Caldwell Family – Victoria

William James Caldwell
1869 – 1942
& 
his five sons with wife Alice
Les 1901 – 1981, Joseph 1905 – 1981
William James Jr 1910 – 1981, Alf 1911 – 1987
& Ken 1921 – 1994
All Champion Axemen

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William arrived in Australia at the age of 3. He became a farmer but, after many years of farming he moved to a bush block & became a very good axeman. He encouraged his sons to follow him into the sport. He was also very good at preparing racing axes and also passed this skill on to his sons.

The eldest son Les was a very good axeman and, at the age of 24, he won the 15inch Underhand World Title, Tree felling and Double Handed Sawing at the Sydney Royal Show.

Les was a better underhand cutter than standing block but his chopping included many notable successes in both disciplines.

Joe was also a very good axeman with one of his most memorable and treasured success being a win in the 15inch Standing Block Championship at the 1929
Royal Melbourne Show. As well as his chopping skills Joe was renowned for his ability in sharpening and grinding racing axes. He was also able to make handles for axes, farming implements and also gun stocks.

Jim’s (William James Jr.) expertise was no less than that of his older brothers – with a notable win at Dandenong Show, during the depression, of 100 pounds. Jim was very capable & successful in all disciplines of the sport. He held the record of 19secs for the 12inch underhand until early 1970. He was a willing coach for new axemen & ran training days at his property for them

Alf wasn’t quite as successful in all aspects of woodchopping but he was an excellent tree climber, especially with spurs. Alf was employed by sawmills to cut the tops out of trees & was fearless. While not as prolific as his brothers, Alf was an excellent axeman, a very able teacher & willingly shared his knowledge.

Ken carried on the family tradition of excellence & competed well into later life.

He also has the ability to grind axes & readily passed this & his woodchopping skills to younger axemen.

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