Community education seminars and talks were given at several locations in 2005, from Brisbane to Melbourne and Mildura to Morwell. Interviews were given to ABC country radio and several newspaper articles were also written on the work of the VPP and volunteers. The VPP receives an increasing number of requests from students and others seeking to either gain field research experience or just assist as a volunteer. Two international students one from Canada and a student from France also came out this year.
In 2005 the VPP supervised a new international student, Claire Obellianne a second year Agricultural Engineering student from France. Claire has a particular interest in the environment and may change her course of studies to pursue this field. Like many students in France, Claire was obliged to spend six months in an English speaking country in order to immerse herself in the language and culture. So we at the VPP did our very best to teach Claire Australian instead of English! Claire has been one of the very few volunteers with the VPP who came with a high level of climbing experience. Claire learnt the technical aspects of handling, measuring and banding Peregrines very quickly. Claire wants to go on with banding and is seeking projects in Germany and Spain for 2006 when she also intends to improve her German and Spanish. Claire has indicated that she may also return for the 2006 VPP season we all hope she does.
Each year new sites are discovered and often these are in industrial or urban locations. All new sites require explaining the nesting requirements of Peregrines to the land/site manager and staff. Universally there has been a positive attitude with everybody wanting to learn more and do all that is necessary to allow the Peregrines to remain on the site. The web site and word-of-mouth between companies has enhanced the community education program. This component of the VPP continues to been vital to its ongoing success.