Queen's Birthday Honours: Charles Morgan

Charles Morgan has been involved with the sport of wood chopping for more than 43 years. Photo/File

Charles Morgan
Timaru
Queen's Service Medal
Services to the sport of wood chopping

When Charles Morgan took up wood chopping as a way to keep fit he never thought that 40 years later he would be honoured for his ongoing contribution to the sport.

The 66-year-old has been involved with the sport of wood chopping for more than 43 years, having co-founded the South Westland Axeman's Club in Haast before moving to Timaru.

"It was hard to get enough players down there [Haast] for a rugby team and we had a bit of a sports meeting over there, and wood chopping was the only sport that took off for some reason."

Mr Morgan has been involved with the New Zealand Axemen's Association as well as with his local Canterbury branch and the Southern Axeman's Centre for the South Island.

An accomplished axeman and sawyer, Mr Morgan has represented Canterbury and New Zealand in both classic (over 50s) and veterans (over 60s) events on both sides of the Tasman.

As well as competing he has held various administration positions within the sport, including the voluntary positions as convener of handicappers for New Zealand as well as the primary handicapper for the South Island.