysna, South Africa for all your local and tourism information; from accommodation to events, entertainment, attractions and news - ShowMe Knysna | T Feed Wed, 06 Mar 2024 08:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 https://showme.co.za/knysna/?p=43860 2017 Timber Festival to go ahead as #KnysnaRises https://showme.co.za/knysna/news/2017-timber-festival-to-go-ahead-as-knysnarises/ Thu, 06 Jul 2017 09:27:29 +0000 The Knysna Timber Initiative - the organisers of the event - see this year’s Festival as an important milestone during which...]]> The Knysna Timber Festival 2017 will go ahead as planned from 29 September to 1 October – and it’ll take place as usual at its traditional venue at Timber Village, despite the fact that Timber Village was burned to the ground during the town’s recent devastating fires.

Morné SmithThe Knysna Timber Initiative – the organisers of the event – see this year’s Festival as an important milestone during which members of the industry can meet and help one another in restarting and re-growing the Garden Route’s hard-hit timber economy.

“Everyone was affected by the fires, and everyone’s rebuilding with a strong spirit of community,” said the Initiative’s chairperson, Morné Smith.

“The timber industry provides jobs and incomes for thousands of people in the region, and the Festival is an opportunity to showcase the deep level of skills – and the high quality of the products – for which Knysna has become famous,” he said.

Festival highlights

The exhibitors at this year’s festival have been drawn from a broad spectrum of the timber economy – furniture manufacturers, timber growers, wood millers, timber buyers, members of the timber construction industry, etc. – while indoor and outdoor exhibitions and demonstrations areas will provide spaces for conversations, talks, presentations, and films about wood and working with wood.

And with activities for children and adults alike (and an exciting entertainment area, with live music, a beer tent, and children’s play space), this year’s Knysna Timber Festival has been designed with families in mind.

Skills transfer – and about those owls

Media Launch“One of the most important aspects of the Festival is the fact that it’s a platform for training and skills transfer, and we’re proud to announce that Woodoc Food for Wood will be sponsoring our training programme this year,” said Ms. De Bruin.

“And Woodoc will also be there with their Woodoc Owl Box Project, too – which is particularly appropriate this year as people around the Garden Route do whatever they can for the birds, bees, and wild animals that were also severely affected by the fires,” she said.

Wood-mizer donates a sawmill

Mr. Smith said that Wood-Mizer – the global leader in stationary and portable sawmills – has donated a brand new Wood-Mizer LT20B Diesel sawmill to the Knysna Timber Initiative, which will be used for at least six months to provide processed timber for the reconstruction of homes in some of the underprivileged areas that were affected by the fires.

Timber Festival Organisers“As a long-term project, the mill will be made available to community projects that require timber to be milled, and also as a facility for training operators in the use of a bandsaw mill,” said Jean-Jacques Oelofse, Wood-Mizer’s Corporate Director – Emerging Markets (See full statement).

“We’re very grateful for the cooperation and support of all our sponsors, exhibitors, and festival goers – both during previous Festivals, and in the rather challenging run-up to this year’s event – and we’re looking forward to an even better and more enjoyable Festival than ever,” said Mr. Smith.

“It’s going to be an awesome opportunity both for the industry to regroup – and for our guests and visitors to see how #KnysnaRises as we work together to everyone’s benefit,” he said.
Please visit Timber Festival for detailed information.

Exhibitor Bookings

Please email Picca de Bruin

Honourable Knysna Mayor, Eleanore Bouw-Spies gave a very heart felt opening speech explaining about the past and the relief efforts and furture . And a big thank you goes out to speakers, Morne Smith (Chairman of the KTI) and Len du Plessis from SANParks who spoke on the impact of the Knysna Fires on our environment and Craig Bell from Wood-Mizer Africa who spoke about the donation of the Wood-Mizer Sawmill to the Knysna Timber Initiative for use in the relief efforts after the Knysna Fires.

Finally to hosts, Martin Hatchuel – thank you for coordinating and 34 Degrees South, thank you for the lovely food and venue.

Knysna Timber Festival Media Launch

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