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Thursday’s workshop participants were delighted to receive informative presentations from Gen Harvey, NRM Officer (Wagin Woodanilling Landcare Zone) and Angela Sanders, Ecologist (Bush Heritage Australia). Both ladies talked about the ecology of the animal, with Gen giving a brief comparison between the Red and the Brush-Tailed Phascogales, along with how they have been involved in the preservation of this species.
The event was extremely successful with many participants showing interest in the species and their preservation along with volunteering to install nest boxes on their properties and join in any monitoring programs that become available within the area.
Friday’s event was a little different but still just as exciting and informative as Thursday’s workshop. Joe Tonga from Natsync Environmental came out to Darkan Primary School to teach the year 4,5,6 class how to build a Phascogale nest tube. This was held in conjunction with the school’s Father’s Day event, which saw 9 father’s attend from the class. There was much fun, mess and laughter throughout the nest building, with students and parents completing 10 nest tubes to be installed in Nanigup Creek reserve as part of the South32 Junior Landcare Project.
Joe went on to address the whole school at their weekly assembly, giving a fun and informative presentation on the Red-tailed Phascogale. The children were delighted with a special visit from Wagin Woodanilling Landcare Zones very own Red-Tailed Phascogale mascot throughout the presentation. She caused much stir and excitement sneaking into the assembly to give Joe a hand and later assisting Mrs Goss in handing out the School’s merit certificates.
Later in the evening after the Darkan Primary School’s P&C steak night, Joe took the students and their parents on a guided night stalk through the local Nanigup Creek Reserve in hoping to spot any native fauna out and about at dark.
Both the events held in Darkan were well received by all participants, The Blackwood Basin Group, the Shire of West Arthur and Darkan Primary School would like to thank all those involved in creating such special events for the West Arthur community. Either of the events would not have been possible without funding from the Australian Government, South West Catchment Council, Landcare Australia and South32.