By JOLENE OGLE
From the beautiful meadows of a small village in southern Germany to the Noosa National Park, Petra Goeltz has always indulged her deep love of nature.
Petra recalls exploring the forests that surrounded her family home where she watched spiders weave their webs, tadpoles grow in pools of water and skinks sunbath on the warm rocks.
Its little surprise then that Petra fell in love with Noosa National Park when she travelled to our piece of paradise.
It was while working for the ‘Our Region’ pages of the Sunshine Coast Environment Council’s website that Petra found herself in Noosa.
“I thoroughly enjoyed taking photographs, interviewing people, writing-up content and walking the region’s beautiful parks and bushland areas,” she said.
“One bushwalk brought me to Noosa National Park and I remember that I went into the information kiosk to ask about a small colourful bird that I had sighted.
“The lady that staffed the information hut was very friendly and knowledgeable and we quickly found the bird in one of Noosa Park Association’s reference manuals.”
Petra, who has studied a vast range of subjects including environmental policy, environmental law, business studies and animal behaviour, said she decided to become an NPA member after a few more walks in the Noosa National Park.
“There were many interesting forums, speakers, walks and other events and because I like supporting national parks and bushland areas,” she said.
“One day last year I entered the kiosk and asked if there were any volunteering jobs, such as weeding, and was told there was an urgent need for more volunteers to staff the information desk.”
Petra is now one of a dedicated group of volunteers who man the information kiosk, which she said is one of the best offices to work in.
“It is great to learn about the history of the park, its flora and fauna. I can use my foreign languages to help tourists with their inquiries and my colleagues are people from vastly different backgrounds.
“So, it’s a very cool volunteering job,” she said.
*******Breakout Box*****
In January 2009 Queensland Parks and Wildlife service granted Noosa Parks Association the right to operate the Visitor Information Centre at the Noosa National Park for the following 10 years.
The gallery and information centre is staffed by NPA volunteers and is open seven days a week, from 9.15am to 4.45pm.
