New job for outdoorsman

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 29, 15 December 1987, Page 5

New job for outdoorsman

Conservation Officer John Lough is the newest member to join the team at the Ohakune Ranger Station, taking up the position Ieft vacant by Dennis McDonnell earlier this year. The area is not new to him, after working for several ski seasons at Whakapapa and as a park assistant at Tongariro National Park for the last three years. His job as park assistant included work as a track hand-cum-driver and heavy equipment operator. Mr Lough spent a year at Lincoln University studying for a diploma in parks and recreation, which he

did not complete. Hc has also tried his hand at contract fencing in the Raurimu Farm Block and for eight months worked at cross-cutting pines for in-

dustry in Taupo. His love of hunting led him to take it up full time on a commercial basis, with regular deer hunting trips into the Waimarino and Lewis Pass

areas. Mr Lough is still an avid hunter in his spare time. Mr Lough is enthusiastic about his new position which carries with it a lot of added responsibility. The position includes supervision of staff, tracks, noxious animals and plants within the park district. Mr Lough is keen to maintain rapport with local land owncrs whose boundaries adjoin the reserve which are also in his jurisdiction. The position also involves somc liaison with the Tongariro National Park. Mr Lough sees it taking him at least a year to fully settle in to the job. Although a keen outdoorsperson, he intends to make his family his number one priority.