by SIMON GARNER
WHEN John Holman decided to leave primary teaching in the 1990s, his wife Elaine agreed he needed to find another job.
She pointed out that she had married him for better or worse, not home for lunch.
So, at the age of 52, he began what is now a 20-year association with Werribee Open Range Zoo. For someone who has always loved the outdoors, the natural environment and communicating with people, it was perfect.
John works as a safari guide – not only driving the huge passenger vehicles and providing commentary on a 50-minute tour of the property, but developing other projects and zoo experiences.
One of the most enduring and popular has been the zoo’s overnight camping experience, where John is a camp leader.
Another project saw him managing 12 long-term unemployed people replanting alongside the Werribee River, which runs through the zoo.
“I really enjoy the work – being among the animals and interacting with people from all backgrounds,” he said.
“The natural environment has always been a source of interest and passion. I taught in a two-teacher school and part of our program was to pack up the entire school, 45 to 60 kids, and take them camping on a bush block.”
John also does voluntary work at Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre in Little River; as police liaison for the Federation of Victorian Bushwalking Clubs when volunteers are needed for search and rescue missions; and, with Elaine, once a week works with the Cancer Council’s Relay for Life.
Conservation of our native flora and fauna are particularly close to his heart.
Mt Rothwell is Victoria’s largest feral predator-free ecosystem.
“I think it’s important to do something for the environment, something to look after our native critters like the eastern barred bandicoot.”
One of the benefits of continuing paid work into his early 70s is that it has helped fund a number of overseas trips. “I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and successfully treated,” John said.
“Elaine and I decided then that life was too short not to fulfil some dreams, and there were some places we wanted to see.
“Among other things, we’ve been to the Arctic, climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, visited national parks in North America, the Galapagos Islands, South America, done the coast-to-coast walk in England, walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain, toured the European Alps, China and Vietnam, and in 2016 are off to Antarctica.
“My favourite destination is Mongolia. The landscapes are stunning.”
One thing you won’t find on their itinerary is extended stays in major cities.
“Apart from taking off and landing, we spend as much time out of cities as possible,” John said.
