When A Tree Change Is Literally A Tree Change! 

A love of the outdoors and a farming background prompted a career tree change [literally] for Russell Cleaver of TreeLink while he was at uni. 

Fast forward over a decade, and a desire to get back to living on the land prompted another tree change – this time to the Southern Highlands. 

Meet Russell Cleaver, Co-Founder and Director of TreeLink, an arboriculture and tree management business now operating in the Southern Highlands.

1 :: You say your move to the Highlands feels like returning home to your rural roots. Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Nyngan in central NSW and come from four generations of farmers. 

My father, grandfather and great grandfather farmed wheat and sheep, so I spent a lot of time outside working outdoors with them as a kid. I also spent a LOT of time climbing trees.

As a teenager, I went to boarding school in Sydney and then studied for an Economics and Finance Degree at the University of Sydney. It was there that I met Angus, who has been my business partner for 14 years. 

2 :: So you started TreeLink while you were both at uni? 

That’s right. Angus and I decided to start an arboriculture business in the hope to get outdoors during our last year of study. 

After I finished my degree, I started working in financial planning, but it wasn’t long before our side hustle started to really take off. We both decided then to quit our ‘day’ jobs and focus solely on TreeLink. 
 

3 :: How did the business grow in the first few years of operation? 

As we were both qualified arborists, we spent most of our days doing residential tree work in Sydney. That suited us fine as it was just the two of us and our ute. After a few regular jobs, we were able to purchase our first truck, which is now one of many.

Currently, we own and manage a growing fleet of 15 trucks, specialised machinery, plant and equipment and 20 full-time staff.
 

4 :: You and the team hold qualifications in more than just arboriculture, is that right? 

Yes we do. Safety is a big focus for the type of work we do, so we’re all trained in Senior First Aid, Traffic Control, Aerial Rescue, Powerline Approach, Chemical Preparation and Elevated Work Platform Operations. All of the essential qualifications to keep our staff and clients safe. 

I am also qualified as a Tree Risk Assessment consultant [TRAQ], which enables me to identify any health issues or structural concerns with trees. 

Like me, most people like to preserve the treescape in their area, but it is also important to mitage any risks. A consultation can give the client peace of mind and allow them to enjoy the tree – safely. Especially those beautiful big gums.

5 :: So the weather has been pretty wild these past couple of years. From bushfires to floods. How has that impacted your work? 

We’ve been keeping busy with a lot of storm damage, that’s for sure. Removing trees that are blocking roads or trees that have fallen on houses. The constant rain doesn’t help either. When the ground is heavily saturated, it can impact the tree’s root systems and stability. We’ve seen a lot of destruction from all of this rain. 

Fortunately, we have teamed up with Wingecarribee Shire Council to help manage the local areas. We assist with vegetation management, bushfire mitigation, land clearing, complex tree removal and 24/7 emegency tree work. 

We can also manage large-scale civil works with our fleet of trucks and specialised machinery. One of our excavators with a forestry head can grab a tree or limb and safely cut and take it down in one or two go’s. You can see a video of it in action on our Facebook page – it sure does get the job done.

We also do a lot of private residential work, which keeps us busy, especially with all the recent weather. 
 

6 :: What’s next for TreeLink? 

Angus and I are committed to growing the business. Now that I have an operational office in the area, I can focus solely on the Southern Highlands and hopefully employ lots of locals too.

Currently, we have a full-time team of four in the region and are keen to expand. We’ve got a great work culture at TreeLink and like to invest in our staff. We’re big on training and development, and there are excellent career advancement opportunities in the industry. If you are interested or know of a local who might be, please get in touch.
 

7 :: Why the move to the Southern Highlands for the family?

We wanted to escape the hustle and bustle of Sydney, so we moved to the Southern Highlands about three years ago.

As my wife grew up in Cootamundra and I was also a country boy at heart, it just felt right to make the change and head back to our roots. 

We also wanted the kids (aged 11, 3 and 5 months) to enjoy some of the same experiences we did by growing up outdoors. 

We’re on 25 acres out on Joadja Road, so they’ve definitely got plenty of space to go outside and explore.

8 :: What do you love about living and working in the Southern Highlands?

Well, for someone who is passionate about arboriculture, I certainly love seeing the various species of trees and the landscape. 

I also enjoy being out in the community, meeting locals and supporting their businesses. 

It’s been a positive move for us. We’ve settled well, and the kids absolutely love it.

Oh, and the wood fire on those chilly mornings and ALL that fresh air.

From the humble beginnings of a two-person team with a ute and a trailer to the successful arboricultural business it is today, TreeLink can guarantee innovative, comprehensive, and carefully considered tree management solutions. From residential pruning and maintenance to large-scale civil works, they have the equipment, skills and systems to service your tree management needs. 

Find out more by heading to the TreeLink website, and if you are in need of their services, fill in the online form, and Russell will be in touch.

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