MY earliest memory of  an encounter with a reptile was when i was 5 years old playing in a sandpit at pre-school where I found a bluetongue lizard hiding in the pit. I remember picking it up only to have a teacher scream "SNAKE" knocking it out of my hands and dragging me into the classroom.

A few years went by and we vistied my grandfather on his rural property west of Mudgee, where on my many explorations i would find interesting insects and reptiles. My Grandfather would sit us down and tell us interesting facts on the critters we caught, showing us his books and his own laboratry with his own microscopes. He also showed us his preseved specimens of various things. He would encourage us to explore and learn more about the things we would find, more importantly he taught me to respect living creatures. This lead to many more visits and various critters making the treck back home in my bags only after I promised to return them on our next visit.

Luckily enough over the last 30 odd years I have been able to handle and keep numerous critters. I have been employed thru the UWS as a Herpetological Technichian, been involved in many different aspects of field work and completed TAFE courses in Animal Handling and Herpetological Techniques. I have also done 12 years of reptile and amphibian care and rehabilitation including venomous handling courses.