For fourteen years John spent two mornings each week towing the group’s spray unit with his own utility, first putting a relevant amount of the liquid spray into the unit, then filling the tank with water at the Council Depot, and driving to sites infected with gorse and other weeds.

A member of the group would always accompany John both for safety and to free the 100-metre hose from snags to keep it from tangling with shrubs and trees. He was a very careful sprayer and avoided native species with the spray,

in 2014 John was awarded a Life Membership of the Ararat Landcare Group for his huge contribution to the organisation and to the well-being of much public land of the town.

We were greatly saddened when we learnt that John had developed pancreatic cancer. Although he overcame its terrible effects for some time, he eventually succumbed to the disease and died on 14^th April.

He leaves a grieving family: his wife Elaine and five adult offspring. To them we offer our deep sympathy. Vale John.

With the death of John Graham last week, the Ararat community saw the loss of a dedicated environmental carer.

Over 15 years since 2001, John and his small team of voluntary workers oversaw the removal of many exotic weeds from the Cemetery Creek area and throughout various areas within the city of Ararat.

The exotic weeds were thick and impenetrable in various parts when the work was first started.

Today, Cemetery Creek ares, with the walking-cycling track is indeed a very pleasant passive recreational area in which to relax and enjoy the natural landscape.

Members of the Ararat Landcare Regional Bio Links Network and the Ararat Landcare Group are indeed grateful to John for his dedicated environmental work.

We, the community, are the beneficial recipients of those caring hands.