By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
A PAIR of locals is among Parks Victoria’s new crew of seasonal rangers working around the region to help out during its busiest season.
Paul Shields, of Barwon Heads, and Barrabool’s Michael Mackenzie are helping out in the Great Otway National Park and are enjoying putting theory into practice.
Paul is based at Anglesea where he’s running rock pool rambles and involved in Parks Victoria’s longest-running small-mammal monitoring program.
“It will be really great to help teach kids about the importance of conservation in a fun way and to include knowledge that I learned at university,” he said.
Paul recently completed a Bachelor of Marine Biology at Deakin University in Warrnambool and has qualifications in conservation and land management.
Michael, with a degree in agricultural science and a graduate certificate in outdoor and environmental education, is based in Apollo Bay.
He will help manage and maintain the Great Ocean Walk, other areas of the Great Otway National Park and run educational programs.
“I’m looking forward to exploring the Otways and building on my knowledge about the area and natural resource management,” he said.
Parks Victoria team leader Kate Churven said the extra help was a bonus at a busy time of year with a large number of visitors over summer.
“Seasonal rangers also benefit from their summer stint with Parks Victoria by learning practical and management skills through a wide range of projects.
“For those aspiring to become full time rangers it’s also a great hands-on and fun experience.”
