Visit to share ideas

By Tania Martin
FOR Canadian ranger Valerie Blazeski, travelling half way around the world to work in the hills has been an opportunity of a lifetime.
She has travelled more than 15,000 kilometres to work in the Dandenong Ranges National Park.
Ms Blazeski, a resource conservation manager and ecosystem scientists, of Ottawa, Canada, will be working in the hills parks system for the next six months.
She is working on a range of environmental research including writing assessments and reviews on parks such as Bunyip State Park and Sherbrooke Forest.
“I am especially interested in learning about how the people of Melbourne interact and connect with the parks and recreation areas in their local regions,” Ms Blazeski said.
The excitement all started for Ms Blazeski just before Christmas when she took the opportunity to meet up with family.
Her mother’s side of the family are settle in both Canada and Australia and she said the exchange program was a fantastic way to enjoy a nice family reunion.
“I’ve had a wonderful sunny, snow-free Christmas connecting with family and friends and I am now looking forward to taking the time to explore the world renowned tourist sites of Victoria and Australia.”
During her time in the hills, Ms Blazeski will study revegetation management and future opportunities in the Dandenong Ranges parklands region.
She will look at the threatened species management at Bunyip State Park near Gembrook and will work with the Sherbrooke Lyrebird Survey Group assisting with the long-term data which has been collected.
Ms Blazeski is one of six Canadian parks staff that will be working with Parks Victoria as part of an exchange program this year.
The program offers an opportunity for Parks Victoria to share ideas and skills with another world leading park management agency as well as providing extra staff over the peak summer holiday and fire danger period.
Parks Victoria regional manager Annie Volkering said both parks agencies in Victoria and Canada manage a huge variety of environmental and historic sites and that it was great to have the opportunity for staff to share information and ideas on similar issues from different perspectives.
“It allows us to discuss global park management issues, share solutions and establish worldwide professional networks in a very hands-on way,” she said.
Although Ms Blazeski is scheduled to return home in May she will come back to Australia in November to complete a further six months of the exchange program.
Mr Blazeski said she is having a fantastic time in Australia so far and has loved every minute of her visit.