“Ghost Hunter”

Note

When I wrote the first lines of this poem some three years ago the number of Ghost Bats around Mt Etna in Central Queensland - the southernmost colony in the State - was around 40. Recently I heard from Ghost Bat educator and advocate, Jeff Simmons, that the latest count was only 18. He asked me to write to the powers that be including the Australian Environment Minister to highlight the imminent extirpation of this local population, which I did. I have not heard back from any level of government of the Environment Department. It also spurred me on to finishing the poem. I had been waiting to go out 'Ghost Hunting' to inform the poem with personal experience. Unfortunately, we've run out of time. Sadly, losing a local population will add to the domino effect of losing the remaining populations.

By the way - there are Ogres in that area too and there will be a more light-hearted poem about their historical and important activities.

Image by Duncan Mackenzie (Sydney Morning Herald).