Well-known local figure Noel Muller has announced his retirement after a rewarding and varied 46-year career with Parks Victoria.
“I’ve done it all, garbage, toilet runs, driving the zoo cart, guiding, teaching, and the environmental side,” Noel told the Mail.
“I’ve seen bushfires, storms, floods, drownings, pulled bodies out of the surf, a bit of everything, and then botulism to finish it off.
“It’s been good fun and I’ve met lots of great people. I met Bob Hawke at the opening of Point Nepean and I even shared an umbrella with Weary Dunlop!”
Noel, born and bred in Ballarat, began his career when he joined an employment program with ‘National Parks’ initially working on the Bush Rangers Bay Walking Track at Cape Schanck and working in the Point Nepean region for 20 years. He moved to Kerang for a few years before coming to Castlemaine in the early 2000s to work on the Box Ironbark Project, working as a park ranger and then a team leader in the Goldfields region which covers three big parks and 50 or 60 little ones.
“I’m not sure I got to see them all in the end,” Noel said.
After living in Castlemaine for a brief time Noel and his wife bought an unfinished 80s holiday shack nestled amongst the Maldon Historic Area (which fittingly is Parks Victoria land).
“I’ve loved working in the parks and working with the community, being involved in things like the Monster Meeting and Anzac Day.
“There’s a lot of great and passionate people on both sides of the fence, although sometimes you do get stuck in the middle,” Noel laughs.
The 67-year-old is looking forward to his retirement years and is hoping to travel overseas and spend more time with his four grandchildren.
One of the founding members of the Wheel Cactus Warriors, Noel will continue getting out in the bush from time to time with the Warriors, as well as continuing his involvement with the Maldon Museum and taking part in the yearly Mt Tarrengower Hill Climb.
“Plus I’ve got a pair of Jaguars sitting in the shed that I’ve had for a few years and one day I might have them finished!”