As Parks Victoria’s area chief ranger for the Shipwreck Coast and hinterland, his patch includes one of the worlds most iconic natural features, the Twelve Apostles. 

“I feel extremely lucky,” he said.

“Just to be able to have a caretaker role and to be able to be part of sharing this area with so many people.” 

Mr Smith has been based in Parks Victoria’s Port Campbell office for the past 12 months after spending time in Geelong and Lorne. 

In the past year the patch has expanded to cover most of the western coast, from Moonlight Head through to Deen Maar and inland to Mortlake and the Corangamite lakes area. 

“I’ve always loved the the western coast – it has some really interesting natural features and amazing landscapes married with, particularly at The Twelve Apostles, some really intense visitation – so there is a lot going on,” he said. 

“I’m lucky.

“I was happy to come and look after this section (Port Campbell), but to have the likes of Tower Hill, Yambuk and Deen Maar added onto the patch is quite mind blowing – it’s magnificent,” Mr Smith said. 

The patch includes 86 reserves and Mr Smith said a ranger’s daily tasks were varied. Mr Smith said the tasks could include checking coastal assets after wild seas, cleaning up rubbish, looking after navigational aids in the Port of Port Campbell, compliance issues and fire management during summer months. 

Friday was World Ranger Day and Mr Smith said he was driven to a role with Parks Victoria after working as a native animal keeper at Melbourne Zoo. 

“I really enjoyed that, it was a really special job,” he said. 

“I worked on species recovery programs, but felt I could do more out in the environment the animals were living in.”

He said he was still discovering the “hidden gems” in his patch.

“There are so many secretive nooks and crannies along this coast, people go to the main places but there are so many more that are worth a look.”