Weekly happenings
Sue Brooks July 26th, 2009
It’s not often that in one week I have the opportunity of meeting both the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the Queensland Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Kate Jones. Without much prior notice the Prime Minister visited Hervey Bay mid week and spoke with genuine sincerity about the impact that the economic downturn has had on all of us. Although many people seemed to think he was here to announce $$$$$’s for our region he didn’t, but he went away with a much clearer picture of the challenges facing our coastal community brought about by our rapid growth. I was personally concerned that the Federal emphasis for recovery was all about growth and building stuff and while I believe we most urgently need to build stuff I also want to see some long term future planning that addresses population impacts and dwindling natural resources.
On Friday I drove to Brisbane to attend the FIDO Fraser Island Conference. A very interesting day with some very informative presentations. The one I enjoyed the most was the presentation by Adam O’Neill who wrote the book called Living With the Dingo. Adam has spent a large part of his life shooting and trapping feral animals on land that is fenced to protect native wildlife. Adam believes that dingoes play a vital role in reducing feral animals and without them many of our native animals would become extinct. As a top predator the dingo has a complex family social structure and the culling of dingoes destroys this structure. If dingoes are left alone Adam believes that they pose no threat to us and it is only when we interfere with them that pack hierarchy disintegrates and problems occur. Adam’s views reflect scientific research recently carried out in NSW and shown on the ABC Catalyst programme recently. I think we should be listening closely to this evidence and reassessing the way dingoes are managed on Fraser Island.
Last night we attended the 30th anniversary of our Hervey Bay airport and today I am off to visit the Transition Town information day at Rainbow Gully via Grevillea St. While the weather is cold and grey the informative displays and friendly people will make the day most enjoyable I am sure.
Meeting Kate Jones, Minister Climate Change and Sustainability
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- Comments(3)
Gidday Sue, I know of Adam O’Neill and knew he was giving a talk at that meeting, a pity I couldnt make it down there.
Anyway you say he was on Catalyst lately, well I have just looked on their site now but cannot see any reference to him, only Brad Purcell and that was a few weeks ago.
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/by-date/2009/default.htm
Can you show me where you saw it ?
Thanks.
Hooroo
Dingosimon
Sorry Dingosimon I was referring to the Brad Purcell story on Catalyst. I need to improve my grammar. I was trying to say that both gentleman seem to be saying the same thing in that the social hierarchy of the dingo family or pack is a critical aspect of dingo behaviour. Both gentleman have spent much time with dingoes and both believe that culling is a bad thing and actually creates more problems than it cures! It would be good to see a story on Adam on TV also!
Great Sue
perhaps if everyone could really comprehend for one second just how rare, ancient and unique the dingo is, as well as, its critical role in the ecology and preservation of biodiversity, then the needed urgent change in management would happen naturally
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/dingo-menace-strategy-a-failure-20090810-eeut.html
bree