We don't bother with twigs,leaves or shavings....just use smaller pieces of wood in a nice pile and hit it with a butane gas torch ($7.46) that attaches to the throw-away 220gm cans at around $1 a can. The flame will melt aluminium and is great for soldering Anderson plugs etc as well as lighting fires. A must have for any pyromaniac.
My preference too.
Was enjoying the bush show after dinner at Daly Waters when there was an almighty Woosh!! and the call 'hot showers for the ladies ready'.
It seems that the yard man had tipped a quantity of diesel & petrol on the pile of firewood & lit it ... The fire was heating an 'elephant' of water piped to the ladies shower.
It really caught our attention.
My next door neighbor, an ex bushie, always uses the petrol & diesel approach. Laughs at me and my propane blow torch.