I attended a retirement party this evening for a local hero - Craig Thompson. Craig has worked at Five Rivers for 35 years, the last nineteen of them as Director.
The party had been planned for outdoors, but the rain came down, so a good few hundred well-wishers crammed into the Center building for food and speeches. There were many speakers with warm words to share in praise of Craig, who is widely regarded as "the heart and soul" of Five Rivers. Much loved by staff and volunteers for his wry sense of humour, self-deprecating style and motivational pencils (not to mention a very impressive beard) he has been instrumental in introducing all sorts of improvements at the Environmental Education Center over the years, making it a model for the state. He has always had a keen desire to make Nature available to all and among other actions he has seen to the installation of wheelchair-accessible paths and ramps and Braille signage at various sites around the preserve.
A glorious spread of party food was provided by the guests, bring-and-share style, as befitted a family party - which is what it felt like. The "Five Rivers family" is sad to see Craig retire, but tonight we were happy to celebrate with him. His own speech this evening was typically humorous, modest and full of affection for his team and of course for Five Rivers itself. Very Craig. We're all really going to miss him.
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