There is one Millicent business-man who relishes the current spate of cool weather. Winter officially started on Tuesday and wood merchant Paul Hogan is glad the temperatures have been plummeting throughout autumn.

As freezing point has been approached on some mornings in Millicent, Mr Hogan said this has prompted a steady demand for redgum to his Rendelsham Road premises. “Demand for firewood began to step up about a month ago,” Mr Hogan said. “My prices are about 10% dearer than 2020. “It is a matter of supply and demand.

“There is great demand for the redgum from Melbourne and Adelaide. “I source the wood from New South Wales. “If I do not pay the price, the trucks will keep on driving on to the cities. “My price per tonne is around half of what they are paying at the moment in Adelaide.”

Mr Hogan is a long-time operator of a commercial cleaning business and added wood supply nine years ago. “2020 was my best year in business and I had about 20pc more turnover than any other year,” he said. “People were staying indoors; schools were closed and people were working from home.”

Mr Hogan is working seven-days-per-week in his two businesses. He expects the demand for firewood in the Millicent area to remain until October. “It stays colder for longer in the seaside towns and I have customers from Port MacDonnell to Kingston,” he said. “I still deliver wood in these places up to Christmas.”

Demand for winter warming has also seen various community groups under-taking wood-cutting and sales as a money-spinner. As in past years, trailer loads of cut firewood have also been placed by private entrepreneurs for sale in front yards and major roads around Millicent and across the region.

Sales of kindling generate funds for community projects undertaken by the Lions Club of Beachport and Rivoli Bay.