Devonport Times - 3 July 2008 - Devonport City Council

OUR PEOPLEBRIEFLYProtect petsDEVONPORT City Councilwill be holding an animalmicrochipping day on July5. Animals can bemicrochipped at the EastDevonport RecreationCentre between 10am-2pm for $20. No bookingsare required. Dogs mustbe on a lead and otheranimals must be securedin a cage or suitablyrestrained.Funny nightENJOY adult humour butwere unable to get to therecent Uni Review? Neverfear — the PainefoolComedy Company is here.The company will host anevening of Uni ReviewClassics at St Brendan-Shaw College on July 12.The show will start at7.30pm and tickets are$25 each. Bookings areessential and tickets areavailable from BJ’sPharmacy, Rooke St Mall,6424 1591. All proceedswill go towards helpingTaylor Wilczynski andcoach Robert Williams getto the World RowingChampionships in Austria.Fulfilled by farmyard funReaping therewards ofvolunteeringBy ROCHELLE GALLOWAYRODNEY Miles hasalways been a manof the land.The Wilmot identity ismost comfortable tendingto livestock and mendingbroken fences — evenwhen they are not hisown.Rodney is a volunteer atthe Wilmot School Farm.‘‘It is not just me, theschool farm is run by aband of volunteers,’’Rodney said.‘‘We are all farmoriented.’’Rodney may not be theonly volunteer on theschool farm but he is thelongest serving.He attended Wilmotschool before it wasdownsized in 1973 and wasHELPING HAND: Rodney Miles is the longest-serving volunteer at the Wilmot school farm. Heworks tirelessly on the land, treating it as if it is his own.known for being involvedin school boy banter andfarm antics.He recalls a tale of whena boy ran off with amasculator because hethought the castrationmethod was too cruel.In 1976, as a 19-year-old,Rodney became agroundsman and cleanerat Wilmot PrimarySchool.He cared for thelivestock and land as ifthey were his own andknew the eight hectareslike the back of his hand.‘‘I remember when weused to get the kids to helpround up the sheep,’’Rodney said.‘‘One sheep ran into theclassroom, the kidscreated havoc.’’Rodney’s family — wifeRaelene, who now worksfor the school and his twosons, Richard and Gary,have also played a part on‘‘One sheep ran intothe classroom, thekids created havoc.’’Rodney Milesthe school farm.‘‘The boys used to helpout with feeding.‘‘Raelene knows the farmwell and is the first port ofcall.’’Rodney left the role asgroundsman in 1995 buthas always maintained acaretaker role.Each evening he goesand feeds the cattle and isquick to put up his handfor the maintenance jobs.‘‘I’ve always supportedthe school, and I guessvolunteering is like R andR (rest and relaxation),’’Rodney said.‘‘It is R and R whenyou’re fencing with fouror five blokes who youdon’t see throughout theweek.‘‘You don’t think of it (aswork).‘‘You do it for the kids.’’Page 4 Devonport Times July 2008