WHEN the chips are flying in woodchopping contests at North Queensland agricultural shows, it’s a good bet evergreen axeman Martin Canole is in the thick of the action.
Dwarfed by his bulkier and younger opponents, the Atherton Tableland axeman draws huge cheers from amazed spectators as the almost dapper senior member of the contest challenges his rivals.
At the age of 85, when many athletes have settled in slippers and put their feet up, Martin is continuing his long association with the sport and setting a remarkable record.
For more than 63 years the former dairy farmer has been continuously engaged in competitive woodchopping – had his heart bypass operation in the off season to maintain the continuity – and is still fighting fit.
Hailing from near picturesque Lake Eacham, Martin and his wife of 61 years, Joan, travel to most agricultural shows in the north, including Malanda, Atherton, Mareeba and Mossman.
He won his first ribbon at the Malanda Show in 1956, and has competed in consecutive Malanda shows for 65 years.
At the Tully Show this year, Martin gave younger rivals a start – and beating – when he took out the 275mm underhand handicap to add yet another trophy to an overflowing cabinet. Proud of his reputation in the sport, Martin’s cabinet contains physical evidence of two championships won at successive Adelaide shows following his heart bypass.
“I was trying to start a chainsaw – modern-day gadgets – when I felt strange and a medical check revealed a heart attack had
happened but, obviously, I had survived,” Martin said.
“The operation went well and I recuperated in time to continue with the sport and gained selection in the Over 60 Australian team to take on New Zealand in their country.
“We won the three-test series at Wanganui, comfortably taking each of the tests, and met some wonderful people among our opponents.”
For Joan, the travel associated with the sport has been a pleasant pastime – and there have been any number of times when she has been called on to act as a steward in the woodchopping arena.
The family milked cows twice daily for many years and, for Joan, retiring from the industry was a great relief, because it was her duty to do the milking when Martin was off following his sport.
“I liked our cows but the job was time consuming and I couldn’t get to all the shows, but I’m completely in the loop now,” Joan said.
“At home I still cook on our old slow-combustion, wood-burning stove. And why not when I have a champion axeman to supply the fuel?”
