Wilsons Promontory National Park has been a cherished sanctuary for Kelsey Fraser ever since she was little, igniting a passion that led her to dedicate her time to its care as a volunteer with the local Friends group. This commitment helped nurture her connection to the park and gave her the experience needed to secure a career with Parks Victoria.
Kelsey Fraser is now a Customer Service Officer for Parks Victoria, where she spends her time helping others experience two of the Prom's most iconic locations, Tidal River and the Wilsons Promontory Lightstation.
"I love sharing my passion for the Prom with visitors. It gives me the same sense of joy I had as a kid playing and discovering everything in the bush," Kelsey said.
"When I'm rostered at the Tidal River Visitor Centre, my role includes assisting campers with their bookings, administration tasks and answering visitor questions about our hiking trails and the flora and fauna within the park," Kelsey said.
"When I'm stationed at the Lighthouse, my role is a lot more hands on. We can be stationed there between 3 to 5 days, hiking in, living on-site, and then hiking out again. My day-to-day tasks include assisting guests who have made the 20km hike in, conducting lighthouse tours and providing basic maintenance and up-keep of the heritage-listed cottages and gardens. Guests hiking to the accommodation have such a unique and wild experience - it's something every adventurer should try at least once."
"It's incredibly remote and the weather changes on a dime, so every day is different. Sometimes the wind is howling at 90km/hr and it feels like the ocean is going to swallow the place up. It really is something else," she said.
