Date: 12th September 2024
In this semi-regular series we take a look behind the scenes here, introducing you to the people behind the planting, and discovering what draws them to our work. This time we meet Michael Thompson, a regular face at the nursery volunteer sessions each Wednesday.
WRT: What was the main drawcard to volunteering with us? Was it working with plants and trees, or purely a desire to make a difference?
MT: The plants, certainly. I had some understanding of the fight between native and invasive species here, but not as much as I have now. I came along without knowing anyone, and went along by myself initially. I’m always a bit awkward in those sorts of situations, going into a place where I don’t know anyone. It’s never easy! But the nursery was quite welcoming. The first day, I met Barbara [previous nursery manager] and she was very friendly. She gave me a tour of the area and showed me how to get started. Your first job is essentially transplanting small plants from trays into planting bags so she showed me how to do that, and we had a cup of tea with everyone.
I was definitely one of the youngest there by a long way, especially in the early years, pre-COVID. That changed a little bit through COVID and now it’s kind of reverted back. It’s quite a different scene to what I’m used to but that’s really enjoyable.
WRT: How have your volunteering activities grown from there?
MT: Specifically within the Reforestation Trust, I was only attending sporadically for the first year to two years, just because it’s hard to find time within a work schedule. And then, once I had been in my job for some time, I was able to have a bit more control over my schedule. So, since around 2020 or so, I’ve managed to have Wednesdays off and go regularly to the nursery.
This means I have a bigger picture of the year-round activities at the Trust, because it changes a lot. There are certain times of year where you’re potting up, as we call it and there are certain times a year when there’s quite a bit of weeding to do. In recent years, I’ve done a bit more of what I’d call the finer work: sowing seeds and pricking out the really tiny plants. Some people have very little interest in those jobs, because it takes a bit more fine motor skill and concentration to do. But, I quite enjoy it and don’t find it too taxing, so I’ve been doing a lot of that. There’s a core group of people who do that with me.
WRT: Obviously growing native plants that will reforest the Basin makes a person feel good! But what other benefits have you gained from your work with the WRT?
MT: Feeling secure in this town is a constant concern when you’re here in the early days and when you’re living in rental properties and don’t earn that much money. There’s definitely a benefit to getting to know wider groups in the community through volunteering. I’ve made friends and met people who I never would have met before, and really expanded that network – it makes life here feel more permanent. Queenstown can be a hard place to see yourself living and staying. But the more people you know, the easier things are as you grow your support network. Volunteering helps you to meet other new arrivals to Queenstown and draw on the experience of those who have lived here for a long time. You get to see that it is possible to make life here work.
WRT: Life is busy and it can be hard to squeeze volunteering in sometimes. How do you make it work with your work/social life/adventuring schedule?
MT: I guess as I’ve grown older, I’ve been more willing to sacrifice things like adventuring. Sometimes, I can see that it would be a beautiful day to be skiing, but I guess the main thing is that you are making a sacrifice to help out. With my work schedule giving me Wednesdays off, it also means I’m often working on weekend days, so there’s definitely a social sacrifice there. That’s the kind of choice that a younger me would never have made, but it’s personally beneficial and I also feel like it’s important work. If I can’t make it along on a Wednesday for whatever reason, I do miss it, and it’s always nice to come back the next time to see everyone.
The Whakatipu Reforestation Trust is extremely grateful to Michael and all the nursery volunteers who work so hard to grow healthy native plants for our community and keystone planting sites.
Want to join a volunteer session? New faces are always welcome, just drop in during a Wednesday session.
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