Topic:
Biodiversity
A true friend to region’s threatened species
Dr Tony Friend is a dedicated scientist and for more than forty years, he has lived his dream job of restoring populations of threatened mammals - numbats, Gilbert's potoroo, dibbler, woylies and more. In this story, Tony traces some of the ground-breaking research that led to effective fox control. He provides a fascinating account of the numbat's termite diet, and he shows how important it is for the community to have access to this deep knowledge and experience.
Yarning about fire
This story offers so much! It is a heart-warming yet serious yarn that shines more light on a way forward with fire. Here's Uncle Aden: "Kaarl (fire) was always part of our life ... We had a good life in camps and the kaarl made sure we were alright. We had all the comforts thanks to the fire." Join Uncle Aden Eades, Aunty Eliza Woods and PhD student Ursula Rodrigues as they sit and yarn about fire.
Katrina Syme: Delving into the fascinating world of fungi
The world is waking up to the vital role of fungi in maintaining healthy ecosystems. They enrich our lives too, with their extraordinary shapes and colours. Here's fungi aficionado and expert, Katrina Syme, wooing us to be fungi lovers with her infectious excitement and knowledge about these remarkable organisms.
Balijup farm: family, people and nature working together
Alan Hordacre and Basil Schur tell the heart-warming story of Balijup farm, near Tenterden. Balijup shows how conservation, farming and forestry can co-exist, boosted since 2012 by the enthusiastic collaboration between conservation group Green Skills and the Hoardacre siblings - Alan, Richard and Anne - who own the farm.
Keith Bradby: Go west young man?
With his enquiring mind, Gondwana Link’s Keith Bradby is always reading and listening, both to learn more and to find effective ways to bring about change. Since the mid-1970s, he has been intensely involved in major efforts to change land use in south-western Australia, including ending land clearing, promoting landcare and launching large-scale ecological restoration plantings. Here’s Keith, tracing the origins of his landcare ethic, Gondwana Link and some of what has been achieved along the Link, so far.
Speaking out: Dr Joanna Young challenges prescribed fire practices
For 35 years, as a forest scientist, farmer and local conservation group member, Joanna has been observing, exploring and loving the Walpole Wilderness Area. But current prescribed burning practices, with their immense impact on the area’s ecosystems and biodiversity, are spurring Joanna to speak out. She is part of a growing chorus of scientists and community members calling for an expert, independent review of the State Government’s prescribed burning program.
Ezzard Flowers: Power drawn from his reconnection with country
Ezzard’s life began with family, culture and being on country, but he became a member of the Stolen Generation when he was taken from family at age eight and placed in missions for six years. Reconnecting with his family and country and the importance of working together for Mother Boodja are moving and powerful threads in Ezzard's story.
Peat, Fossils, Palaeohistory + Art
Red tingle and red flowering gums, peat swamps and pollen fossils — all this magic is focused in the glorious Walpole Wilderness and our storyteller is DR ELIZABETH EDMONDS. Elizabeth lives an incredible life as a scientist, artist and gallery owner. Here she explains how she’s weaving together these threads to protect the places, plants and wildlife she loves.
Sayah Drummond: a refreshing perspective on making a difference
"I am a 'people person', so working with the community and working with passionate people is just really energising ... I’ve learned that a lot of environmental recovery is done by volunteers because they care, they make the effort to learn, and they truly make a difference to their little patch."
Giving fire back to Goreng Country
"Uncle Aden Eades articulated the Elders were feeling like their “tyres were going flat” and their presence was token. This conversation centred on the need to properly fund a thorough cultural assessment before any burn."
Long-time landcarer reflects on changing Kojonup environment
Kath Mathwin has lived amongst Kojonup’s environment for over 80 years. She recalls great beauty in nature as well as the processes that have produced major environmental change and loss. Kath’s story is an appeal for a stronger landcare and environmental ethic in farming districts like Kojonup – everywhere really!
The Western Ground Parrot and me: A story about Brenda Newbey and Western Australia’s rarest bird
The extraordinary efforts of Brenda Newbey and others to identify, locate and protect Western Australia's rarest bird are conveyed in this rich and important environmental history. Work to save the ground parrot continues.
Habitat plantings bring the birds
From bare paddocks back to bush full of wildlife. In this story, animal ecologist Dr Nic Dunlop explains the rationale behind undertaking high quality ecological restoration.
Nic Dunlop: The power of citizen science
Meet Dr Nic Dunlop, Coordinator of the Citizen Science Program at the Conservation Council of Western Australia. For decades, Nic has used his scientific knowledge to assist and run citizen science projects, mostly involving birds.
