Senior Ranger Dean Lonza out at Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve, E of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Staff profile time again! Dean Lonza was born in Morrabbin in Melbourne, Victoria and has worked for NT Parks and Wildlife for the past 11 years. He is currently the Senior Park Ranger at Fogg Dam, located approximately 70 km east of Darwin along the Arnhem Highway. He has also worked in Watarrka National Park in Central Australia and at Bullita in the vast Judbarra / Gregory National Park - therefore having an unusual career that has spanned the NT from the deserts to the sea. One of his more amusing experiences was coming across some campers who were illegally camping at Watarrka National Park. The location was clearly marked with the standard no camping pictogram sign (as included). The campers were in their swags and when questioned they replied that, yes, they had seen the sign and to comply they had decided not to put their tent up! Needless to say, it had Dean rather stumped! Dean’s best day was getting through his first day as a Ranger – always a nervous time, but rewarding as well. We could not narrow Dean down to one single favourite location in the Northern Territory so here are a few of his favourite places: Kathleen Springs in Watarrka NP (where Dean worked extensively on weed control) and the back canyon country of Watarrak, the Drovers Rest area, Wickham Jump Up views and Broadarrow Track areas of Gregory National Park and finally, the Caste Billabong, Twin Sisters Billabong and Fogg Dam (especially the sunsets) in the wetlands Parks along Arnhem Highway. His favourite place outside of the NT? That would be Oigles – a surfing break near Port Fairy in Victoria (Dean was/is a keen surfer!). He also loves the south western coastline of Victoria including the iconic Great Ocean Road.
Senior Ranger Dean Lonza out at Fogg Dam Conservation Reserve, E of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
Staff profile time again! Dean Lonza was born in Morrabbin in Melbourne, Victoria and has worked for NT Parks and Wildlife for the past 11 years. He is currently the Senior Park Ranger at Fogg Dam, located approximately 70 km east of Darwin along the Arnhem Highway. He has also worked in Watarrka National Park in Central Australia and at Bullita in the vast Judbarra / Gregory National Park - therefore having an unusual career that has spanned the NT from the deserts to the sea. One of his more amusing experiences was coming across some campers who were illegally camping at Watarrka National Park. The location was clearly marked with the standard no camping pictogram sign (as included). The campers were in their swags and when questioned they replied that, yes, they had seen the sign and to comply they had decided not to put their tent up! Needless to say, it had Dean rather stumped! Dean’s best day was getting through his first day as a Ranger – always a nervous time, but rewarding as well. We could not narrow Dean down to one single favourite location in the Northern Territory so here are a few of his favourite places: Kathleen Springs in Watarrka NP (where Dean worked extensively on weed control) and the back canyon country of Watarrak, the Drovers Rest area, Wickham Jump Up views and Broadarrow Track areas of Gregory National Park and finally, the Caste Billabong, Twin Sisters Billabong and Fogg Dam (especially the sunsets) in the wetlands Parks along Arnhem Highway. His favourite place outside of the NT? That would be Oigles – a surfing break near Port Fairy in Victoria (Dean was/is a keen surfer!). He also loves the south western coastline of Victoria including the iconic Great Ocean Road.