Rod has been a member of Moss Vale Landcare Group Inc. since its inception in 2000 and has always held the position of Deputy Chair. He took on the responsibilities of Treasurer unexpectedly, and has continued to serve in this role as well. Rod’s regular attendance at Committee meetings and his knowledge and enthusiasm are greatly valued.

Rod is the convenor of the ‘Saturday Group’ at Cosgrove Park in Moss Vale, where a substantial length of Whites Creek has been rehabilitated from willow swamp and blackberry and privet jungle. Physically hands-on, Rod has, over the last nearly 18 years, poisoned and cut down willows, removed massive amounts of privet, blackberry, hawthorn, honeysuckled broom and ivy, and planted, watered, staked or maintained in some way, every plant that has gone in along Whites Creek. It has been said that Rod knows the creek better than anyone else, having been in it so often.

The Saturday group has enjoyed an excellent morning tea courtesy of Rod for many years. He brings  hot water in thermoses, milk, tea, coffee and cake. Latterly, with more health conscious members, he has adapted the provisions to include freshly cut carrot and celery fingers and a range of dips as well. He ensures a comfortable break, bringing chairs and even setting the table with a tablecloth. No wonder the group is growing with new people joining us and becoming keen participants.

Rod has put in extra time and effort to support the success of the group and has been active in publicising the group’s activities. Early on, he organised a great Landcare Caring Hands Logo sign which we display at Working Bees to advertise our activities to passers-by. (See picture below)

Rod always participates in our Clean-Up Australia Day effort, when he specialises in working on the area behind Coles supermarket, where we have an older planting. At the same time, he does some maintenance and weeding there. Rod regularly carried out Streamwatch activities with the group for many years and also cared for a War Memorial ‘cannon’ park in Moss Vale, planting a Westringia (native rosemary) hedge there. Rod has always been involved in volunteering having been a member of the Moss Vale Lions Club and a member of the Moss Vale Masterplan Committee.

Rod maintains a native garden at his home, which is a ‘Habitat for Wildlife’ location. Rod’s possums are the fortunate residents of his home-made possum boxes. Other features of his garden are a bog garden and pond swarming with tadpoles and an ancient Eucalyptus viminalis which has been modified by an arborist to make it safe so it can continue being an amazing habitat tree.

Here is a short video about Rod https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j97r2Ao0SUQ