GONE is the time when Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.
These days you're more likely to find Jack and Jill sawing wood for thrills, cross-cutting mighty logs as a team.
Jill liked Jack's show and said "I'll give this a go"; now they're both living the woodchopping dream.
As wood chopping competition heats up across Queensland, a rising number of females are sharpening their axes in the lead up to the Brisbane Royal Show in August.
Mother-of-two Renee Retschlag experienced her first cut of the action when she started "Jacking and Jilling" with her husband Jamie in the cross-cut sawing events last year.
Unlike Renee, Jamie was virtually raised with an axe in hand and has been competing since he was a child.
It was while following her husband on the agricultural show circuit that Renee decided to try her hand at the individual events.
Six shows later, Renee enjoys a thirst for the competitive nature of the sport.
"It's always really good. You want to beat yourself and there's always something you can improve on," she said.
Husband and wife team Renee and Jamie Retschlag, Kilcoy, are one of the growing number of wood chopping duos following the show circuit. Pictures: ANDREA CROTHERS
As well as a warm house in winter, the Retschlag's now boast five cross-cut saws and a dozen axes between them.
"You can never have too many axes," laughs Jamie, who is also pleased by the chance to attend more shows.
"It's just one big day out for the entire family."
Their eldest daughter, who is nine years old, picked up the sport this year too.
Queensland Axeman's Association (QAA) secretary and handicapper Allan Draper said Renee's story is not uncommon.
"The majority of women start with their partners first," Mr Draper said.
"They have to display a level of competency before they get in the arena so we don't have many accidents at all."
The QAA is the sport's peak body in Queensland and has 144 members this year - about 20 of whom are females.
Mr Draper said the number of females picking up the axe has doubled in the past five years, thanks to a push from spectators and sponsors.
"The Adelaide Royal Show were the first to really pushed for more ladies events, because they had lots of sponsors down there for the ladies chop," Mr Draper said.
"The crowd loved it and so the competition got money behind their events."
The sport has since seen a flow-on effect right through to local wood chopping circles, as membership increases nation-wide.
"They're all coming out of the woodwork now," he said.
There are over 40 wood chopping classes hosted at the Brisbane Royal Show including underhand, tree-felling and cross-cut sawing events.
Prize money and trophies exceeds $90,000 for the Ekka alone.
