“Through interpretation, understanding; through understanding, appreciation; through appreciation, protection.” - Freeman Tilden
The day starts sunny and bright with clouds dotted in the distance. With the ascent of spring, sweet fragrances fill the air and birds busily duck and weave through the branches, singing a merry tune. There is so much to see and explore along the creek and under the trees. Games and imaginings take shape. Alongside parents and grandparents, the custodians of local knowledge, information is passed on and absorbed, freedoms are increasingly given as familiarity grows. For Jim Szonyi, now Ranger Jim, his formative years set him on a path of curiosity and appreciation, wanting to learn more and share his findings.
Ahead of his playgroup visit, Ranger Jim tells us more about his life and passion for the great outdoors.
Did you have a passion for nature and animals from a young age?
I grew up on a small farm in Daylesford surrounded by the Wombat State Forest. I was constantly in the bush looking under rocks and logs for bugs or frogs. I was very lucky to have the freedom to roam and explore the bush around our home as a young child accompanied by my cousins. My poor, long suffering mum would be sitting at home with white knuckles, knowing full well that we were probably mucking about near deep mine shafts or looking for snakes. I guess all that time spent in the bush watching it change with the seasons made me curious about how ecosystems worked.
You studied a Bachelor of Science at Deakin University. What did you most enjoy about this course? What drew you towards it?
I think that plants rather than animals drew me back to University to study environmental science. That probably makes me a little weird, but I’ve always had a desire to name, classify and categorise things. As a child I would head out with my dad and grandad into the bush to collect firewood and they would teach the names of the different Eucalyptus trees. “That’s a Messmate, that’s no good for firewood. We want the Grey Box that’s growing on the ridges.” My mum and grandmother were fantastic gardeners so I picked up a lot botanical knowledge from them as well.
I soon wanted to know the names of not just the trees but the smaller bushes, flowers and grasses growing around our property. Knowing the names of things just adds another layer of enjoyment when I’m out bushwalking. Especially if you find something rare. It’s kind of like real life Pokémon.
You were a bushland technician for Greening Australia. What kind of things did this job entail? What interesting things did you learn along the way?
Working for Greening Australia was a fantastic experience. I was able to travel the state helping landowners restore bushland on their properties. I was also mentored by some brilliant environmental educators who inspired me to work with children as an interpreter of the natural environment.
You are currently the Education Services Park Ranger at City of Melbourne. What aspects do you enjoy most about this role?
I’m very privileged to be able to use Melbourne’s beautiful parks and gardens as an outdoor classroom to share my enthusiasm for nature. Each season brings its new delights and connecting people with nature is extremely rewarding. The ranger education program takes groups of kids from schools or kindergartens out into the parks to explore, think and wonder. We have always had a very strong focus on biodiversity but in recent years we have been incorporating a lot more activities focusing on nature-based therapy as a way to address stress and anxiety in children.
What new discoveries have you made during recent times?
Royal Park is a constant source of discovery and wonder for anyone interested in nature. Every year I get to see rare or unusual birds pass through the park as part of their annual migration. I also love looking for unusual bugs or spiders and was lucky to find a beautiful little peacock spider recently. They are only the size of a grain of rice but have very colourful markings. If you aren’t familiar with peacock spiders, I recommend you do an internet search for a video of them dancing.
Why is nature play so vital for children?
Spending time in nature is particularly important for children’s mental health and physical development. Climbing trees and navigating uneven and unpredictable surfaces such as rocks and logs offer better opportunities for developing motor skills than human built play structures. Chemicals released by plants and bacteria in the soil play an important part in boosting children’s immune systems and regulating their stress hormones. The positive effects of these beneficial bacteria in children are so profound that researchers in Australia and Finland have begun inoculating urban playgrounds with soil from wild forest areas to improve children’s health.
What do you hope to inspire in the up-and-coming generations?
There’s an old park ranger motto: “Through interpretation, understanding; through understanding, appreciation; through appreciation, protection.”
I’m not sure if I plan to inspire when I’m delivering education programs to children, but I do try to provoke. Perhaps provoke a thought or a feeling or a question about the natural world that may lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation.
Book here to join our playgroup session with Ranger Jim
Article by Sinead Halliday