Farewell to Christine and Steve Clemow

SUSAN WARREN (Glenfern Sanctuary Trustee)

Glenfern Volunteer Cabins (Credit: Barry Scott)

In June this year Christine and Steve will step down as full-time Managers of Glenfern Sanctuary, to part-time support roles. Steve will continue to manage facilities and infrastructure.

Both have been very active not just at Glenfern but throughout Aotea and will leave a lasting legacy at the Sanctuary. With extraordinary commitment and boundless energy they have done so much to shape both the day-to-day life and long-term vision of the Sanctuary.

Christine has led the accommodation offer at Fitzroy House and Glenfern Cottage and has been the engine room of administration, fundraising, volunteer coordinator and visitor engagement. She has been the face of Glenfern at Island events.

Steve has led most of the outdoor work including upgrading the tracks, renovations, new signage and many other thoughtful upgrades and changes across the 84 hectare Sanctuary. He has pursued the predators with passion and use of the latest kit. He is a natural storyteller, bringing the Sanctuary to life for hundreds of visitors.

Together their crowning achievement has been the completion of the new Volunteer and Community Centre with the five cabins for accommodation. This ambitious programme would not have happened without them. Christine’s organizational skills and fundraising efforts combined with Steve’s hands on build management, contractor coordination and tireless work on the tools, has brought this project to fruition. This centre will not just benefit Glenfern but the whole island. It will become a Base Camp for ecological restoration, learning and community engagement.

Christine with volunteer Eloise

Steve on the Loop Track