Dedication to conservation brings national acknowledgement

The Mornington Peninsula is sweltering through a heatwave when I visit Gidja Walker at her home at St Andrews Beach. She has texted me her address with a warning to be careful on the path to her house, as it is “a bit of a snaky day”.

Walking through the frontyard it is easy to see what has prompted this warning, with native grasses and plants flourishing and a variety of bird baths, logs and stones scattered throughout. It immediately feels like a haven for wildlife. “This is what I do; I restore the land,” Gidja says, guiding me along and pointing out where possums hide, lizards bask in the sun – when it is not as hot as today – and many other animals make their home. Though impressed by the abundance of wildlife in her yard, I am somewhat relieved to not meet a snake up close today.

Gidja Walker was awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in January for her service to conservation and the environment. An ecologist, educator and artist, she has worked for decades to preserve and restore the natural environment and share her learnings with others. Ecology is all about understanding the interactions of living creatures with their environment. “It’s really about connectedness,” she says, and that includes the plants and wildlife, the soil and waterways, and the role of people.

Education and training are a speciality of Gidja’s, who has mentored many young people in the areas of restoration ecology, threatened species management and protecting endangered ecosystems such as the Moonah Woodland and wetlands. Her ability to identify plants is encyclopedic, as is her ability to remember the names of all the people she has worked and interacted with over the years. It is the depth of her knowledge about the environment, though, that is truly remarkable. From weed removal prioritisation, the interlinked biology of ecosystems and the geological events that have formed the land, soil and coastlines to the medicinal and dietary use of ‘weeds’ and the understanding that we live in a cultural landscape that includes even some weeds being European cultural artefacts, Gidja truly interacts with landscapes from a holistic perspective.

Working for decades to preserve and restore native habitat can be an exhausting and challenging business, but Gidja is incredibly positive and hopeful for the future. When I ask how she manages to remain so resilient in the face of often very negative news about the environment, or the frustrations she inevitably encounters, her approach is inspiring. Gidja replenishes herself in beauty every day, even if that is something as simple as watching a butterfly. She surrounds herself with supportive people who care, and while she is intent on the future, her attention is clearly in the present. Gidja is fundamentally optimistic, asserting that if something is not beyond the bounds of possibility, it therefore remains possible and worth fighting for. Movement is also important to her, with dance a favourite way to release physical tension.

Inherently humble, Gidja says she is honoured by the community support that led to her OAM. She is also grateful for the opportunity to spread the word even further about habitat restoration and preservation, with the award lending weight to her carefully researched arguments and strategies. This well-deserved acknowledgement highlights the important and valuable work she is engaged in to ensure our beautiful Peninsula and the wider country we are part of remains a haven for wildlife and an enriching home for everyone. Snakes and all.