This month we spoke with Tahlia Tirimacco, Arboricultural Maintenance Worker, City of Port Adelaide Enfield, about her role, what a typical day looks like, her favourite part of working in Arboriculture, and her impressive accolades in the Korean martial art, Tang Soo Do.

What is your role and how long have you been in local government?

My role is an Arboricultural Maintenance Worker at the City of Port Adelaide Enfield. I have been in local government for a total of 5 years, with 2 and a half of those years as an apprentice and 3 years full-time.

What does your typical day look like for you?

We start our morning with a toolbox meeting where we discuss our day plans and prioritise our jobs for the day. Our jobs can range anywhere from our street tree maintenance program to customer requests and emergency works. Our day is never the same; the variety we get is what makes our job interesting and exciting, as no two trees are the same.

What’s your favourite part of working in Arboriculture?

I love being outside in the sunshine and the instant satisfaction of a completed job. 

What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the work you do?

There is a skill and science to tree pruning. We are not tree butchers; the way we prune is for the benefit of the tree and the community. We aren’t unskilled and prune for no reason. We aim to educate the public about what we do when possible. 

Tell us something about you that we don’t know?

I’m a 2nd-degree black belt in the martial art of Tang Soo Do and have been training for 22 years. I competed in the 2025 Tang Soo Do World Championships, where I placed 1st place in Team Form, 2nd place in Individual Forms, and 4th place in sparring.