There are many people in the Katherine region who do not hesitate to go the extra mile to make a difference to the lives of their friends, families and the community they live in. Those people are often quiet achievers who do not get the recognition they deserve. To celebrate quiet achievers in the region the Katherine Times - with the support of Nitmiluk Tours - proudly presents this week’s Community Hero.
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David Reed, also known as ‘Reedy’ is a well known Katherine identity mainly as the ‘go to guy’ when it comes to the removal of a snake.
David owns his own business ‘Reedy’s Reptiles’ and also volunteers with Outback Wildlife Rescue.
Basically he’s the person to contact when you have any snake questions, want to buy a snake, frozen rats, frozen mice or ‘pinkies’ to feed your children’s carpet python.
The 22-year-old Katherinite has a rather large reptile collection - almost 300 snakes, as well as rats, geckos, turtles, lizards, croc and goannas.
But the main reason a huge amount of people new to town want to contact him is his ability to remove a snake from their house or yard.
One of the first questions everyone wants to know is, “What do I do if a snake is in my yard and who do I call to get rid of it?” – at which point everyone knows of Reedy.
He’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
He’s had a love of reptiles all his life and wants to see the safe removal of the snake.
As well as doing his part for local wildlife, saving snakes that may quite possibly be killed if he didn’t remove them; he also keeps and breeds many snakes and enjoys watching them hatch out of the eggs, which he says, “is a very rewarding process.”
“I’ve always loved snakes,” he said.
“I have photos of me when I was just three years old holding snakes.
“So it all started from there. I got my first snake in grade eight, and since then the collection has grown.”
Reedy loves doing a service for people that not only has he been doing all of his life and finds so rewarding, but also something that could save someone’s life.
Reedy sells captive bred snakes and is always more than happy to give advice about the snakes and other reptiles in our area.
Reedy is not only a community hero to the people of Katherine, but also a hero to the wildlife in the region.
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