Ranger - Ecologist
Ms Webster, 29, works as the ranger-ecologist at Banrock Station, Kingston-on-Murray, in the Riverland.
Her enthusiasm for her job is infectious. "I love what I do and I never really switch off from the job," she says. "I have met heaps of great people through this job and there are lots of benefits.
"You just find that everyone is in this field because they are passionate about what they do."
For Ms Webster, the passion began when she was a schoolgirl growing up in Yass, New South Wales. "Ever since I could remember, I was interested in the environment," she says. "I'm not sure where it came from, my parents aren't greenies from way back. It was just something I became interested in."
This interest led to Ms Webster studying for a bachelor of applied science in environmental studies with honours at James Cook University, Queensland. After that, she completed a graduate certificate in irrigated agriculture at Charles Sturt University, New South Wales.
After working for two-and-a-half years on policy work in Canberra, Ms Webster decided she needed something more hands-on.
"I ended up realising that you need to have on-ground experience if you're going to be writing policy," she says. "So then I took the job as action planning officer with the Riverland West Local Action Planning Association in Waikerie, never having been there before. But I'm really glad I made the move." She worked there for a couple of years before moving to Banrock in June, 2004. Ms Webster's job is varied and challenging.
Day-to-day work can include things such as revegetation to building a feral animal-proof fence.
"My work really depends on what's going on at the time," Ms Webster says. "I oversee volunteers that come to help out and work with them. "I'm working to implement the Ramsar plan, which is a convention that recognises wetlands of international importance.
"It really is lots of different stuff." Revegetation is a major component of the job and Ms Webster recently had some help from some eager international volunteers. Ms Webster was in charge of the group of students from U.S. universities who were part of the International Student Volunteers Organisation Scheme. The students had hands-on experience which was designed to complement their studies.
"We did lots of revegetation," Ms Webster laughs. "They also did some fence building and some animal marking, looking out for foxes and rabbits.
"It was great fun having the students here." Ms Webster is the first full-time ranger-ecologist to work with Banrock Station but says she enjoys the responsibility.
"I have got a manager, Tony Sharley, who has been here about six years and I have definitely got the support there," she says.
"But it's a big property and there's always something different going on.
"It's a big responsibility but it's nice to be able to work on one property." It's clear Ms Webster enjoys her work. When asked if there are any downsides, she could only list the cold mornings and working long hours.
"There really aren't that many downsides," she says.
"I meet a whole heap of different people. I get calls on a regular basis from people wanting to do volunteer work. I definitely want to stay. I love this job."
