Long serving Yuraygir National Park campground manager, Ashley Brunner, is retiring from his role of delivering visitor services for the past 13 years. National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) area manager Andrew Lugg said that Mr Brunner had become an invaluable part of the experience of many thousands of visitors during his years servicing and managing the campgrounds. Mr Brunner, a contractor to NPWS, collected camping fees, provided information to visitors about park values and advice on activities and local experiences, supported NPWS rangers with enforcement, maintained the park’s barbecues and amenities and managed rubbish and mowing. “Mr Brunner has also provided some unusual assistance in the campground, as a part of his work including removing carpet snakes from tents, helping search for lost visitors, evacuating visitors during bush fires and he has even provided river crossing services at Sandon River for walkers doing the Yuraygir Coastal Walk,” Mr Lugg said. Mr Brunner said that he had greatly enjoyed the idyllic national park setting and working with the mostly good people who visit the campground, some who return to the park’s campgrounds every year. “This job has been very rewarding; and there is truly no better office in the world,” Mr Brunner said. “It has been a wonderful privilege to watch children grow into parents that continue visiting and eagerly pass on their passion and experiences to their offspring. “It has been fantastic to observe first-hand … the growing respect for nature amongst national park visitors. I’ve also observed some really unique wildlife that includes stranded whales, a kangaroo with a missing arm and watching a dingo hunt down a wallaby on the beach. “Whoever takes on this role next can expect a true lifestyle job. They should expect long hours over holiday periods, unusual requests from visitors and a chance to meet a wide variety of people from all over the world. “This has been a great experience, well worth the effort required and I wouldn’t change a thing.” An open tender process to find Mr Brunner’s replacement contract campground manager is currently listed on the NSW Government’s eTender site. Applications close on October 2, 2015. Interested parties can contact Mr Lugg on 02 6641 1527.