Please read through these questions before contacting Stop the Toad’s
Campaign Manager, Kim Hands on kim@stopthetoad.org.au or 0400 130
397.
Registration
What kind of experience do I need to be a volunteer?
You need to be relatively fit, enjoy camping and have a love for
the natural environment. An ability to work with others and take
initiative when required is also important. The conditions are
fairly challenging as the location is remote and the temperature
will be hot; about 40 to 45 degrees Celsius during the day and
20 to 25 overnight.
Is there an age limit?
No, but children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an
adult.
Do I need to go through an approval process prior to
participating?
There is no formal application process, although you may be asked
a few straightforward questions about your health and experience
to see if this is an activity you are likely to contribute to
and enjoy.
Can I recruit others to participate?
You can invite others to attend an information evening or ask
Kim directly about recruiting someone if you know they are interested.
They may benefit from reading these notes too before making up
their mind that this is something they’d like to do.
Do I have to stay for the whole time?
No, you can stay for as long as you like. It generally takes about
2 days to settle into base camp life and the northern climate,
so a minimum of 4 days is recommended.
Can I stay longer/shorter than planned?
Yes, please discuss this with Kim when you know you want to change
your plans. It will depend on when you can get to town.
Getting there
Where will the Muster occur?
The Muster will occur on the eastern side of the WA-NT border.
The closest town is Kununurra, W.A.
How do I get there?
You will need to fly/drive/bus it to Kununurra at your own expense.
Airlines that fly to Kununurra include Qantas, Virgin Blue, Skywest
and Airnorth.
Greyhound Buses travels all over Australia to Kununurra.
When should I arrive?
Pick up days from Kununurra back to basecamp
will be Monday, Wednesday and Friday, so please try and arrange
to arrive one of these days.
Pick up will be around lunch time. Please
try to book a flight that arrives mid-morning to lunch time
as we will need to get back to base camp in the afternoon.
Drop off will be scheduled to coincide with
flight times and will usually be in the morning.
The first pick up will be Friday September
10th.
How do I get between the airport and the site, and
of course back again?
As your arrival will have been scheduled with Kim, transportation
from the airport (and return) will have been arranged unless you
have advised otherwise. If you arrive unexpectedly or earlier
than scheduled you will need to arrange accommodation in Kununurra
at your own expense until transport can be arranged.
Can I just rock up anytime or do I need to schedule
a special time to go?
It is not helpful to the running of the camp to turn up unannounced.
Tents, equipment and working schedules are allocated to volunteers
at the camp and unexpected arrivals will frustrate the efforts
to make sure everyone is adequately catered for. Please schedule
your arrival time in conjunction with Kim.
Are any of the costs incurred by me, tax deductible?
No.
Am I insured as a volunteer while there?
Yes. You will be asked to complete some forms for the Department
of Conservation and Environment which provides insurance for STTF
volunteers.
What to bring
What will I need to bring?
All the material required for the toad bust will be provided,
although of course you can bring your own if you wish. This includes
a tent, swag, gardening gloves, food, first aid supplies, a head
torch for night work, a hat, insect repellent and so on. You will
need to bring sturdy shoes or boots, your own washing/hair care
items and other personal effects. You may wish to bring a sleeping
sheet and or pillow case.
Can I bring alcohol with me?
There is a strong preference to keep the venture as a ‘dry
camp’. However, some people find it refreshing to share
a drink at the end of the day (usually late at night) which has
been acceptable. Drunkenness, loud, unruly behaviour is completely
unacceptable.
Base-camp
What’s base camp like?
The camp is set up under large tarpaulins and consists of an eating/relaxing
area, a kitchen area with fridges and freezers, a battery re-charging
area and Kim’s office area.
Are there showers and toilets?
There are showers and portable toilets. The showers use water
pumped out of nearby water source, while not heated the water,
is quite warm.
Approximately how many volunteers will be at Base Camp
at any one time?
The number of volunteers at the camp change on an almost daily
basis varying from half a dozen to 35.
Is there a phone at camp that I can use? How can people
contact me at camp?
There is a satellite phone available for emergencies but the camp
is not within normal mobile phone range and there is no access
to the internet. Your friends and family can contact you on the
Sat phone in emergencies (the number will be given out closer
to muster time).
Who sets up camp?
A team of volunteers go to the area the week before the muster
to set up the camp. This team and other willing volunteers then
dismantle the camp at the end of the muster.
Will we have any contact with the cattle station staff?
People from the cattle station occasionally call in when passing.
Daily activities
What is the best way for me to contribute?
The daily tasks needed to keep the muster going are varied and
include the toad catching, counting and burial as well as a full
range of domestic duties such as cooking, cleaning, and so on.
