Poet and nature lover Robert Raftery is the 300th landowner to sign up to Logan City Council’s Land for Wildlife program.
His 6.5-hectare property at Greenbank includes a number of wildlife sanctuaries, each named after his grandchildren, which attract an array of animals and birds.
Land for Wildlife, which has been operating in the City of Logan since 1998, helps preserve native animals and plants and improves wildlife habitats through the restoration of native vegetation and the management of weeds.
Mr Raftery, a semi-retired businessman and father of four, says his poetry is often inspired by the wildlife that thrives on his property.
He talks regularly to his ‘special’ visitors which include peregrines, whip birds, willy wagtails and a range of reptiles.
Known as ‘Australia’s Picture Writer’, Mr Raftery has written tributes to Australian Olympians including We’re Goin’ for Gold, Catherine the Great and Dawnie as well as poems about rugby union, rugby league, golf and topical humour.
He has even written a poem about the Land for Wildlife program entitled For Wildlife, A Sign of the Times, inspired by the diamond-shaped sign participants are encouraged to display on their gates and fences.
Mr Raftery, who has lived in Logan for 11 years, said he signed up to Land for Wildlife because he “liked the idea”.
“I wanted to experience the majesty of wildlife,” he said.
“There are too many species disappearing and we need to work together to turn this around.”
Logan City Council was among the first South-East Queensland councils to embrace Land for Wildlife when the program was launched 21 years ago.
Nine of the 18 properties that joined in the first year are still registered in the program.
The 300-plus properties now registered with Land for Wildlife represent more than 6.5 per cent of the city’s area.
The free program has a strong educational focus and is ideal for landowners who want to attract more wildlife to their properties.
Council assists registered members to take steps to reduce erosion, connect bushland corridors and improve soil health and the quality of waterways.
