Team profiles

"The only way to have a friend is to be one"

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882)

 

Shayne graduated from the University of Queensland with a Diploma of Applied Science in Wilderness Reserves and Wildlife. A passion for habitat restoration led him to Melbourne University, where he graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Natural Resource Management.

Lizzie graduated from Melbourne University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Zoology. In 2005 Lizzie was named the Prime Minister's Environmentalist of the Year, the youngest ever and first female recipient of this prestigious award, and she is a member of the National Environmental Education Council and the Otways Landscape Community Council.

A shared interest in wildlife biology, ecology and conservation led Shayne and Lizzie to create the award-winning Great Ocean Ecolodge and The Cape Otway Centre for Conservation Ecology.

 

 

Brenda's knowledge of horticulture and landscape management ensures the grounds surrounding the Ecolodge are quickly becoming a showcase for gardening using indigenous species.  We think Brenda must be a very special gardener to work happily alongside the wild roos who come to check out her work every night!

 

Jocelyn has a 100 year old apple orchard on the flats of the Barham River and keeps the Ecolodge well stocked with the most delicious apples all autumn.  Jocelyn advises us on the layout and management of the Ecolodge's orchard and is the one to ask about anything to do with fruit trees. 

 

 

 

Beccy is an extremely talented artist, currently studying her Masters in Fine Art.  Original pieces of Beccy's art are offered for sale at the Ecolodge - they make a very special memento of your holiday.  If you are interested in art have a look at our Ecology Experiences Program for details of Nature Art - Beccy is our inspirational tutor for this session.

 

Jane has worked with us almost since we opened, keeping everything running smoothly. In November last year we were all very excited to welcome baby Sarah Rose (Jane and Craig's own joey!). We are looking forward to Jane's return after maternity leave - though in the meantime we still call her when we can't find something!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collecting fresh eggs, herbs and vegetables from the Kitchen Garden, sourcing the best of fresh regional produce and creating fabulous meals is what Craig and Holly do best.  They are  always happy to discuss your dietary requirements or special requests.  As usual, it doesn't stop there! 

 

Craig B is an IT whizz and sorts out all computer problems in a jiffy - he can even do it while sauteeing seafood linguine!  Craig is Jane's husband and Sarah's dad so it is a real family affair - Sarah has Craig very well trained in catering for very little people.

 

 

Holly is our Kitchen Garden fairy - the vegetables and salads thrive under her care, even in the depths of winter!   You will find her in the Garden most afternoons where you will be most welcome to assist in gathering fresh organic vegies for your dinner.  Holly is studying horticulture as well so she is great to chat to about organic flower and vegetable gardening. 

 

 

 

 

Conservation of biodiversity is the goal which underpins all our work here at Cape Otway.  It is very important to us that our guests will enjoy a meaningful and memorable experience here, and that there will be opportunities for you to experience sustainable living and have a chance to contribute to conservation.  It is a big goal and one that we must work as a team to meet.

 

Craig D is our Project Manager - with a background in corporate management and a deep commitment to making the world a better place he facilitates our most exciting projects.  We are currently working to further improve the site as an Eco-living Demonstration Centre and Craig is working very hard to make it happen. On top of everything else Beccy and Craig are wildlife foster carers.

 

Erin came to Cape Otway to complete her Natural Resource Management Diploma final year research project. While surveying the small mammal fauna of the Otways Erin became a very special part of the Cape ... and she just stayed! After working as our Ecology Experiences Coordinator for eighteen months, Erin is now studying Environmental Management at Ballarat University. She often drops in to gather data for uni assignments.

 

Leanne completed her 3 week work placement with us for her LaTrobe University Animal Science degree. Six weeks later she was still here, dressing the paws of koalas burnt in this year's terrible bushfires to the west. We could not have coped without her.

Jack grew up on the Cape and knows it like the back of his hand. When he headed off to Deakin University in Melbourne to study Environmental Management we all missed him, but knew it would not be long before he was back, and it was the owls that brought him home. While studying the owls' distribution and habitat use in the Otways, Jack discovered both Powerful and Masked Owls in the grounds of The Cape Otway Centre, with both species nesting in the Parker Valley. We look forward to his PhD!

 

 

We welcome volunteers from all over the world - they are great fun, wonderful when translations are required and we always feel they just give us so much. 

 

After one night as our guest in 2004 Britta became a part of our lives. She returned from Switzerland for the summer of 2006 to work with us - she said it was to improve her English but we know it was because she had fallen in love with the joeys - we miss her!

Max was our 'rent-a-pom' from London, taking a gap year in 2007 to gain some experience in Ecotourism before returning to University College London to study Geography. Max assisted with rehabilitating wildlife (we were particularly busy last summer following all the bushfires), attending to track maintenance, learning about sustainable living and exploring the Otways and the Great Ocean Road.

 

 

Through friends we made while working at the Kindrogan Field Centre in Scotland Russ and Naomi came to work with us at Cape Otway as they made their way around the world from southern England.  With a background in environmental education Naomi was a great help.

 

 

 

We hosted Fabrice, a New Caledonian tourism graduate, before he headed to France to commence his degree in Environmental Science.  A keen interest in sustainable development and management of tourism means Fabrice is laying wonderful foundations for his plans for the sustainable future of his community in Lifou, New Calendonia. 

 

Anne is surely the best wildlife vet in the world and many of the animals which are rehabilitated at the Cape Otway Centre owe her their lives. From mystery illnesses to orthopedic surgery, Anne is always ready to answer our questions and carry out the delicate procedures, even in the middle of the night in a storm on a Sunday! Anne is now working at Sydney University in the Wildlife Health and Conservation Centre, researching wildlife health and teaching vets about the precious and fragile Australian wildlife - we really miss her, but have not stopped bombarding her with photos and questions.

The joeys rehabilitating at the Centre need plenty of quiet, peaceful sleep, and this is where Jo comes in. Jo makes huge numbers of beautiful pouches for our orphaned joeys, especially designed to be as natural as possible, mirroring natural development. These beautifully made pouches are now all over the country and are now being used by the Taipei Zoo in Taiwan!

 

Jess and Molly work very hard to keep all our rehabilitating joeys well fed.  Most of the joeys' development occurs during the lactation stages and when they become orphaned meeting their nutritional needs is a very important aspect of their rehabilitation.  Goats' milk is highly digestable, natural and the joeys love it!  We use Jess and Molly's milk in their bottles throughout the late lactation period.