Wrapping up my ranger exchange in South Australia l headed off to the capital – Adelaide, for a meeting with the regional team leaders at the head office for the National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia.
While I was there, I also dropped into the Belair and Cleland National Park offices to have a look at how metro parks operate.
Belair National Park is the second oldest national park in Australia, the Royal National Park in Sydney being the oldest. Belair is home to 63 tennis courts, numerous event spaces and pavilions, a kid's playground, extensive walking trials, rare orchids and the humble koala.
While at Belair, the senior ranger showed me around the park. I was instantly amazed by the facilities and recreational spaces provided for park visitors. Belair has so much biodiversity and it was so nice to see the wildflowers and orchids starting to bloom.
I was also lucky enough to be in Belair while a university researcher was there tracking koala populations in the park. We went out and located six koalas!
At Cleland, the senior ranger took me out to explore the park, we checked out the Mt Lofty Range lookout and the valley below. I was impressed by the walking track to the Mt Lofty summit, the greenery and the wildlife park!
My time in the South Australian sunshine has now ended and l have returned to the beautiful but chilly Cradle Mountain National Park.
From the remote locations to the inner city, l met people who were passionate about the work they do in parks, they were passionate about the environment, the wildlife, the flora and the visitors coming to their parks.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities l have been presented with over the last nine weeks, I have felt very welcomed, a part of team and supported by the field centres l visited.
Cradle Mountain could not be more different to the landscape l have been working in.
I have come back with new perspectives, many learnings, and experiences that l won't forget anytime soon!
Returning to the city to wrap up my adventure in South Australia
A perfect, tranquil day on the riverbanks Ranger Exchange 2024 - Abbey's Adventure's Update 5
Exploring Port Lincoln and Coffin Bay National Parks has continued as l enter the last couple of weeks of the Ranger Exchange program, except this time l have been experiencing the marine park side to the Eyre Peninsula. I have been out in the water aboard Calypso Star Charters with a trip out to the Neptune Islands for shark cage diving and another to Sandy Blythe Island for a swim with the sea lions experience.
The shark cage diving is a major attraction for Port Lincoln, it is one of two places around the world for shark cage diving. This is a 12-hour experience, starting with a rough ride out through the Thorny Passage. We anchored at North Neptune Island within the Marine Sanctuary zone, where the vulnerable great white sharks often forge for long- nosed fur seals that breed on the islands. Once anchored l was geared up with a wetsuit, booties and goggles and given the safety briefing. I then climbed down the stairs of the cage, took the regulator, and went into the freezing water, hoping to see a glimpse of a shark. Over the day, l spent about an hour and a half in the water scanning for sharks, unfortunately no sharks came to say hello today. However, l did see seals, dolphins, whales breeching in the distance and met the very friendly trevally and big yellowtail kingfish. I will have to return one day and try my luck again!
To learn more about the great white sharks, the Eyre Peninsula Marine Parks team have put together an incredible educational video.
The second trip to swim with the endangered Australian sea lions was at Blythe Island, within the Sir Joseph Banks Group Conservation Park and Marine Park. This was a much shorter trip and toured through the beautiful islands before anchoring at Sandy Blythe Island. I was feeling very excited for the swim as this time l could see the sea lions sitting on the island, it was a matter of waiting for them to come swim with us. Again, l was suited up in a wetsuit, snorkel and jumped into a smaller boat to be ferried closer to the island. The water was freezing, and visibility was poor but with only an hour swim time, l was going to make the most of the time. Within minutes of being in the water the curious sea lions slid their way into the water and joined us. At first, taking a quick lap around the group and then ducking out further to sea. We waited patiently for their return. One by one, they quietly swam back towards us, and began doing loops, duck dives and observing the humans observing them. Sea lions certainly lived up to their name as ‘sea puppies’ as they joyfully played around us.
Abbey emerging from a shark cage diving experience
Some of the fish were up close and personal during Abbey's swimming experiences
Swimming with a sea lion
Ranger Exchange 2024 - Abbey's Adventure's Update 4
Last week I joined the Port Lincoln team and will be here for the remainder of the ranger exchange.
Over the past few weeks I have been out having an explore of Coffin Bay and Port Lincoln National Parks, l have been out doing the routine camp ground maintenance works, fox baiting, spotlight kangaroo surveys and joining in on compliance patrols.
The week heated up on the Wednesday when l jumped in with the fire crew to undertake a planned burn.
Attending this burn was an incredible experience, packed with learning about the difference between the Tasmanian vegetation and the mallee scrub in the Peninsular. I saw the effects of different burning techniques, how the fire behaviour is influenced by the leaf litter conditions and got to work with a great group of firefighters who were happy to tell me all about fires.
Assisting with a planned burn at Barwell
Taking a hike
Sensation Beach
Ranger Exchange 2024 - Abbey’s Adventures Update 3
With fire season just around the corner, it is time for me to undertake Pre-Season Fire Training in South Australia. This week, the Ceduna crew met up with other crews from around the Far West and Eyre region in Gawler Ranges to participate in the two-day training event. This was a valuable opportunity for me to gain experience and an understanding of how the South Australia fire unit operate.
Day one was spent covering the important topics of getting yourself ready before a fire season, what happens when you are deployed, tactics and strategies for fire suppression and mopping up after a fire to ensure it is fully extinguished.
