The Blackwood Basin Group hosted an enthusiastic crowd to the official reopening of Perup: Nature’s Guesthouse on Saturday 2nd September. More than 55 locals from surrounding towns, visitors and key stakeholders gathered to meet new Caretakers Nick Hight and Gretta Free and to explore the rejuvenated facilities at Perup’s pristine, natural environment.

Under the management of the Blackwood Basin Group, Perup: Nature’s Guesthouse is once again welcoming guests for a unique wilderness experience.  Many of the participants at the Open Day, who commented that they had driven past many times but never been in to Perup: Nature’s Guesthouse, were amazed by the quality and range of facilities available.

 “The Blackwood Basin Group is excited about the many wonderful opportunities at Perup: Nature’s Guesthouse for the local community and visitors to engage with our fantastic biodiversity.” said BBG Chairman Dr Per Christensen. “It is the premier fauna reserve in the South West of WA and the only place where you are basically guaranteed to see at least one of our threatened or endangered mammal species.”

Surrounded by the 56,000 hectare Tone-Perup Nature Reserve, Perup: Nature’s Guesthouse is one of the best places in Western Australia’s south west to see native wildlife including numbats, ringtail and brushtail possums, quenda, woylies and chuditch. Guests utilising the range of accommodation and facilities at Perup: Nature’s Guesthouse are able to see local fauna such as the Tammar Wallaby, which live around the homestead buildings and feed on lawned areas at dusk.

Dr Per Christensen, was instrumental in the establishment of the Tone-Perup Nature Reserve in the 1970s, spoke about the facility’s history and its future opportunities. Cliff Winfield, South West Catchments Council Board Member, talked about some of the founders and their input; whilst Boyup Brook Shire President Graham Aird enthused about Perup: Nature’s Guesthouse as a valuable asset to the region. New caretakers Nick Hight and Gretta Free gave some background to their arrival at Perup and spoke of the exciting opportunities for the future including yoga and wellness retreats, corporate functions, hosting of school groups and welcoming the community back to utilising this wonderful resource.

The next events planned for Perup: Nature’s Guesthouse include a free Mental Health Retreat and a Women’s Wellness Weekend. There are also opportunities for spotlighting tours and wildflower walks.

For more information, please visit www.perupnaturesguesthouse.com.au or contact the Blackwood Basin Group on 9765 1555.

Media Release Contact: perup@blackwoodbasingroup.com.au or phone 9765 1555.

West Arthur Landcare Officer:  Karrie Williamson (Blackwood Basin Group) 9765 1555 or karrie@blackwoodbasingroup.com.au
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On Thursday the 31st of August and Friday the 1st of September two very special events were held by blackwood Basin Group in Darkan, one at the Darkan Town Hall and the other at the Darkan Primary School. Both events were designed to share knowledge and educate the community on the threatened Red-Tailed Phascogale.

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.