Come behind the scenes and into the jobs, the challenges, the highlights, and the personalities of the people who work at the Department of Conservation (DOC).
Today we profile Biodiversity Ranger, Cherie Hemsley.
At work…
What kind of things do you do in your role?
Weed control, possum control, rat control, dotterel work, and quarantine checks.
What is the best part about your job?
Everything!!! The places on the island that we get to go to and locations that, unless you were working for the department, you don’t get to go to.
What is the hardest part about your job?
Not having enough hours in the day to do everything.
What led you to your role in DOC?
I love the bush.
What was your highlight from the month just gone?
Working on getting sign-off to drive our Stabi Crafts.
Cherie and daughter Betty at the beach – Mason Bay
The rule of 3…
Three loves
- My daughter Betty
- My partner Simon
- Stewart Island
Three pet peeves
- Mess (when peeps don’t clean up after themselves)
- Laziness
- Too much time indoors
Cherie and partner Simon
Three foods
- Whitetail
- Salmon
- Trumpeter
Three favourite places in New Zealand
- Mason Bay
- Port Pegasus
- Codfish Island (I know they are all Stewart Island and around, but that’s why I live here)
Favourite movie, album, book
- Movie: Stand By Me
- Album: The Best of Otis Redding
- Book: Whitethorn by Bryce Courtney
Cherie’s daughter Betty and partner Simon
Deep and meaningful…
What piece of advice would you tell your 18 year old self?
Start saving 10% of your wages now!
Who or what inspires you and why?
My daughter because she is AMAZING!
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
A vet.
And now, if you weren’t working at DOC, what would you want to be?
Working in the bush somewhere—study’n botany maybe?
What sustainability tip would you like to pass on?
Hmmmmmmm, grow your own veggies.
Which green behaviour would you like to adopt this year—at home? At work?
Grow my own veggies with more success this year than last year.
If you could be any New Zealand native species for a day, what would you be and why?
Harlequin gecko because we know so little about them.
What piece of advice or message would you want to give to New Zealanders when it comes to conservation?
Just spend a bit of time in the bush and at our huts, then see how you feel. It might make you think twice about priorities in life.
