John Matthews started with the Department of Crown Lands and Survey in 1979 and has worked across regional Victoria in Horsham, Swan Hill and Ellinbank.

He spent most of his career at offices in Hamilton and Casterton. 

“A lot has changed since I first started,” he said.

“The department was a very male dominated workforce, now it is a great mix of professional, dedicated people using science to achieve results.”

Mr Matthews said over the years his work had provided many adventures and challenges – including working with many organisations and gaining their trust to work with them to protect community assets. 

“Trialling and establishing compliance for pest animal management was difficult early on, but is now widely accepted and requested by the community and environment bodies,” he said. 

Mr Matthews said some of his proudest achievements were being part of the team that lead Victoria to become the first jurisdiction to fully privatise and commercialise access to 1080, and lead the development and accreditation of an established invasive animal training program for Victoria. 

His final major piece of work has been on the RHD boost project for Victoria – a 20-year national program to biologically control rabbits. 

As much as it’s about the work, Mr Matthews said he had been fortunate to work with wonderful, intelligent and supportive colleagues who had given him many years of enjoyment and friendship, as well as his achievements in the established invasive animal space. 

“I hope I have improved systems and processes for the management of established invasive animals in Victoria by influencing and providing solutions to the wicked problem that is the impact of established pest animals in our state,” he said. 

Agriculture Victoria plants, chemicals and invasive director Sharyn Williams said throughout Mr Matthew’s career with the department he had been a key contributor and driver in incorporating proven ideas from research into established pest animal management programs. 

“He has been the leading advocate in showcasing the results of best practice pest animal management in Victoria,” she said.