Shane hangs up his boots after 24 years serving Somerset
Published on 31 July 2026
Pest Management Officer Shane Teske wrapped up 24 years of service to the Somerset region in early July.
OVER the past two decades, Shane Teske’s fondest memories have been working with Somerset landholders.
After 24 years of service to his community, the Somerset Regional Council Pest Management Officer has decided to hang up the boots, sit back and enjoy life on his Mount Beppo property.
In his role, Shane worked closely with landholders to manage weeds and feral animals, and also ran Council’s Wild Dog Control Program.
A friendly face at Council’s pest control stand at the local agricultural shows, Shane built trust with his colleagues and landholders across Somerset.
He said the key to serving the community was taking the time to understand and listen.
“I’ve built up good relationships with many landowners over the years, you just need to take time out to understand and listen to their issues, and they appreciate that,” Shane said.
“They might send in a CSR (Customer Service Request), or ring me up and I know what the issue is because of that working history with landowners.
“It’s nice when you have wins with the landowners – when you get a good result and they’re happy, it means I’m happy.”
Shane began his career with Council as part of the plumbing crew in Esk Shire Council in 2002.
“I came up as a plumber by trade, and then after a few years I became the ganger in the plumbing crew,” Shane said.
“I spent about six years with the plumbing crew.”
Around this time reform was happening in local government and water with Queensland Urban Utilities taking over water management.
Faced with new options, Shane decided to make a move and accepted a role working on the weed and vegetation control spray truck before becoming a Pest Management Officer in the Planning and Development team.
“I’ve been doing that for 18 years now,” Shane said.
“I get along with everyone out in the field and up in the office, it’s all about having that good working relationship.”
Excited to have more time up his sleeve, Shane looks forward to tinkering around in his workshop, catching up on fishing and spending time with his cattle, vegetable garden and birds.
Shane will be sorely missed by Council colleagues.
“On April Fool’s Day this year I said I was retiring next week,” Shane said.
“You should have heard some of the comments – ‘you can’t do that, Shane!’
“I was laughing the whole day.”
A few months later Shane decided it was time to retire, for real, wrapping up at Council in early July.
“They’ll joke and ask ‘can’t you stay?’ but they’re very happy for me,” Shane said.
Shane thanked his crew, the Planning and Development department and the Somerset Regional Council team for their support over the years.