Alan Threader graduated from the VSF in 1941 and he immediately spent time at an FCV road construction camp on the Toorongo Plateua. New roads were being built to provide for the massive salvage program underway at that time.

In February 1942 he was posted to Taggerty; in March 1945 to Neerim South; in January 1949 to Cohuna; and in 1951 to Barmah. In August 1951 he was appointed District Forester at Broadford, and he was also District Forester at Erica from October 1953 and Ballarat from June 1958. In June 1959 he was appointed Sales & Marketing Officer and in July 1966 Chief, Division of Economics & Marketing. He became a Commissioner in July 1969 and Chairman in May 1978. He retired in 1982.