The most useful contribution is to volunteer for those tasks that
suit you best. Everyone has a role to play.
What will I be expected to do?
The campsite needs all the jobs done that you would find in an
ordinary house like cleaning, washing up, food preparation, sweeping
and so on. During the day, equipment is prepared, the smaller
bags are washed to be re-used, the lamp batteries are re-charged
and fences put up around water holes and if possible some catching
up on lost sleep as the working days are long (typically 7am -
11pm or later). Toad busting activities occur in evening.
Is there much free time and what kind of activities
are available?
There is always something to be done, but some free time usually
becomes available in the mid afternoon when it is a quiet period,
between meals and it’s too hot to work.
Can I go to town for a day if I’m there for a
long period?
The Foundation is planning to have some accommodation in Kununurra
for volunteers on their way to camp. It may be possible for volunteers
to have a day off there when the vehicle goes to town to pick
up provisions or other volunteers.
Toad busting
What is the general toad busting procedure?
The toad busting procedures are many and varied but include driving
to a water hole in the evening, walking around it several times
and placing toads into a plastic bag. When the bag is full it
is tied off and another is filled. When it is felt all the toads
have been found in that area the bags are collected and placed
in the vehicle. The team may then go to another water hole or
return to camp depending on the time. Back at camp the bags of
toads are emptied into larger bags which are filled with Carbon
Dioxide. In the mornings the toads are emptied out of these larger
bags and counted before being buried nearby.
Will I need to wear long sleeves and long pants to
protect myself?
These are not needed while within the camp but are advisable when
catching toads as there are many insects and thorny plants. If
in the sun during the day long sleeves are essential.
Will the difference between a cane toad and an ordinary
toad be obvious? What if I collect the wrong one?
On-site training will be given to help you distinguish between
the two, which becomes very easy after a short while.
Do we wear gloves when picking up toads?
Some people wear gardening-style or rubber gloves to protect their
hands from sticks and thorns etc but after awhile you will probably
find it easier not to use gloves.
What if I realise when I get there that I'm squeamish
and can't handle things, are there other ways I can contribute
without handling the toads?
Yes, everyone has a role to play and there are many essential
jobs needing done around the camp that do not involve toads at
all. The daily tasks needed to keep the muster going are varied
and include the toad catching, counting and burial as well as
a full range of domestic duties such as cooking, cleaning, washing
up dishes, putting these away, sweeping out the tent and living
areas, refilling the water containers, stocking up smaller water
bottles for the freezer, setting up the equipment bags needed
for catching toads, keeping some order in the kitchen/pantry/fridge
etc, cooking meals, filling the generator with fuel, checking
the shower water tank and many others. The most useful contribution
is to volunteer for those tasks that suit you best.
How do you kill the toads?
They are killed humanely with Carbon Dioxide. They are then buried.
Health and Safety
Is there medical attention available if I get sick
or injured?
Most of the work is done in very remote areas of the north of
Western Australia and the Northern territory, well out of normal
communication reception, although Kununurra hospital is only a
couple of hours drive away.
Base-camp has an extensive supply of first aid equipment but if
you need regular medication you must bring adequate supplies of
it as there is no guarantee of being able to re-stock at Timber
Creek or Kununurra.
STTF staff and some volunteers are trained in remote first aid
but if there is a serious medical emergency, the Royal Flying
Doctor Service will be contacted.
Is everyone accounted for each night?
Team leaders will be assigned to account for their team members
each night. We also adhere to the common-sense rule of not venturing
away from the camp unless with at least one other person, and
preferably always with a two-way radio.
How do we protect ourselves against the local wildlife?
Reasonable precautions are adequate against most local wildlife
i.e. using insect repellent, long sleeved shirts and long pants
when outside the camp and watching where you step. We do not go
close to waters’ edge where crocodiles are present. An induction
will cover what wildlife to look out for and what to do in the
case of an emergency.
Food
Do I need to bring my own food?
No, all meals will be provided. Fresh fruit and vegetables are
bought regularly from Kununurra. If you have special eating requirements
(other than a vegetarian preference which is catered for) you
will need to bring your food.
How are special dietary requirements dealt with?
All meals have a vegetarian component and quite a few are straight
forward vegetarian meals. Other than that no allowances can be
made for special meals or allergic reactions to, for example,
dairy products, nuts, shellfish etc as all meals are prepared
in a camp kitchen using a limited number of cooking utensils,
storage space, eskies etc. If you have a particular choice of
food e.g. gluten free bread, you are welcome to bring it along
but please bear in mind cold-storage space is at a premium and
cannot be guaranteed to be available.
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