Mel Scott

Mel farmed at Otorohanga for 20 years before joining the Ranger force at the end of 1973. Prior to that he worked and farmed in the Northern King Country in an area where bush dominated his life with logging and milling being part of everyday life. 

The Otorohanga farm was partly bounded by two scenic reserves and Provisional State Forest. 

The local schools used these Scenic Reserves and Mel’s knowledge of the "bush" for study over a number of years. When the farm income needed propping up he worked with a local valuer and a surveyor and also measured bush prior to logging. These experiences and the farming proved very helpful later. 

Recently appointed Reserves Ranger John Greenwood (Hamilton) checking the local reserves called in and his enthusiasm impressed Mel who had  not long ended a  "battle" with Department of Land and Survey to have an area of Crown bush on his road made Scenic Reserve. This ended up with two new reserves, the one in question and an area of his bush which had a cave of interest.

At this time he was considering a change from farming and with concern for many reserves which were being heavily grazed or even partially sold off, and with encouragement from Greenwood, he applied for the Taupo position and, surprisingly, was accepted.