Jon was a Southlander, born into a family of three children and educated at Wyndham District High School. He is survived by his wife Jenny, who he married in 1975, and three children (Leanna, Richard and Rosemary) and two grandchildren. Jon’s interest in forestry began in 1972 when he worked as a junior labourer for the NZ Forest Service in Southland undertaking beech cruising, indigenous forest harvesting, as well as exotic establishment and silviculture. After a break working as a soil testing technician at the Invermay Agricultural Research Centre he joined the NZ Forest Service ranger trainee programme in early 1974. In those days this was a four-year programme where the first year was spent at a forest station to experience the physical demands of forestry practice and cookhouse food. (no keywords)
