Hi again
Before we get into the post mortem training, something a little less 'interesting'.
Recently Garngi rangers have been erectly Access Permit signs around Croker Island. At times some non-Indigenous people enter Aboriginal land without permission. This causes quite a bit frustration at times. Below Charlie and Shaun are mixing 'Fast Set' cement to secure this sign.
Most of these signs are located in remote places requiring some off road driving to get there. And some of the locations provided spectacular views - great reward after some hot and sweaty work. Not a bad 'office' to work from!
As mentioned previously, Garngi rangers do contract work for the Australian Government's Northern Biosecurity Department. A part of this work is to monitor animal health - domestic, feral and native. Recently Biosecurity vets visited to conduct 'Post Mortem' training for the rangers. This involved shooting feral pigs on the floodplain, lifting them to a suitable site where they were 'operated on' to collect pathology and samples of anything that was abnormal. This is all part of being 'on the lookout' for unwanted diseases entering Australia.
One of the vets has a helicopter platform shooting license. This allows him to shoot from a helicopter safety. Below he drops a pig at the operating/refueling site.
The helicopter had to return to the mainland leaving us to start our post mortem training. Below one of the vets shows Katrina how to collect some blood samples.
Below Sabrina begins the examination of this pig.
For those a little squirmy, the following photos may be a little off putting.
The pigs we examined all appear healthy on the outside however the internal examination revealed some issues - some pussy nodules on the intestines and around the kidneys and some worms. Its not on the level of 'Foot and Mouth' disease however these things are not regularly seen so the vets got quite excited. Some of the rangers are now thinking of becoming vegetarians.
Some tape worms placed on the liver (taken from the intestines).
Some pussy nodules around the 'plumbing' from the kidneys to the bladder. We concluded that vets are a little odd - as can be seen below with vet (Guy) ....... the more puss and yukky stuff, the more excited he got.
At the end of the exercise the group photo shows five of the Garngi rangers with the two Biosecurity vets. By this stage the helicopter crew had departed.
Last week Nance commenced work with the West Arnhem Regional Council's local aged care service. At this stage it is just two hours per day doing activities however this could increase. This aged care service has not run for some years now so it will take some time to get up and running again. The activities will include outings to collecting pandanus leaves for basket making, movies etc.
Feel free to ring us anytime. Nance's - 0407 992619 and Bryan 0409 112724.
Until next blog post, blessings and take care.
Bryan, Nance and PK
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