Born 29th December 1927.
Col was enrolled in Commissioner’s Flat school near Woodford in 1933
Col was a great ambassador for the sport of Woodchopping.
A timber contractor- He was steward for the Bundaberg show for many years passing on his knowledge and encouragement of the sport for many newcomers.
In 1963 Winning the Double Hand Sawing Championship at the Royal Brisbane Show with Bill summers.
1966 Col was a member of the first Australian Touring Axman Team travelling Europe, taking the sport to new horizons, and making lifelong friends along the way.
A competitive axeman, a Queensland Standing Block Champion, he won- at the age of 48 – one of Australia’s richest woodshops- the Tasmanian $2000 in 1988. He was the 2nd backmarker on 12 seconds. A total of 194 axeman entered for the chop.
He won the first ever Double hand sawing conducted with ladies at the Toogoolawah Show with partner Joan Maars.
in 1976 Cole was a member of the first ever three man Australian Team which beat the legendary Basque in a relay event at San Sebastian in Spain, the team cut 9 blocks each and won in a time of 59 minutes 32 seconds.
Subsequently Australian Teams contested in 1977 and again in 1982, both were defeated in the marathon event.
Col’s greatest satisfaction came by placing in the top ten in the first World Championship Tournament in Tasmania in 1970. This took the form of 7 qualifying events over 7 days with the top ten contesting the final over 3 events after a lay day. Won by G Poster, 2nd Gary Hewitt who Col rates the best ever in all types of wood. Col came 10th having two broken axes.
Col together with John Franklin won the Blackbutt Show endurance race in 2 minutes 30 seconds after chopping off 6 blocks between them.
Col was in the Australian Team – South Africa- in the 1970s.
Col was part of Australian Touring Axemen – Europe- 26 May – 25th July 1979 this included Surry County Show, Television Appearances, South of England show, YOUR OF GERMANY, Lincolnshire show, Royal Norfolk Show, Kent County Show, East of England Show, Lambeth County Show (London) , New Forest show. Upon retiring from woodchopping Col was steward of the woodchop Gatton Show Queensland.