Get to know our Gungahlin Group

SEE Change Gungahlin have a special interest in biodiversity, local wildlife and plant life, and gardens that support ecosystems. The convenors, Lyn and Kevin, organise fun and educational events for the community to learn more about our local biodiversity, partnering with researchers and scientists to share deeper insights. This year they hosted a walk and talk on dingos in Namadgi National Park, exploring dingo habitat, lifestyle, role in the ecosystem, and ways we can manage and protect this important species. The group have also run events about our flying foxes, frogs, turtles, waterbugs and quolls, and are keen to explore more local species in the coming year!

We chatted to Lyn, a co-convenor of the group, to find out some of the things she loves about nature and volunteering for the Gungahlin group.

What has been the most interesting fact about a local species that you've discovered through your time volunteering? 

Who would have thought that dingos could be found, living their wild lives in our own Namadgi  National Park as they had done for centuries, 45 minutes away from the nations capital!

Bonus interesting fact - Until very recent genetic analysis by Dr. Kylie Cairns revealed the Namadgi National Park canids were not just a motley hybrid crew of wild dogs as people had previously assumed...but were in fact true dingos who played an essential part in keeping Namadgi ecosystem  healthy...they were regarded as pests and destroyed.  The good news is that's expected to soon change with new legislation brought in by the ACT government.

What  species would you love to host an event on? 

So very many species that we would love to feature in an event! However, we hope our events will encourage conservation efforts and so consider carefully where we focus our attention.

Accordingly, we think as there has been justified community concern about the sudden decline in the bogong's moth annual visits to Canberra and as the seasonal visitations of the iconic bogong moth have been an essential part of Canberra's environmental heritage. We plan to design an event around this theme next year.

Favourite place in Canberra to enjoy native wildlife and plant life? 

I love Commonwealth Park in the summer when it is alive with flapping of wings and chattering bickering bat bodies.

I love the mysteries of frog sound and yellow eyes staring out of the black when exploring Mulligans flat at night.

I love the controlled wildness of the Botanic gardens with its array of plant life and lurking ,scampering reptile life.

And of course Namadgi in Autumn where you can still hope to hear the howl of the Dingo at sunset!

What has been rewarding and challenging about convening this group? 

To see an event excite people and inspire them to take action, and to work with passionate, knowledgeable ecologists and committed volunteers is ultimately most rewarding.

The biggest challenge is time restraints due to the sense of urgency around many of the conservation issues we illuminate.