John Edward (Ned) Shewry
Encyclopedia
John Edward Shewry, (1889 - 1 August 1962) was a world champion woodchopper
from New Zealand
. Born in Stratford, New Zealand
, he was one of 11 children of John and Elizabeth Shewry. The Shewrys were early settlers in Tahora
in the Eastern Taranaki hill country, where they set to clearing a large block of land on Moki Road for pasture between the Makino and Waitaanga forests. The felling of timber dominated the lives of the Shewry family, and growing up in this setting clearly left a lasting impression on the young John Edward.
sports day.
After a terrible first chop, Shewry quickly picked up his act, and returned the next year to win the local competition. In 1911 he won in Eltham
, the “Mecca
of axemen”, and carried on his winning streak
at a number of other chopping events around Taranaki and the King Country
.
against world champion Dave Pretty, and Australia
n greats Bill Peck and Charlie Miley, and beat them all. Shewry went on to compete in Australian events in Brisbane
, Toowoomba, Rockhampton
and MacKay
, then returned to New Zealand to win the world championship in Eltham, winning the 24 inch championship, the visitors' trophy for the 15 inch standing chop and the 12 inch underhand chop.
, and in 1915, he and his brother David joined the New Zealand Cycling Corps and served in Egypt
, France
and Belgium
. Shewry’s war service was recognised with the Military Medal for bravery, which he received for saving an officer's life while under fire. Tragically, though, his brother David died from injuries received in France in 1917. Ned was twice wounded in battle, but when he returned home he was a fit man keen to return to the woodchopping arena.
, and smashed the Australasian record for the 12-inch (30cm) kahikatea chop with a time of 25 seconds - 8.4 seconds faster than the record set by Dave Pretty in 1908. Over the next few years Shewry travelled around New Zealand
demonstrating his skills at fairs and carnivals. In 1925 he won the Australasian title at the Dunedin Exhibition, the right and left-handed
chop at North Auckland the 18-inch (45cm) at Hamilton
, and the 18-inch underhand at Taihape
.
where he farmed for a number of years, and moved to a small farm on Corbett Rd at Bell Block. In 1960, he gifted his competition axes and cups to the Taranaki Museum (now Puke Ariki
).
While many environmental activists today consider woodchoppers and timber-fellers
of old as nature-hating barbarians, this could not have been further from the truth of Shewry. In later life he became involved with the high profile Pukeiti Gardens at the foot of Mount Taranaki, and was a keen supporter of the . His involvement with Pukeiti ranged from weeding and planting to helping design the layout of the reserve. He was described as a tireless collector of rare and good plants as well as an "indefatigable propagator". His own garden at Bell Block was “filled with lilies, bulbs and shrubs”.
Shewry died at age 73 on 1 August 1962, and was buried at the At. Mark's Church Cemetery, Lepperton Taranaki beside his brother Archie. His friend Rob Hair described him in his obituary
as "Ned Shewry, world champion axeman, footballer, bush feller, farmer, plant lover a hard headed businessman, frugal in affairs of his own, generous with those he liked; keen brained, a hard hitter in debate, and the wielder of a sly and devastating wit."
In his will, Shewry bequeathed to Pukeiti Gardens the bulbs, lilies, shrubs and trees from his garden along with £1200 toward the Summit Road project. He left the whole of his residuary estate
to the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust - with the proviso that "if it could survive for more than 20 years it deserved to have the land." In 1985 the money from Ned's estate was used to help build a gatehouse at Pukeiti and further expand the gardens. A bar-café opened in Stratford in 1993 was named “Axemen’s Inn” in honour of Shewry.
Wood chopping
Woodchop or wood chopping is a sport that has been around for hundreds of years in several cultures. In wood chopping competitions, skilled contestants attempt to be the first to cut or saw through a log or other block of wood...
from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Born in Stratford, New Zealand
Stratford, New Zealand
Stratford is the only town in the central Taranaki district of Stratford District, New Zealand. It lies beneath the eastern slopes of Mount Taranaki/Egmont, approximately half-way between New Plymouth and Hawera, near the geographic centre of the Taranaki region. The town has a population of...
, he was one of 11 children of John and Elizabeth Shewry. The Shewrys were early settlers in Tahora
Tahora, Taranaki
Tahora is a small settlement located in the Manawatu-Wanganui Region in the North Island of New Zealand along the Stratford - Okahukura railway line and State Highway 43 between Stratford and Taumarunui...
in the Eastern Taranaki hill country, where they set to clearing a large block of land on Moki Road for pasture between the Makino and Waitaanga forests. The felling of timber dominated the lives of the Shewry family, and growing up in this setting clearly left a lasting impression on the young John Edward.
Early life
At the age of 17, he took up farming with his older brother Archie on the block next-door, and set to work clearing the land with “just a couple of axes, a saw and a packet of matches". He quickly developed good skills and technique with an axe, and soon caught the eye of the elder local bushman Hughie McLeod, who entered Shewry in the chopping events at the 1909 WhangamomonaWhangamomona
Whangamomona is a small township in the Stratford District and Manawatu-Wanganui Region in New Zealand. It lies on State Highway 43, the Lost World Highway north-east of Stratford and south-west of Ohura. By rail it is from Stratford on the Stratford-Okahukura railway line.- History :The first...
sports day.
