No stranger to island life
Bridget Baynes has island for another.
The Tasmanian took up a new role as the Department of Conservation’s operations manager for the Rakiura National Park last month.
Based in Oban, Baynes is the first permanent manager to be based on Stewart Island since the national park opened in 2002.
Having taken a break over Christmas, she hasn’t been at her desk long and admits she’s still finding her feet.
But island life is not an unfamiliar concept for Baynes, who says her time in Tasmania she understands how conservation, tourism and primary industries all come into play in an island setting.
‘‘I’ve got a real thing for islands.’’
Baynes left Tasmania for New Zealand in 2007 for a gap year, but after several ski trips she fell in love with the Southern Alps.
She eventually settled in Wanaka while working as a wildlife ranger with the Queenstown Kiwi Birdlife Park.
Her career in conservation spans nine years, having also worked for Tasmania’s Department of Primary Industry, Parks, Water and Environment, the Australian Antarctic Division, and the DOC on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Baynes joined DOC in 2011, when she accepted a role managing biodiversity projects from the Hauraki office in Thames, Coromandel.
But spurred on by a desire to head south again, she applied for the Stewart Island position.
Baynes says she is excited about living and working on the island, which is ‘‘brimming with potential’’.
She’s fascinated not only be the island’s conservation value, but its historical significance, some of which is still undiscovered.
‘‘There are things on Stewart Island that aren’t found anywhere [else] in the world.’’
traded one
Away from work, she’s also looking forward to the chance to get out and have fun.
While Stewart Island is only quite small, recreation has a large profile and some great opportunities for activities like tramping, hunting and fishing, she says.
Baynes’ role will involve a lot of community engagement and she’s slowly meeting all the locals, who have given her a very warm welcome to the island.
The island community understands how unique the place is and that it needs to be well looked after, Baynes says.
‘‘For now I will be listening to the issues and opportunities on Rakiura and getting to know the island and her people,’’ Baynes said.
Baynes’ partner Kev Carter has joined her on the island to take up a contract role with DOC as part of the organisation’s work with the critically endangered dotterel.