One of Katikati’s most famous sons was world champion axeman George Macauley.

Born in 1884 his main chopping successes were achieved between 1902 and 1912, though in 1927 he made a comeback at the Katikati show and won the 18 inch standing chop.

Among the family treasures lent for display at the Katikati centennial celebrations are a photograph of George Macauley at the height of his career and an account of his achievements cut from a Taranaki newspaper in 1933. Both have been lent by Miss Freda Butcher of Waihi, and the photograph is reproduced here.

In 1907 at Eltham he won the world championship chop and in two other years he was second.

He was as successful in sawing overhand and underhand events. Many of his prizes were won with Con Casey, another bushman, as his partner.

The two went north into Kauri country to chop in two carnivals, at Kamo and at Dargaville. There they almost scooped the pool between them, and went home well satisfied.

One event they won with an added handicap was jacking up a big log for sawing and when it was up George Macauley threw his jack down, putting the toe of it through Con Casey’s foot. After getting a stimulant from the nearby hotel for his mate the two competed and won.

A notable giant, Dave Pretty, beat George Macauley in one of his attempts to win the world championship, and broke the existing record in so doing.

However, when Pretty was with a travelling show which had a stand in Tauranga, the show lost its stake for the one and only time when Macauley beat Pretty in sawing through a one foot log.

Macauley stood five feet nine inches high, and weighed 14 stone.

It was only when he was stripped that the strength of his physique became obvious.

One of his feats was carrying a sack of potatoes weighing more than 180lb for several miles through rough country across the Patea River in Taranaki. The story of this feat of strength was often told by other bushmen. The bush was his life, and he answered its call for most of his life.