Dr LIM - 1997-02-27
I hope this issue will not be affected by native title also. I understand that junior rangers will be involved with parks and wildlife projects throughout the Northern Territory. I am interested to hear of the growth of this program across the Territory.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the junior ranger program, which is run by the Parks and Wildlife Commission, is a particularly exciting community project that is doing something in a very positive way to spread the message of practical parks and wildlife and environment conservation to our young people. The program was started by the commission 6 or 7 years ago when we hired a community education ranger, Stuart Traynor, who is still with us. The aim was to involve children of 9 to 14 in activities that would enable them to gain some knowledge and understanding of environmental and conservation matters.
Activities are led by community education rangers, park rangers, scientists and occasionally by other professionals from specialised areas. As role models for the children, these people are able to pass on their knowledge of the bush and, by exciting the children's own curiosity, will encourage them to adopt a positive attitude towards caring for and learning more about native animals and the environmental processes occurring around them. There is some evidence to suggest that this is occurring already. The nature of this program is such that its results are likely to be seen on a long-term basis. For example, as the junior rangers themselves become adults and practise environmental responsibility, they pass it on to their own children. However, some immediate results are also coming to light. The junior rangers of today are taking the message and spreading it among their families and friends.
Page 1980
Some good deeds have resulted from the program. For example, I was told during the year about one of the Darwin region's junior rangers who gave his bag of lollies to a group of boys in exchange for a finch chick which the boys had hit with a stone from a slingshot. This rescue attempt was similar to another story from the Katherine region where 2 junior rangers found an injured animal beside the road, retrieved its young and took it to some nearby adults whom they directed in helping the animal. These seem to be small things, but they are likely to be only the tip of the iceberg.
It is no wonder that this program is attracting a growing following. Enrolments last year were more than 300 in Darwin, 70 in Katherine, 35 in Alice Springs and 12 in Tennant Creek. Programs are being developed at Yulara and Jilkminggan for young people out in the bush. To cope with this increase in demand, full-time officers have been appointed in Katherine and Darwin in addition to the existing 2 full-time positions in Darwin and Alice Springs, and a further part-time position has been created for Alice Springs. There will also be some changes to programs and operations. With the increasing demand, children were finding that activities were already booked out when they telephoned to book. Programs will be spread out more. There will be short courses on particular projects such as the Casuarina Coastal Reserve or Litchfield Park. Children will be able to work on the projects at different stages, living with them and seeing some end results.
The junior ranger program is an extraordinarily ...
Mr Bailey: Why don't you make a ministerial statement on it?
Mr HATTON: I would love to make a ministerial statement on it. I could talk about it for hours. It is a brilliant program. I commend it to any young people who may be watching or listening. They should contact the Parks and Wildlife Commission and become involved. It is all about learning and about protecting the environment.
Page 1981
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the junior ranger program, which is run by the Parks and Wildlife Commission, is a particularly exciting community project that is doing something in a very positive way to spread the message of practical parks and wildlife and environment conservation to our young people. The program was started by the commission 6 or 7 years ago when we hired a community education ranger, Stuart Traynor, who is still with us. The aim was to involve children of 9 to 14 in activities that would enable them to gain some knowledge and understanding of environmental and conservation matters.
Activities are led by community education rangers, park rangers, scientists and occasionally by other professionals from specialised areas. As role models for the children, these people are able to pass on their knowledge of the bush and, by exciting the children's own curiosity, will encourage them to adopt a positive attitude towards caring for and learning more about native animals and the environmental processes occurring around them. There is some evidence to suggest that this is occurring already. The nature of this program is such that its results are likely to be seen on a long-term basis. For example, as the junior rangers themselves become adults and practise environmental responsibility, they pass it on to their own children. However, some immediate results are also coming to light. The junior rangers of today are taking the message and spreading it among their families and friends.
Page 1980
Some good deeds have resulted from the program. For example, I was told during the year about one of the Darwin region's junior rangers who gave his bag of lollies to a group of boys in exchange for a finch chick which the boys had hit with a stone from a slingshot. This rescue attempt was similar to another story from the Katherine region where 2 junior rangers found an injured animal beside the road, retrieved its young and took it to some nearby adults whom they directed in helping the animal. These seem to be small things, but they are likely to be only the tip of the iceberg.
It is no wonder that this program is attracting a growing following. Enrolments last year were more than 300 in Darwin, 70 in Katherine, 35 in Alice Springs and 12 in Tennant Creek. Programs are being developed at Yulara and Jilkminggan for young people out in the bush. To cope with this increase in demand, full-time officers have been appointed in Katherine and Darwin in addition to the existing 2 full-time positions in Darwin and Alice Springs, and a further part-time position has been created for Alice Springs. There will also be some changes to programs and operations. With the increasing demand, children were finding that activities were already booked out when they telephoned to book. Programs will be spread out more. There will be short courses on particular projects such as the Casuarina Coastal Reserve or Litchfield Park. Children will be able to work on the projects at different stages, living with them and seeing some end results.
The junior ranger program is an extraordinarily ...
Mr Bailey: Why don't you make a ministerial statement on it?
Mr HATTON: I would love to make a ministerial statement on it. I could talk about it for hours. It is a brilliant program. I commend it to any young people who may be watching or listening. They should contact the Parks and Wildlife Commission and become involved. It is all about learning and about protecting the environment.
Page 1981
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016