We then went into post deployment activities such as taking care of yourself and your team as well as restocking the vehicle ready for the next deployment. This covered basic firefighting knowledge and skills, but it was a valuable refresher for new and experienced firefighters alike. During the day we were able to deep dive into weather, fire behaviour and the use of aircraft in firefighting.
An interesting activity we participated in at the start of the day was lining up in order of our experience levels. It started with first year firefighters and ended with our top-level Incident Management Team. We were asked to look to our right where the person with more experience was standing, before looking to our left where the less experienced person was. This showed who we could go to if we needed help or had questions.
On the second day, we had a full day of practical activities. The day started with a morning briefing before we broke away into teams.
There were four activities to rotate through, they were designed to strengthen skills in, radio and team communication, mapping and orienteering, organising vehicles, understanding planning, water drafting and running hose lays. The highlight activity for me was using the big red ‘Boston’ Fire Tanker to run hose lays using the different hoses and connection pieces. Through this activity, we were able to see what the different nozzles and connection pieces could do and how to use each of them.
Wrapping up the training, I’m now officially refreshed in my firefighting knowledge and skills and prepared for the upcoming season. l left feeling like a welcomed team member to the Eyre and Far West region.
More to come!
Kitted out in SA fire uniform
Reeling in a fire hose
Ranger Exchange 2024 - Abbey’s Adventures Update 2
Approximately 70 rangers and conservationists recently descended upon the quiet country town of Pinnaroo, for the annual South Australia Ranger Association (SARA) migration.
Located on the South Australia – Victorian border, the migration brings together staff from Parks and Wildlife, SA Water and SA Forestry alongside anyone with an interest in conservation.
The SARA are supporters of the Thin Green Line Foundation and this year to raise funds, an auction was held where, by the end of the night, SARA members had raised over five thousand dollars for the Thin Green Line Foundation.
For the next three days, l had the chance to listen to presentations, get out into the local parks and network with people from across South Australia.
Monday morning kicked off with malleefowl monitoring in the Peebinga Conservation Park.
This was an exciting task as it gave us the opportunity to look for the elusive malleefowl bird and their nests.
Peebinga Conservation Park is the fourth oldest park in SA and has one of the highest breeding populations of malleefowl.
Walking through the bushland here is much easier compared to Tasmania, as there is mostly just open scrub and trees to navigate.
In the afternoon, we learnt about a different type of park called a Dark Sky Reserve, for which the Swan Reach Conservation Park was recently nominated.
A Dark Sky Reserve is an area where the sky is exceptionally dark (Swan Reach is the second darkest in Australia).
The purpose of these areas is to provide a night time reserve for people to go star gazing.
I thoroughly enjoyed hearing about this unique concept and thinking about where it would be possible in Tasmania.
On Tuesday, l chose to go four-wheel driving along the Border Track in the Ngarkat Conservation Park – one of SA's most iconic 4WD tracks. The Border Track, as the name suggests, runs down the SA/VIC border between two parks. During the drive, we discussed the management of the track and the importance of volunteer support to maintain tracks.
Wednesday was to be a day of presentations. With topics ranging from restoration and ecology to dingos and compliance. The dingo presentations were particularly interesting to me as we do not have them in Tassie, whereas they are relatively common over here.
It was interesting to learn about dingo behaviour, genetics and a variety of management techniques.
Overall, this week has provided an epic opportunity to meet people from various parks that l would not normally have the opportunity to meet and also to get out and explore the northeast of South Australia (including standing on the Victorian border!)
The SARA event was incredibly well organised and provides valuable support to rangers and opportunities for everyone to be involved.
4WD day at Ngarkat Conservation Park
Views on offer while 4WDing on the Border Track
Malleefowl monitoring
Ranger Exchange 2024 - Abbey’s Adventures Update 1
I hit the ground running with a field trip into the Nullarbor Wilderness Protection Area.
The meaning of the Nullarbor means 'no arbour' or 'no trees' and this could not have been more correct! For as far as l could see, the landscape did not contain a single tree. The semi-arid environment has shallow, poor quality soil which makes it difficult for even shrubs to establish.
As a keen wildlife spotter, l kept tally of the various wildlife I could see in this harsh landscape.
l saw red kangaroos, bustard birds (also referred to as bush turkeys), dingos, pink cockatoos, and southern rights whales.
While in Ceduna, l am focusing on learning about the co-management agreements that are in place across South Australia. Heading out to the Nullarbor would help to build up my understanding of the agreements.
For this trip l was joined by a Traditional Owner, an arachnologist and two senior rangers.
The purpose of this field trip was to inspect the condition of some ancient caves, discuss the new interpretive signage being placed at the Koonolda Homestead and assess sites along the Bunda Cliff line for future projects.
On the way home, we stopped in at the Head of the Bight Visitor Centre to see the whales and calves that have ventured into the Bight and become 'residents' for the next five months.
This was an incredible experience, as there is so much to take in between the view of the cliff-lines and the whales playing and splashing in the water.
At the end of the week, l took off to the Gawler Ranges to assist with wildlife surveying and feral pest management. The Gawler Ranges were a similar landscape to the Nullarbor, however there was now mallee like vegetation and hills! The mountain ranges here could not be any more different from the mountains of Tasmania.
One week down and this trip has included several 'I can't believe l am here for work' moments. This is going to be an incredible, immersive experience that l am already learning so much from. I am doing my best to soak up the information (and the sunshine) to bring back home with me.
More to come.
