Skip to main content

Let the Blitz Begin

images/teacher-blogs/DisplayProfilePic.png

Tanya Charsley

Day 1 | Tanya Charsley | Esperance Primary School

I arrived at camp at midday to meet the rest of the teachers, who had just flown in on delayed flights from Perth.
We drove to Hellfire Bay for a quick walk with local Wudjari women Wanika and Annie from Dabungool Cultural Experiences. We learnt how to get a sweet treat from the Chittick, which Melaleuca was best for making tea, and the Sheoak seeds pods best for laying around a baby so it won’t roll away and also for massaging your feet! They shared with us the Dreaming story of Mandooboornup, and explained how lizard traps work. We also discussed how much the Dieback disease has spread through the National Park, with the Banksia trees usually the first to suffer.

Tanya Charsley 1 1

Making our way back to camp we watched carefully for kangaroos and emus running out on the road. We quickly put our tents up before it got dark. Finally, we went into the makeshift, crowded laboratory to meet some of the scientists. My first one was a freshwater snail and crustacean expert – he was processing some samples he’d collected earlier in the day at Mt Ridley. No luck finding what he was looking for – but a negative result is still a result. Then of course it was the reptile specialists - herpetologists - who had a blind burrowing snake! It looked like a big earthworm, and wow, could it burrow fast! - check out the video. The snake’s favourite food was ant eggs. Luckily it had a special adaptation of overlapping scales to withstand ant bites.

Tanya Charsley 1 2


Over dinner, a local elder, Doc Reynolds talked to us about his knowledge of Country, and it was interesting to hear about local Tjalaraak rangers also working with the scientists to share knowledge in a holistic approach to conservation. It was great meeting all the scientists to find out what their area of interest was and see how passionate they are about taxonomy. Tomorrow, I have chosen to go with the botany (plant) team to Hellfire Bay to set up a sampling site and collect plant specimens.

Tanya Charsley 1 3

Tanya Charsley 1 4