You may know him best as The Courier's 'Nature Notes' columnist, keeping the community informed about the comings and goings in the city's wildlife, and inspiring a love of the natural world in generations of readers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But Roger Thomas has also been using his considerable energy to manage the City of Ballarat's indigenous plant nursery for the past 17 years.
The nursery, which started life to help re-vegetate the Yarrowee River - a project known as LINCS (Linear Network of Communal Spaces) - and has carried on ever since. Mr Thomas has worked there one day a week since that time, orchestrating the nurture from seed to seedling of small armies of native plants.
This Wednesday marked the final day for Mr Thomas as its manager as he retires from the post to spend more time to do other things at home.
Self-effacing Mr Thomas, who has written for The Courier since the early 1980s, was hoping the final day would pass unnoticed, but one volunteer was determined the occasion should be marked.
They contacted The Courier with the tip-off. Unwilling to be named, they paid tribute to working with Mr Thomas. "He has vast knowledge of the natural history of this area, they said. "His retirement is a great loss to the nursery."
Mr Thomas meanwhile, will reflect on a long track record ensuring the city has enough native trees. He estimates the nursery is responsible for supplying from 10,000 to 15,000 seedlings - including eucalyptus, wattle, banksias, bottle brushes, teat-tree and native grasses among others - each year to be planted around the region.
The Yarrowee project is perhaps where Mr Thomas looks back most fondly.
"That was one of the most satisfying," he said.
IN OTHER NEWS
For Mr Thomas, meanwhile, it is not quite a final farewell as he still plans to be back at the nursery just beyond the North Gardens as an occasional volunteer.
"I will certainly miss the nursery - and the great team of volunteers," he said.
"We have a good time doing the work, they're an environmentally minded bunch - and they keep the nursery going."
MORE ON ROGER THOMAS: The winter secrets of Lake Wendouree with Roger Thomas
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thankyou very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.