He grew up on a farm near Clinton in South Otago and still lives by the same values of hard work, honesty, and integrity that he learned on the farm.

Rodney’s early working years were spent working in agriculture, fencing, and forestry, before moving to Perth to work in the mining industry. He operated heavy machinery in gold and iron ore mines in Western Australia for twelve years.   While working there for Rio Tinto Rodney did his adult apprenticeship in engineering – a role he really enjoyed. This was a tough working environment where he was faced with all sorts of breakdown and fabrication challenges.  In his time off he also put his engineering and farming knowledge to use on local cattle stations. Rodney transferred with Rio Tinto to New South Wales in 2010 where he worked in the coal mines for three years

At the end of 2013 Rodney returned home and settled in Mosgiel to be closer to his family. He worked as a machine operator in the forestry industry, and then excavation, before becoming a loader driver for Otago Airspread, which enabled him to combine his two great passions of agriculture and aviation.

Rodney earnt his private pilot’s license in 2021, making him the 4th pilot in the family. He’s a keen hunter and fisherman and especially enjoys getting out into the Fiordland wilderness.

In 2022 Rodney decided to take the leap of starting his own business and hopes to build on his reputation of being a good rooster who does high-quality work.