Events

Daniel Erickson

Daniel (callsign ZL4DE) is part of a national network of licensed amateur radio operators (NZART) who assist emergency response and land-based search and rescue operations in New Zealand.

An emergency management volunteer since 2005, a community-minded person, Daniel started volunteering because he “wanted to serve in the community, to be involved.”

Now Daniel is the Southland Deputy Leader of AREC (Amateur Radio Emergency Communications). AREC provides radio operators and communications equipment during emergency responses, ensuring those involved can share information regardless of whether cell phones, telephones and other standard communication channels are operating.

Daniel has volunteered with the Wander Search program through Land Search & Rescue since 2012. Daniel has led the program in Southland during the past 6 years, which he has seen a massive increase in demand recently. 

John Taylor 

Aged 73- born in Invercargill 

45 years LandSAR volunteer 

Had 2 Search Dogs 

Retired Electrician 

Currently working as a Pest Plant contractor using a trained Dog to find the pest Weeds.

Work area is New Zealand 

Also Rabbit and Possum Control work

Colin graduated with a BVSc from Massey in 1971, worked for two years in a mixed veterinary practice in Tauranga, did veterinary locums in Australia and England, and worked as a research assistant at the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge, UK on TB in badgers.

On returning to NZ in 1978 Colin enrolled for a PhD study at Massey University on leptospirosis in dairy cattle, which he completed in July 1981. Colin then joined the deer group at the Invermay Agricultural Research Station (which became AgResearch Invermay) where he was the station vet. He undertook veterinary research for 35 years, including research on deer diseases such as yersiniosis, deer parapox, MCF, parasites, bovine tuberculosis and Johne’s disease.

The “ Undertaking”  is for the ten years that Dave spent working as an “ Undertaker “  or Funeral Director . Dave followed an uncle into the profession and had wanted  to do so from age 18 – his uncle told him to go away and get life experience first …he did that, then entered the profession and went on to qualify as an Embalmer, Funeral Director and Monumental Mason.

The “ Overtaking “  is for the ten years Dave spent working for varied ambulance services. Dave was a volunteer ambulance officer for many years before entering into that field full time. He took up ambulance work full time after leaving the “ Undertaking “ . He worked in both New Zealand and Australia and ended up as an Advanced Care Paramedic. Dave did side studies in Anaesthesia and Psychology .

Dave has been asked by a publisher to pen a book titled  “ Undertaking and Overtaking “   to speak of his many years involved in Ambulance Work and Funeral Directing.