Popular Ranger Farewells Reserve

Newcastle Herald

Saturday December 22, 2007

By JASON GORDON

HE has been as much a part of Blackbutt Reserve as the koalas and kangaroos, but park chief Paul Metcalfe is moving on.

The popular head ranger, who worked in the reserve as a teenaged volunteer 20 years ago, submitted a surprise resignation to Newcastle City Council on Thursday and will take up a senior manager's position at Dubbo's Western Plains Zoo.

Mr Metcalfe, who was busy yesterday entertaining international visitors from the cruise ship Mercury, will feed his much-loved animals for the last time tomorrow.

"I've worked here every weekend for the past 17 years but I might get the family together for a picnic in the reserve this weekend because we've actually never had the chance to do that," he said.

Mr Metcalfe will take up the position of life sciences manager at Dubbo, meaning he will be looking after the zoo's population of animals which includes giraffes, lions, cheetahs, rhinoceroses and tigers.

He will start on January 21.

© 2007 Newcastle Herald

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