Great Toad Muster 2007
I was there!

A VOLUNTEER’S VIEW – MARG FRECKLETON

“As some of us head home it seems it’s time to say adieu
And Judy thought this better done in verse
Now the weather up here’s hot, more for drinking than clear thinking
But here we go for better or worse.”

The Great Toad Muster 2007

It’s the end of the dry and the waterholes are shrinking
And this puts those thirsty cane toads into a fluster
We’re quite happy this is so ‘cos we know where they will go
And it’s prime time for the Great Toad Muster!

To stop the toads advancing, destroying native wildlife in their path
Takes a lot of effort from people without a doubt
Scientists, conservationists and volunteers all working side-by-side
Is what the STOP THE TOAD FOUNDATION’s all about.

We need to capture cane toads and learn more about their habits
We need to cull their numbers that’s for sure
So a dedicated team forms in September every year
And the results of their hard work we can’t ignore.

So what about the motley crew assembled for this year?
Have they done the job to the best of their ability?
Let’s take a look as best we can with another verse or two
And if I offend anyone let’s put it down to early onset senility!

By car or plane and trooper, we vollies made our weary way
To the base camp known by some as the “Cedars Hilton”
Yes Lofty and his mates in Jim, Lucy and Fiona
Had set up all mod cons to stop our spirits from wiltin’.

So with tents and and beds and a shower and two portaloos thrown in
We were well on the way to being happy campers.
Add to this a a great camp kitchen and loads of equipment ready to go
We could almost have been accused of being pampered

The set-up team aforementioned was joined by toad guru Graeme
And, as fate would have it, Tina and Jim
This little famly did it all, the establishing, the planning, the executing
An amazing effort since their numbers were so thin

When Lesley and Judy joined the team
These extra hands were sure welcome
With the myriad of jobs the muster creates
It’s good to have people to share ‘em.

Apart from the bursting, the gassing and the count
The dissecting, data recording and the burials
There’s the reconnaisance, the traps and the fences to build
And all the equipment to keep highly functional.

At the camp there are jobs which are also important
The supply of cold water among them
There are the bags to be washed and the loos to be emptied
and even dinner can take some co-ordinatin’ ………..

By the time of the arrival of Rod, Marg and Anne
The camp was running quite slickly
With some on-the-job training over a day or two
They picked up the skills fairly quickly

Twelve became seventeen a few days later
When Fiona arrived with her gang
Karen and Jane had to brave the heat
While second-timers Geoff and Wendy had the hang

The last to arrive to this point in time
Were Russell and a rookie named Steve
They slotted into it right away
Busting toads out at Nesmit that first evenin’.

The team’s quite a sight getting ready to bust
I guess we do look pretty daggy
Kitted out with headlights, nets, spotlights and water bottles a must
With the bumbags and the gaiters, the pants look kinda baggy

But we do not care as we rattle along
We have a common purpose in mind
We are out to collect as many cane toads as we can
And ideally leave none behind.

Graeme’s planning seems amazing and his strategies effective
His background knowledge and forward vision just spot on
His immediate support team – you know that mob that set up camp
They too know how to get this big job done.

Graeme entering data and planning more busting strategies!

The problem is too big, no hassle all-consuming
They just keep going 18 hours a day
Okay, they have a bit of trouble remembering peoples’ names
But hey, isn’t that a small price to pay?

So thank you one and all for the part that you have played
In this Great Toad Muster of 2007
Your commitment, camerarderie and tolerance.
You have made this venture actually happen.