Jim Kilby

In George Lyon's words:

 Jim was one of the most likeable characters I ever had anything to do with. Cheerful, honest, a good practical worker, possessed with the most essential ingredient for a park employee. Able to relate to anyone.

In John Mazey's words:

These attributes were to continue over the years during which Jim became known as Coastline Kilby at Abel Tasman National Park. 

Jim's attitude to work, together with his concern for park issues was evident when working on the St Arnaud track removing a dangerous dead tree. While working on felling the tree he became surrounded by wasps, which became more numerous and threatening as the chainsaw deepened its cut. When he realised that he had struck a wasp nest he had to make the decision to leave the task with an unsafe tree or keep cutting. He carried on, with the wasp attack worsening until eventually the tree fell. Jim dropped the chainsaw then started to run, shedding clothes as he went, until with nothing on but his boots he eventually stopped some distance down the track. History does not record if there were onlookers.