Dr Kate Grarock and Helen Cross ‘Bush Blitz – 11 years old and going strong!’

Kate and Helen from Bush Blitz, will describe how Bush Blitz has been discovering more than 1700 new species since 2010, across 41 expeditions, including a voyage on RV Investigator. They also engage with land managers, traditional owners, teachers and students.

Abstract

Both Kate Grarock and Helen Cross are from Bush Blitz, and will describe how Bush Blitz has been discovering new species since 2010, with over 1,700 new species discovered across 41 expeditions, making it the largest program of its type in the world. But Bush Blitz is about more than just discovering new species, it also engages with land managers, traditional owners, teachers and students. Find out about where we have been, including the RV Investigator voyage in WA and NT, and where they are going, over the next few years.

Biographies

Dr Kate Grarock is the Bush Blitz expedition leader and is responsible for leading teams into the remote locations that are characteristic of a Bush Blitz expedition.

Helen Cross (BSc - Ecology & Natural Resources) joined Bush Blitz in April 2019, is currently acting as a Senior Project Officer, and has been on 4 Bush Blitz expeditions. Helen grew up in Canberra, then moved to western Queensland, where she enjoyed working as a Wildlife Ranger, Park Ranger and Regional Landcare Facilitator. Helen and her family moved back to Canberra in 2016, and she loves photographing wildlife in her free time. Check out Helen's photos on social media (Helen Wylks Cross), in the August 2021 Fronds article Uncovering the Secrets of the Superb Fairy-wren, Suzi Bond’s Butterfly update about the leucistic Common Brown at the ANBG, and on Canberra Nature Map: https://canberra.naturemapr.org/users/sightings/17907 .

Lunchtime talks are held at 12.30 pm every Thursday from February to November in the Gardens’ Theatrette. Talks last for 1 hour. Admission is by gold coins donation. The Friends use the ‘gold’ coins donations received at each activity to support Gardens’ programs and development and thank all those who have donated. Please note: unless otherwise indicated, talks are in the ANBG Theatrette.

The talks are in line with COVID-19 guidelines which can change rapidly.

Bookings are essential. Bookings can be made from the Friday before the talk until Wednesday night before the talk.  Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/BWZJT

The Friends of the ANBG thank the speakers who volunteer their time and talents to further the knowledge of all attending events in the Gardens. Some summaries or PowerPoint presentations of Thursday talks are available to Friends at the ANBG library. A donation to the Friends for the use of this material will be gratefully accepted. Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team: email talks@friendsanbg.org.au