QEII Event for Miles & Gillian Giller
23 August 2024
Miles Giller has recently retired as QEII Trust rep for North Canterbury. For the past 23 years in the role (which first encompassed all of Canterbury), he has been a tireless advocate for protecting our district’s special and varied biodiversity, working alongside landowners to help them establish QEII covenants. On Friday 23 August, in the Omihi Hall, the QEII Trust joined with Hurunui Biodiversity Trust to co-host a send-off for Miles and his wife Gillian, likewise an experienced botanist who has helped Miles on his field work. The event was also an opportunity to introduce the new North Canterbury QEII rep, James Kilgour.
Bringing together a large group of local covenant holders and others with close association to the Gillers, the occasion featured a presentation by Miles of his experiences over the years, the ‘weird and wonderful’ flora and fauna that he has encountered, and the challenges and the breakthroughs of protecting our vulnerable native species. He concluded on an optimistic note, observing that as more people are actively protecting biodiversity, this is gaining greater acceptance as a positive value when integrated into farming practice.
Thanks to QEII Trust for sponsoring the event and to everyone who helped make it such a special occasion, not least the Greta Valley School caterers who kept up a steady supply of tasty fare.