Coastal curiosity to roading repair

WITH one science degree, one marine studies diploma, and three decades as a chef, David Mildon’s life experience and organisational skills, have made him a valuable team member.

“Our cyclic crew is running smoothly, and David leads from the front,” says Quality Roading and Services road maintenance manager Michelle Hedley.

David, Ngati Kahungunu, is the cyclic crew site supervisor. He oversees a team of four carrying out general maintenance and minor repairs on roads across the district.

The 54-year-old joined QRS in 2022, after a varied and interesting career as a chef in five-star restaurants in the Bay of Plenty, and a scuba dive instructor in Napier.

Always curious about the world around him, and more specifically under him, David has a degree in biological science (environmental) through Waikato University, and a diploma in marine studies through Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.

“When I was a dive instructor, I couldn’t always relate to everything I could see under the water, so I thought it would be a good move to learn more about it.”

David is dad to 15-year-old Avalon. He earned his science qualifications while working full time. He says that a natural curiosity for understanding the symbiotic relationship between everything under the water motivated him through those busy months. Even now, while surfing or scuba diving, he remains in awe of what magic there is under the water.

“I’m always curious as to why there might be different seaweed here, or the water is a different colour in this area. I became thirsty for more information and studying definitely answered that.”

Looking for a career sea change in 2022, David leaned into operator licenses he had earned a few years back, and applied for a job at QRS. He enjoys working all over the district: from the top of the Wharerata range in the north, out as far as where the tarseal meets the metal 45km along on State Highway 38, and south to Mohaka Coach Rd.

The crew works on a repair programme created by TREC or the Transport Rebuild East Coast alliance. While it can be frustrating to see road repairs undone by subsequent rain events, David says it’s satisfying to be helping the district get moving again. “We’re there fixing the holes so everybody can travel safely with their families.”

The full cyclic crew are: David Mildon, Takurua Edwards, Dave Hunia and John Speakman.

22 February 2024

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