Justin Jonson: Leadership in ecological restoration
Listen to Restoration Ecologist Justin Jonson describe his years of work refining the science of restoring habitats and ecological integrity on cleared land.
Eddy and Donna Wajon: Chingarrup Sanctuary
Meet Eddy and Donna Wajon from Chingarrup Sanctuary, the first private property purchased for conservation in the Gondwana Link.
Sunset frogs in the cool and wet
"I was actually looking for crayfish burrows, and my habit was to feel around with my hands in the peat where there were holes in the ground. Reaching under a small ledge in the peat, I felt something wet walk onto my hand. Instinctively cupping my hand gently, I brought it closer to see."
Carol Pettersen: Storylines
This is the compelling story of Carol Pettersen, a Menang-Ngadju Elder. Aunty Carol was born at the Gnowangerup Mission and raised in the bush around Jerramungup with her family, which she describes as “one of the most glorious times of my life”. She has spent much of her life in the Albany area, on her traditional country and her story offers many cultural insights.
Balijup Farm and Fauna Sanctuary
Listen to current co-owner Alan Hordacre and others describe the important work taking place at Balijup Farm, including the fully fenced Fauna Sanctuary.
Ranges Link: Caring for the Kalgan Valley
Meet some of the key people behind the Ranges Link initiative in the Kalgan Valley, a productive farming area between the Porongurup and Stirling Ranges.
Sylvia Leighton: A passion for ecologically-based farming
Sylvia Leighton is a farmer, landcarer and scientist with a passion for ecologically-based farming
Wendy Bradshaw: A life in landcare and regenerative farming
Wendy Bradshaw farms near Tambellup, and is also a passionate environmentalist who is constantly learning and experimenting with how we can farm better with nature.
Gen Harvey: Wingedyne Reserve
Listen to Gen Harvey, Landcare Officer at Wagin-Woodanilling Landcare Zone describe what makes Wingedyne Reserve so special.
Twin Creeks Reserve: Community driven conservation
Meet some of the members of Friends of Porongurup Range, an incredibly passionate and dedicated community group who own and manage Twin Creeks Conservation Reserve.
Wayne Zadow: A passion for birds
Wayne Zadow has been an avid birdwatcher for decades, especially around Kojonup where he farms. He has an extraordinary knowledge of bird species, their behaviour and habitat preferences. Wayne is very concerned about the impact of spring burning on nesting birds.
Yarraweyah Falls Restoration Project
Yarraweyah Falls is a 100 hectare ecological restoration project that is filling a gap for Gondwana Link, in the highly biodiverse Fitz-Stirling area.
Chris Lewis: An enduring passion for Kojonup’s wildflowers
An interview with Chris Lewis, from the Kojonup Regional Herbarium, on her remarkable 45-year commitment to the plant life of Kojonup.
Restoration ecologist is a man with a mission
Tash Kneebone from The Southerly charts the state of the Great Southern’s environment and goes one-and-one with local restoration ecologist Justin Jonson.
Eileen Croxford: Finding ‘Pingrup Pink’
Eileen Croxford was collector of the extremely rare Eucalypt 'Pingrup Pink' - in fact in between first finding it and then going back to the same spot the area had been entirely cleared.
Linking modern science with Indigenous knowledge to care for the land
Robyn Williams from The Science Show interviews Stephen Hopper, Professor of Biodiversity about linking modern science with Indigenous knowledge to care for country.
Entangled nature: The Stirling Range National Park
The history of the Stirling Range National Park - one of the largest reserves within the southwestern Australian global biodiversity hotspot. One of the most species-rich places in Australia and valued as a significant but threatened conservation asset.
A conversation with Jack Williams and Averil Dean: stories about country
Drawn from a 2004 talk by Noongar Elders Jack Williams and Averil Dean featuring stories about country, including Boola Miyel (Bluff Knoll).
Balijup Farm and eco-sanctuary from above
Experience flying above a wandoo woodland canopy. This film features drone aerial photography of the Balijup Farm and Eco-Sanctuary in April 2020.
Birds on the edge: Helping threatened shorebirds
The salt lakes around Cranbrook are a highlight in the Great Southern. This short film showcases community and landholder work to fence and rehabilitate the foreshores of their salt lakes to protect threatened shorebirds, like the Hooded Plover.
Balijup: A jewel in the Gondwana Link
From Green Skills, this film introduces Balijup - a special property in the Great Southern region and a vital link in the Gondwana Link.
Ancient range reveals totems
WENDY BARRETT talks to Vernice Gillies, Larry Blight and Ron Grey about the powerful connections between the Porongurup Range and the Menang people.
Heather’s incredible life on the riverbank
Heather Adams has been a constant presence in the Landcare activities in the Upper Kalgan and Ranges Link for three decades.
