Family, friends and colleagues of the late David Stiles gathered at the CHB SPCA Shelter recently for a ceremony to dedicate a tree and seating in his memory, and to celebrate his induction into the SPCA Hall of Fame.
Stiles had been an animal control officer for the CHB District Council for more than 20 years, first part-time and then fulltime. As a huge supporter of the CHB SPCA, he became a voluntary inspector for the organisation over 10 years ago.
CHB SPCA inspector Renee Hickey said she had worked with Stiles since she started with the organisation in 2007.
"When I first met David I didn't like him," she said at the ceremony. "We didn't get on. He thought I was a tree hugger. Then I got to know him ... then I started to become like him ... and now I miss him a lot.
"David was part of our SPCA family. He had a great sense of humour and when I close my eyes I can still see that grin. When we worked together he always had my back.