After a terrible first chop, Shewry quickly picked up his act, and returned the next year to win the local competition. In 1911 he won in Eltham
Eltham, New Zealand
thumb|left|The town center of ElthamEltham is a small inland town in South Taranaki, New Zealand, located 50 km south of the city of New Plymouth and southeast of the volcanic cone of Mount Taranaki/Egmont. Stratford is 11 km north, Kaponga 13 km west, and Hawera 19 km south....
, the “Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
of axemen”, and carried on his winning streak
Winning streak (sports)
In sports, a winning streak refers to a consecutive number of games won. A winning streak can be held by a team, as in baseball, football, basketball, hockey, or by an individual, as in tennis...
at a number of other chopping events around Taranaki and the King Country
King Country
The King Country is a region of the western North Island of New Zealand. It extends approximately from the Kawhia Harbour and the town of Otorohanga in the north to the upper reaches of the Whanganui River in the south, and from the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto Ranges in the east to near the Tasman...
.
International Competition in 1912
In 1912, he competed in AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
against world champion Dave Pretty, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n greats Bill Peck and Charlie Miley, and beat them all. Shewry went on to compete in Australian events in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Toowoomba, Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
and MacKay
Mackay, Queensland
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia, about north of Brisbane, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar....
, then returned to New Zealand to win the world championship in Eltham, winning the 24 inch championship, the visitors' trophy for the 15 inch standing chop and the 12 inch underhand chop.
World War I
Shewry’s woodchopping career was interrupted by World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and in 1915, he and his brother David joined the New Zealand Cycling Corps and served in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Shewry’s war service was recognised with the Military Medal for bravery, which he received for saving an officer's life while under fire. Tragically, though, his brother David died from injuries received in France in 1917. Ned was twice wounded in battle, but when he returned home he was a fit man keen to return to the woodchopping arena.
International Competition from 1921 to 1934
In 1921, Shewry won the world championship 24-inch (45cm) chop at GisborneGisborne, New Zealand
-Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped...
, and smashed the Australasian record for the 12-inch (30cm) kahikatea chop with a time of 25 seconds - 8.4 seconds faster than the record set by Dave Pretty in 1908. Over the next few years Shewry travelled around New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
demonstrating his skills at fairs and carnivals. In 1925 he won the Australasian title at the Dunedin Exhibition, the right and left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
chop at North Auckland the 18-inch (45cm) at Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
, and the 18-inch underhand at Taihape
Taihape
Taihape is the Northern gateway town of the Rangitikei District, located near the middle of the North Island of New Zealand. It services a large rural community and lies on State Highway 1, which runs through the centre of the North Island.- Economy :...
.
Retirement
Shewry’s involvement in competitive woodchopping stretched for a period of over 20 years until he retired in 1934 at the age of 45. He purchased a land in OpunakeOpunake
Opunake is a small town on the southwest coast of Taranaki in New Zealand's North Island. It is located 45 kilometres southwest of New Plymouth. Rahotu is 16 km to the northwest. Manaia is 29 km to the southeast. State Highway 45 passes through the town.The population was 1368 in the...
where he farmed for a number of years, and moved to a small farm on Corbett Rd at Bell Block. In 1960, he gifted his competition axes and cups to the Taranaki Museum (now Puke Ariki
Puke Ariki
Puke Ariki is a combined museum and library at New Plymouth, New Zealand. It also includes a visitor information centre and cafe.It is the world's first purpose-built, fully integrated museum, library and visitor information centre. Puke Ariki won Creative New Zealand's prestigious Creative Places...
).
While many environmental activists today consider woodchoppers and timber-fellers
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
of old as nature-hating barbarians, this could not have been further from the truth of Shewry. In later life he became involved with the high profile Pukeiti Gardens at the foot of Mount Taranaki, and was a keen supporter of the . His involvement with Pukeiti ranged from weeding and planting to helping design the layout of the reserve. He was described as a tireless collector of rare and good plants as well as an "indefatigable propagator". His own garden at Bell Block was “filled with lilies, bulbs and shrubs”.
Shewry died at age 73 on 1 August 1962, and was buried at the At. Mark's Church Cemetery, Lepperton Taranaki beside his brother Archie. His friend Rob Hair described him in his obituary
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
as "Ned Shewry, world champion axeman, footballer, bush feller, farmer, plant lover a hard headed businessman, frugal in affairs of his own, generous with those he liked; keen brained, a hard hitter in debate, and the wielder of a sly and devastating wit."
In his will, Shewry bequeathed to Pukeiti Gardens the bulbs, lilies, shrubs and trees from his garden along with £1200 toward the Summit Road project. He left the whole of his residuary estate
Residuary estate
A residuary estate, in the law of wills, is any portion of the testator's estate that is not specifically devised to someone in the will, or any property that is part of such a specific devise that fails. It is also known as a residual estate or simply residue. The will may identify the taker of...
to the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust - with the proviso that "if it could survive for more than 20 years it deserved to have the land." In 1985 the money from Ned's estate was used to help build a gatehouse at Pukeiti and further expand the gardens. A bar-café opened in Stratford in 1993 was named “Axemen’s Inn” in honour of Shewry.
External links
- An Introduction To Woodchopping New South Wales Axemens Association