Event Type
Landcare Region
BCT Region
M2T5 - - Wangat Lodge, Chichester
Katherine Warwick is an aquatic ecologist and PhD candidate at Western Sydney University. Katherine has recently led an Australian-first study which has found perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in the livers of eight wild platypuses. The near-threatened species is impacted by multiple anthropogenic threats and the identification of this 'forever chemical' in all of the wild-caught samples is cause for alarm. Katherine will share her research findings and general biology of this uniquely Australian marsupial.
Wangat Lodge is a set in a Wildlife Refuge deep in the valley below the Chichester Dam. Surrounded by wilderness, and a stones throw away from the World Heritage listed Barrington Tops National Park, Wangat Lodge is home to abundant wildlife, including the elusive Platypus. Owner, Dan, will lead us on an exploration of the property and beyond to Jerusalem Falls, with Dr Katherine on hand to point out key platypus habitat, and any threats along the way. You will have an opportunity to share your own experiences and knowledge, and meet like-minded folks in a glorious setting.
The event will be fully catered for, and will involve a 2-3 hour bush walk, which is only suitable for able bodied persons. The venue does not cater for people with accessibility needs.
This event is possible thanks to the shared work of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust and Landcare NSW under the Private Land Conservation Matters project, supported locally by MidCoast Council.
Event Topics
Event Outcomes
Growth in learning measure (Scale 1 - 100)
From Isabelle, event coordinator
Thanks also to Dan, from Wangat Lodge, for providing such a great venue, lunch and guiding us safely through the very wet trails to Jerusalem Creek and back. Sign up for their newsletter if you would like to get involved with any future events held there.
And finally, reach out to Rachel - rachel.patricia.barry@gmail.com if you would like to get involved with her and Sian's very proactive group based in the Stroud area. They are doing loads of great community engagement and Platypus monitoring in the area, and will welcome more members to their group.
Here is a themed summary of feedback from the Platypus Day event:
🌟 What Attendees Liked
🧠 Knowledge & Expertise
- Informative, fascinating presentations with engaging content
- Access to expert researchers and educators
- High level of expertise and scientific credibility
- Inspirational speaker sessions with in-depth Q&A
- “Very interesting” and “well presented” content
🐾 Wildlife Focus
- Great topic choice: platypus and broader native wildlife
- Enthusiasm for learning new and rare information about Australian fauna
- Appreciation for the taxidermy display and visual learning aids
🏞️ Format & Activities
- Loved the bushwalk and on-ground educational activities
- Presentations complemented by nature-based experiences
- Enjoyed the opportunity to ask questions and participate in discussions
🧍♀️ Community & Atmosphere
- Being with likeminded people
- Inspirational and inclusive tone of the event
- Well organised and smoothly run
- Welcoming venue and setting enhanced the experience
🔍 What Attendees Want to Learn Next
🧬 Species & Habitat
- More about:
- Echidnas, gliders, frogs, koalas, bandicoots
- Habitat needs and how to spot animals in the wild
- Weed control and ecological restoration
🤝 Action & Engagement
- How to:
- Collaborate and engage young people or new Australians
- Join community conservation or rivercare projects
- Monitor platypus and improve their populations
- Apply conservation practices on suburban or rural properties
- Pursue research (e.g., doing a PhD with the speaker)
🌏 Broader Environmental Education
- Ongoing learning on any environmental issue
- More localised learning – platypus presence near attendees’ own properties
- General education about all Australian animals and conservation action
💬 Suggestions and Comments
💡 Positive Reflections
- “It was great” – repeated across many responses
- High praise for the presenters, venue, and format
- The event was “incredibly educational” and sparked sharing with others
🔁 Requests for Repetition and Expansion
- Repeat similar events in other locations
- Offer more sessions on related topics
- Extend this model to other environmental issues
👌 Minimal Improvement Needed
- Many comments stated “no improvement needed”
- Praise for well-managed discussions and likable presenters
- “Hard pressed to improve content”