“Once a Forest Ranger” by Chris Nelson, published by Lonesome Pine Publishing. Price $45. Reviewed by Tony Orman
As a boy Chris Nelson loved the outdoors and envisaged himself as a farmer once he left school. However the reality was farming opportunities for a youngster were very few and virtually non-existent.
So he took the next best thing – a career in forestry. The author’s father was restless, moving from job to job that took the very young Chris Nelson to numerous places among them the South Island high country, and places that were remote in those days such as Apiti north of Feilding and two large sheep stations in the Rangitikei and another in the shadow of the Ruahine Ranges.
The author reflects that even though he was just a toddler and young boy during these years, that there may well have been a psychological link established with a rural environment and in particular the backcountry. The father was prone to drinking bouts during which he tended to be abusive. But thankfully the mother was “a courageous, practical woman with a strong sense of family.”
After travels abroad, the author found his niche within forestry.
He enjoyed his work beginning as a forestry trainee and went on to spend 47 years working in the forestry sector.
“Forestry had been good to me— It was a way of life rather than a job.”
His forestry work took him mostly to steep hill country and remote locations — “which has added to the challenges and ultimately, my job satisfaction.”
The book is basically a memoir and includes stories of hunting trips, inevitable bush mishaps and encounters with quirky back country people. “Once a Forest Ranger” is the story of a man determined to make the best of life despite an unsettled childhood. His father was a very capable stockman and the pity is, that alcohol was a factor in him not reaching his full potential.
Interestingly Chris Nelson resolved not to be like his father.
“His selfish, destructive treatment of our family taught me that I needed to be the opposite kind of man, if I wanted to be the best father and husband that I could be.”
Allied with that resolve was the deep influence of his mother. “I could never expect to emulate all her fine qualities, but if some of them have rubbed off onto me, I am grateful.”
“Once a Forest Ranger” is an interesting read, well illustrated with numerous photos of forestry and family.