Ranger Stacey Thomson is Principal Adviser – Community Education (Redland City Council). Each month she will share news and fascinating facts about our local environment!
This year I celebrate a significant milestone and reflect on a 40-year career in environmental education and conservation.
In 1984, fresh out of university, I began work at Main Range National Park as a Ranger. My journey continued at Lamington National Park and historic St Helena Island in Moreton Bay.
In the late 1980s I was asked to appear on national children’s television. Back then, the television studios of Mount Coot-Tha Brisbane were a hive of production activity. The opportunity to educate and entertain children and adults about the wonders of nature was exciting!
I shared up-close and personal wildlife encounters on Wombat, Bushbeat, Agro’s Cartoon Connection, and the iconic Totally Wild. Through these programs, a generation of children were exposed to the wild and natural world, and you know what they say about working with children and animals? Yep! It’s sometimes crazy and unpredictable…but that’s the appeal!
In 2021, after 29 years on air, Totally Wild was cancelled but when one door closes another opens – right? In fact, I’ve recently celebrated three years with the amazing Redland City Council Environment and Education Unit based at Council’s IndigiScapes Environment Centre.
Nestled among 14.5 hectares of native bushland, IndigiScapes features three accessible walking trails, native botanic gardens, discovery centre, native plant nursery, theatrette, eco-friendly gift shop and popular Indigi Café.
Our Redlands Coast is a naturally wonderful region with diverse ecosystems and landscapes.
One of the coolest parts of my job as an environmental educator is to help people appreciate the environment.
Research tells us that time outdoors is great for our health, both physical and mental.
In this modern world where too much screen time is a reality, there’s no greater feeling than witnessing the sense of wonder on a child’s face when they connect with nature.
Forty years on, I’m as passionate as ever about sharing my love of nature, and Redlands Coast is a great place to do it!
Until next time…. Stay Wild!
Ranger Stacey
