Brian Peter John Molloy (12 August 1930–31 July 2022): field ecologist, botanist and conservationist

Abstract

Brian Peter John Molloy (Figures 1 and 2) was born in Wellington (12 August 1930), raised in Waikanae where he attended Waikanae School (1936–1938) and later resided in Palmerston North where he was educated at Covenant of Mercy (1939–1942) and Marist Brothers’ High School (1943–1946). He was orphaned at a young age and through this developed an independent strength of character and astuteness that greatly helped him succeed in life, enabling him to pursue the career he loved, working with New Zealand indigenous plants. On leaving high school at the end of Form 4 with no school qualifications he received a placement on a dairy farm which was also associated with a sheep and cropping farm. This placement was arranged through a mentor with the Department of Education and was specifically to fulfil the practical requirements to undertake a Diploma in Agriculture at Massey College (McMahon 2015, audio interview with BPJ Molloy). After diligently working on the farm for nearly three years (1946–1948) he then completed the Diploma in Agriculture (sheep farming option; 1949–1950). At the end of the first year of university study, Brian undertook a summer farm placement at Mount Nicholas Station, Lake Wakatipu, western Otago, where he participated in a full range of farm activities and also had to collect and press weed specimens. Brian considered his work experience on this highcountry station was influential as it opened his eyes to indigenous plants in montane habitats, interactions between grazing animals (e.g. sheep and plagues of rabbits) and the indigenous flora, taught him to begin to read the landscape and understand the complex interactions of the indigenous and introduced biota, soils and geology (McMahon 2015). While the practical and academic farming experiences didn’t result in farming employment, it laid a very solid foundation for the career that was to follow. Thinking that teaching agriculture to primary school students could provide a career, Brian completed the two-year Diploma in Teaching (1952–1953) at Teachers’ Training College in Christchurch and at the same time took a University subject each year towards a B.Sc. However, after a five-week teaching placement at Ashburton Borough School he