John Wilson has been part of the story of the Sustainable South Canterbury Trust since its very beginnings. Back in 2002, when Brian Gallagher helped facilitate the establishment of what was then the Aoraki Wastebusters Trust, he did not have to look far for a suitable Trustee. Neighbour John Wilson stepped forward and went on to serve as a Trustee until 2009, taking on the roles of Treasurer and Chair during that time. In 2006, the Trust was renamed the Sustainable South Canterbury Trust, marking an important evolution in its journey.
In 2021, the Trust was seeking a Manager for the Crow’s Nest operations. At the same time, the Covid pandemic had resulted in the disestablishment of John’s role managing overseas students at Mountainview High School. It was fortunate timing for both John and the Trust. After a hiatus of 12 years, John re-joined the organisation – this time on the operational side.
John became Manager of the Crow’s Nest, as well as Trust Secretary, once again stepping into community service on behalf of the Trust. He held the Manager role until early 2025, when health issues prompted him to step back. Even then, John continued to contribute in a support and mentoring capacity, along with his role as Trust Secretary, albeit for only a few hours each week.
With the appointment of Sara Crow as General Manager in March, John was finally able to retire properly. While officially stepping away, his depth of experience, strong community connections, and generous spirit have meant he continues to assist the Trust in a voluntary capacity.
John’s involvement with the Trust over more than two decades represents a significant contribution to our community and to the many people who have worked at the Crow’s Nest and within the Trust. Looking after the team has always been central to John’s approach – fair, practical, good-humoured, and straight-up. Those qualities have defined his work ethic and earned widespread respect.
On behalf of the Sustainable South Canterbury Trust, thank you, John Wilson, for your outstanding service and commitment to the Trust, Crow’s Nest, Eco Centre, our staff, and our wider community.
Credit to Brian Gallaher for these kind words.
