The concept of the original program was a joint initiative between John Weigel and Yanina Prager.
JOHN WEIGEL is a herpetologist extraordinaire, author, photographer and, along with Robyn Weigel , is the owner/director of the Australian Reptile Park in NSW. He is well known and respected nationally and internationally. His initiatives have had a huge impact not only on Central Coast tourism, but on life-saving anti-venom production, research and conservation. John focuses his energies on the diverse range of activities arising from the operation of a world class facility such as the Australian Reptile Park. His support for the SOS Aussies program is very much valued.
About Director Yanina Prager...
Along with John Weigel , Yanina was the other half of the creative force and is now Managing Director and Licensee of
Australian Reptile Productions and SOS Aussies.
Yanina’s love for the natural environment grew from a childhood where dawn to dusk was spent roaming barefoot through virgin bush in Western Australia amongst tracts of kangaroo and cat paws, spider orchids, smokey dawson bush, catching freshwater gilgies in the creeks and coming home whenever the sun wemt down. Arrival at school was often delayed an hour or three by a detour off the main bush track( kids walked to school in those days) to a swamp where turtles, tadpoles and all sorts of wonderful things used to hang out. Returning home was even more unpredictable… there were secret underground bush cubbies that needed to be visited, earthen floors to be swept, and fresh foliage to be scattered over the “roof” to camouflage it from the attention of other ‘tribes’; or if there had been recent rain the hunt for ‘rainbows’ was on. Rainbows looked like they were invented in fairy land and were exquisite, elegant willowy flowers with dew like foliage dripping along the length of the stem which grew so rapidly after rain that often one would feel that one could simply sit and wait till they grew long enough to weave into garlands to place on the hair. Each day and each season in the bush brought with it so many sights, smells and experiences which were all embraced. Of course life does not stand still and eventually Yanina grew up and graduated as a teacher and quite unbelievably (due to the fact that she was a little absent from studies at times) was also the dux of the course and prize-winner in several specialist areas of study. As a reward Yanina was dispatched to the remote tropical north of W.A. to commence her teaching career at Exmouth Gulf where, amongst other things, her role was to teach the children of U.S.A. officers including the Commander, of the Harold Holt Submarine Communications Base. The extremes experienced in Exmouth were quite awe inspiring. No sooner has the end of school bell rung than the bathers were on and it was off to Ningaloo Reef where a short wade through the water would take one to the edge of a reef which plunged deep into the blue depths where sharks, rays, shells, fish of all shapes and colours simply were – one didn’t have to look for them! By night, one would sit in respectful stillness and silence by the waters edge to watch the great turtles haul themselves up onto the beach and deposit their eggs before starting their slow journey back to the ocean. The canyons of Exmouth told another story. The searing heat and mazes of towering dry earth claimed a number of human lives but here life thrived also. There was an abundance of reptile species which were so magically adapted for survival in these extremes. In time however, all this too was left to return to the big smoke of Perth to take up a position as a Demonstration Teacher and later a specialist teacher working with aboriginal children and their families in the wheatbelt regions..
Eventually, over a period of several years, career opportunities resulted in many regular trips overseas. It was then, as a result of contact with many other lands that the thunderbolt really struck! ‘Australia really is amazing, and unlike any other!’ Experiences and travel overseas served to reinforce that we really are in the lucky country and how wonderful it was to return home each time. In this case ‘home’ was not the house and backyard it was simply Australia and it was to this’ home’ that a strong passion and commitment was born. Several years later a prime opportunity to actively engage in pro-environment initiatives presented itself. A business relationship with the Directors of the Australian Reptile Park resulted in several entures including ultimately the joint initiative of a mobile environmental education program to service schools Australia wide. The demand was incredible and the acclaim consistently outstanding. The program grew and flourished. Meanwhile back at the home-front a ‘New’ Australian Reptile Park was on the drawing board and a Management Committee including John Weigel and Yanina Prager was dedicated to the realization of this vision. The rest is history. The Australian Reptile Park is now recognized Australia wide not only as a leading tourist facility but also as an institution pro-active and innovative in its research, conservation and life saving venom collection programs. SOS Aussies ( an extension of the original ‘We’re All Little Aussies’ program) became autonomous under its own license and umbrella of Australian Reptile Productions and became the benchmark for other similarly orientated programs.
Yanina’s work today is supported by a broad base of specialized personnel contributing to the outstanding success of SOS Aussies. After almost 35 years of experience and innovation in education and 20 years study and application of herpetological and environmental practices, Yanina continually revises and reviews all aspects of the SOS Aussies program and operations to ensure maximum effectiveness and relevance in today’s changing world.
The bush which so freely gave the original experiences of kangaroo paws, ‘rainbows’, underground cubbies, tadpoles and tarzan swings has now given way to uniformly coloured, shaped, and spaced roofs of housing estates. The once deserted waters and surrounds of Exmouth Gulf have now become a mecca for tourists from all parts of the globe. Australia is very much in the throes of losing its innocence globally. Change is inevitable. Australia however remains a very beautiful, very diverse, unique and privileged country. It is our home and home to countless living species. A love and commitment to maintaining a balance between giving to and taking from this country continues to drive the SOS Aussies program. A hope that future generations may freely experience Australia’s natural environment continues to motivate. A respect for all living things and their right to live in harmonious co-existence continues to be the objective..
© Copyright 2006 SOS Aussies.