What is your current Role and Location?
Currently working as a Ranger on the west end of Kangaroo Island, based in Flinders chase.
How did you first become involved in protected area management and what attracted you to this career?
Growing up on KI I always appreciated protected areas, from Parks reserves to Heritage vegetation, but I didn’t start working in the space until late 2016 when I started in AMLR Fire crew under what was then DEWNR. I worked there for four seasons, then moved back home to KI after the 2019/20 bushfires. I started back on KI as Senior Fire crew, until I got a Ranger role in 2022 trapping cats on Western KI to help with the recovery after the fires, and I’ve been a Ranger ever since!
What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
Being a caretaker for our native (and often endemic) species in our parks and reserves. Doesn’t matter if it’s feral species control, surveying native species, or educating the next generation, I love it all.
And having the chance to use my camera to photograph cool things.
If you could change one thing about the job, what would it be and why?
I’ll cheat and say increased funding so we can get both a higher pay and revert staff cuts over the last couple of decades.
Tell us about a funny or embarrassing thing to happen on the job:
There are probably a few things I can’t mention, but recently I was pretty embarrassed after losing a brand new GRN while out walking around in the park. Those things aren’t cheap!
What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in the environmental field?
Have a clear plan and depending on what you want to do having a Uni degree might get you further than not having one.
Favourite word:
Canoe
Favourite animal:
Favorite bird I think you mean! I have a few I can’t choose between, so in no particular order: Wedge-tailed eagles are everyone’s favorite, Southern emu-wrens and Western whipbirds are rare and elusive, and Bush stone-curlews for their haunting calls.
Favourite plant:
A KI endemic species, Hakea aenigma is a rare species of Hakea that is completely sterile. It never produces seeds and survives by suckering from its root system and slowly creeping through the landscape. The DNA is still being studied, but we think all of the plants are genetically identical clones.
Favourite SA Park/protected area?
Western River WPA, I grew up next door, so I’m biased but I love the rugged country, the views over the north coast over to Yorke Peninsula, and the winter waterfall!
Tell us about a place in SA that’s special/underrated/not well known:
Just about any of the satellite parks that people don’t know about. Everyone knows the big National Parks, like Flinders Chase, Cleland, Mount Remarkable, etc, but go visit one of the less visited Conservation Parks or Wilderness Protection Areas and you’ll be surprised at what you can find.
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