Jeff Burrow in his element, at one of the boiler facilities he helps maintain on the Dunedin Campus.
If there’s a way Jeff Burrow can use his time to give back to the community, rest assured he’s all in.
During the past four years, Jeff, Team Leader - Plumbing and Gas, has worked away at a project to convert an unproductive piece of land on his property into a flourishing ‘mini eco-sanctuary’.
When he first purchased the property, this part of the land was inaccessible due to gorse and blackberry brambles, which took him three years to clear.
“The aim was always to plant natives and to help the local wildlife thrive,” Jeff says.
He “started quietly” by himself, until he found out about the Halo Project.
Run by the charitable trust Landscape Connections Trust (LCT), the Halo Project works with communities to enhance, protect, and connect with our landscape. One of the streams of work under the Halo Project focuses on working with landowners to create safe pockets of healthy indigenous biodiversity outside of Orokonui Ecosanctuary, which lined up perfectly with Jeff’s vision.
“There are multiple ways the Halo Project team could help, and we settled on them donating the trees, surrounds and weed mat, with me being responsible for getting them in the ground and maintaining the land.”
With 500 native trees to plant, Jeff set about recruiting a team of volunteers to help him.
“I reached out to family, friends and workmates and asked them to join me on my birthday for the best present ever. Over 50 people showed up and we planted 500 trees in one day.”
It’s been six months since then and the land is slowly starting to transform, Jeff says. It’s also inspired him to expand on his vision.
“I’m working with our neighbours to clear their adjoining land so we can plant more natives. Our long-term plan is to put a walking track through our properties for the kids and community to use that’s safer than the dangerous road they walk down now.”
Jeff’s motivation is “having the opportunity to put things to rights”.
“It’s the right thing to do, giving back to the environment and creating a nice place to live.”
Giving back comes naturally to him and he credits his family with teaching him to give freely of his time to help the community.
Apart from the project revitalising his land, Jeff is also the Chief Fire Officer for the Waitati Volunteer Fire Brigade and is on the executive of the Master Plumbers Association.
While it can be difficult at times, it’s “many hats he wears with pride”, he says.
“I like to keep busy, and I like to feel like I’m doing good. It’s my happy place.”
~ Kōrero by Sandra French, Adviser, Internal Communications