Introducing Taylah – our new volunteer coordinator … plus our final volunteer activities for the year
Hello from NGT’s new Volunteer Coordinator! My name is Taylah and I have just started volunteering with NGT.
Considering that volunteers are of immense value to the organisation’s work, I am hoping to help create some excellent opportunities for people to get involved to receive a rewarding experience.
To make this more of a personal connection between me and you, here is a little bit about me – I graduated high school in 2018 and went straight into university where I am currently studying environmental science externally through Southern Cross University located in New South Wales. Through this opportunity I have found some work with one of our local forestry companies and also scored this role as volunteer coordinator as part of my university placement. I am a local of Mount Gambier and have lived here since I was born. I found my passion for the environment and outdoors during high school where I took as many outdoor classes I could. I am keen to experience as many different opportunities in the environmental field as I can. I am also very excited to get involved with the projects that NGT are doing and working with lovely volunteers to make a meaningful contribution!
In terms of volunteer activities, the next two Fieldwork Friday events and an additional rockpool ramble have been scheduled and they look like good ones to end the year on a positive note … so scroll below to see the details!
Friday, 4th of December, 2020
9 am until 1 pm (SA time); 9.30 am until 1.3o pm (Vic time)
Kurrawonga, Nelson
Bring: Gardening gloves, lunch, snacks, drinking water, and cuppa supplies (due to COVID restrictions we aren’t able provide the usual morning tea). Feel free to bring your own weeding tools (we will have some clean gear available).
Wear: Sun protection, enclosed shoes, and long pants.
The main activities for this event will be taking photos at long-term photo points, checking tile grids for reptiles, and some weed control. There is also the opportunity to just come and explore the property if you don’t have lots of time or aren’t able to participate in these tasks.
Regarding cross-border travel permits from Mt Gambier: We have previously cancelled and postponed events planned for Kurrawonga this year, but we are now as sure as we can be that this one will go ahead. Border checkpoints are no longer in place on the Victorian side, but occasional spot checks are taking place. A driver’s licence with an address showing you live within 70 km of the border is sufficient to enter Victoria as a cross-border community member. From the SA side, at this stage, all cross-border travel restrictions are planned to be lifted on 1st of December, but it appears that re-entering SA will still require passing through an SA border checkpoint. Hence we recommend registering as a cross-border community member to specify your intended cross-border travel first; go to the SAPOL website here to register. There is no COVID testing requirement for cross-border community members at this point in time.
We are really looking forward to this event at Kurrawonga, as our last one was way back in February!
Friday, 11th of December, 2020
9 am until 2 pm
Ancient Greenling hunting at Mount Burr Swamp and thank you BBQ
Bring: Drinking water
Wear: Sun protection, rubber boots, and long pants.
If you’ve ever wondered about NGT’s logo, this is your chance to see them in person! The Ancient Greenling is a species of damselfly, dark metallic green in colour, that exhibits the unusual behaviour of flicking its tail up and down while perched. Previously thought to be very rare and endangered, new records over the past 12 years have extended the known distribution of this species considerably. We have previously found this species, and lots of other interesting critters, at Mount Burr Swamp so we have a good chance of finding them again on this day.
This will be our final Fieldwork Friday for the year and will include a BBQ as a thank you for all your efforts this year. If you’ve volunteered with or supported us at any time this year, or would like to next year, please come along! The BBQ will be conducted in a COVID-safe manner.
Tuesday, 15th of December, 2020
10 am
Rockpool ramble at Cape Douglas
Join us to discover the critters of the intertidal zone. There’s always something interesting to see on a rockpool ramble, whether you are familiar with the intertidal reef zone or it’s new for you. No special equipment necessary.
If you would like to come along to any of these events, please RSVP via email to ensure there is enough equipment available for everyone. Carpooling is also available if required and special dietary needs can be catered for at the BBQ.
I’m really keen to get my hands dirty in the field conservation works and looking forward to getting to know many of you too! In the meantime, if you have any queries about volunteering opportunities with NGT, please get in touch. See you out there!
