Well…..about Peter Colliver.

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Pete began his competitive years at the age of 18, as he told me his dad wouldn’t allow

him to compete until that age. He was a big bugger already and I’m sure had been

swinging the axe since he was a wee boy. Dad (Vale) had been competing for many

years prior, so the love of the sport was already in his blood. Pete was a serious

competitor, had made quite a name for himself in Australia, which enabled him to travel

the world and compete.

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His first travels to Canada were in 1981. It was then that he met many special people in

the sport who became lifelong mates and some became family. The Bischoff family, all

of them, were one of these families. They became his Canadian family.

His strengths were the Standing Block and the Underhand, holding records throughout

the years. His sportsmanship and willingness to help others was unbridled and admired

by his many peers.

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1986 is when I met Pete and things changed… of course, I think for the better!

In 1988 he made the decision to settle in Canada. As a family we travelled to many local

and distant wood chops, always meeting and making new friends.

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The woodchopping family was a wonderful and special way to introduce our son Brock

to chopping. Pete was always so very proud of his own accomplishments but even more

proud of his son’s keen interest. It came naturally to Pete to pass on his knowledge and

to encourage others to involve themselves in the sport. Always the teacher, Pete was

one of the first to step up and show proper technique and safety to the rookies. In

ensuring that these rookies were able to try their hand at the sport, Pete never hesitated

to loan them his finest equipment.

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The Stihl Peter Colliver Memorial Trophy is testament to the man, the teacher, the

competitor and the sportsman that Peter was.

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Written by: Shelley