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A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of tagging along with a group of kids from the Rossmoyne Bushranger Group to Francois Peron National park in Shark Bay. The group needed a 4wd to use in the park so I was very quick to offer my services. The purpose of the trip was to do volunteer work in the National Park alongside the Rangers and for the kids to achieve various outcomes associated with the Bushranger levels.
On the first 2 days the group split into 2 with one group going to Monkey Mia to do work with the Rangers there. As it turned out, it was a public holiday on the first day and was very busy, so the kids started out picking up litter and then ended up entertaining the hoards of children who had come to the beach to see the dolphins.Building sandcastles and dressing up as a Bilby is much more fun than picking up litter!!! Needless to say, the group that came with me into the Park to collect seeds were not too happy with the group at Monkey Mia and the fact that they got to play on the beach all day. Anyway they got their own back on the second day as the groups switched roles, so they were able to see the dolphins whilst the other group collected seeds.
The 3rd day saw the whole group doing work at a new campsite that is being built on the Peninsula. It involved collecting brush from outside the area where working in and carting it back to the campsite where it is used to revegitate areas of the campsite where the earthworks had removed the vegetation. By 3pm we were totally stuffed so we decided to head off to a beach for a rest and then back to the homestead.
Days 4 and 5 saw the group split into 2 again with one group going to Project Eden to help with cleaning the animal cages and feeding the animals whilst the other group came with me into the Park to remove old sheep station fencing. Again the groups switched roles after Day 4 and by now there was a competition on to see which group could remove the largest amount of fencing.
Although it was very hard work the week was an absolute blast and some of the kids were taught the art of driving in heavy sand. The park is only accesible to 4wd vehicles and about 1km into the park you know why that is the case. It is not difficult 4x4 driving but will certainly test your skills if you do not have the right vehicle or tyre pressure.
My car
Collecting seeds. We had to keep each species in a seperate bucket
One of the Monkey Mia Dolphins
Part of the crowd at Monkey Mia on the first day
Collecting brush for the revegetation
View from the lookout at Skipjack Point
View of Skipjack Point from the beach
Lunch on the beach
Sunrise at the Homestead
5km of sheep fencing removed by this group - one days work
The other group
On the first 2 days the group split into 2 with one group going to Monkey Mia to do work with the Rangers there. As it turned out, it was a public holiday on the first day and was very busy, so the kids started out picking up litter and then ended up entertaining the hoards of children who had come to the beach to see the dolphins.Building sandcastles and dressing up as a Bilby is much more fun than picking up litter!!! Needless to say, the group that came with me into the Park to collect seeds were not too happy with the group at Monkey Mia and the fact that they got to play on the beach all day. Anyway they got their own back on the second day as the groups switched roles, so they were able to see the dolphins whilst the other group collected seeds.
The 3rd day saw the whole group doing work at a new campsite that is being built on the Peninsula. It involved collecting brush from outside the area where working in and carting it back to the campsite where it is used to revegitate areas of the campsite where the earthworks had removed the vegetation. By 3pm we were totally stuffed so we decided to head off to a beach for a rest and then back to the homestead.
Days 4 and 5 saw the group split into 2 again with one group going to Project Eden to help with cleaning the animal cages and feeding the animals whilst the other group came with me into the Park to remove old sheep station fencing. Again the groups switched roles after Day 4 and by now there was a competition on to see which group could remove the largest amount of fencing.
Although it was very hard work the week was an absolute blast and some of the kids were taught the art of driving in heavy sand. The park is only accesible to 4wd vehicles and about 1km into the park you know why that is the case. It is not difficult 4x4 driving but will certainly test your skills if you do not have the right vehicle or tyre pressure.
My car
Collecting seeds. We had to keep each species in a seperate bucket
One of the Monkey Mia Dolphins
Part of the crowd at Monkey Mia on the first day
Collecting brush for the revegetation
View from the lookout at Skipjack Point
View of Skipjack Point from the beach
Lunch on the beach
Sunrise at the Homestead
5km of sheep fencing removed by this group - one days work
The other group
Snaga
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