wild lives: people passionate about nature in singapore

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wild people: Edie

This is Edie's photo on his volunteer pass. He's a lot friendlier (and naughtier) than this photo suggests. Here's what he looks like in Real Life.	Edie exemplifies the volunteer nature guides at Sungei Buloh. A warm person with a wry sense of humour, he brings a joyous new understanding of nature on every trip he guides.
	It was thus no surprise that one of his trips resulted in a bouquet in the press! .

This effort by a visitor to express appreciation was also a great morale booster to all the guides at Buloh.

Here is more about Edie in his own words ...

How did you first get involved in working for nature in Singapore?
It was in 1999 when I was minding my own business and surfing the net. I came across the Sungei Buloh Nature Park website and thought of just emailing them for such a wonderful site. It's a long story, but I ended up sending in the Volunteers' form too.

What do you get out of working for nature?
I don't work for nature. I enjoy nature. So whatever work I do which is related to nature, I am actually relaxing and destressing.

What is your approach/personal motto in your work?
Generally, when I put myself to a task, I will make sure that the task is completed competently. So you can expect that whenever I volunteer for nature, Mother Nature always smiles. If I make a promise, I ensure that it is carried out. It does not matter if the promise benefits some-one else.

What are some of your current projects?
I am still a Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve volunteer and I now train their new volunteers as well. I am also a Co-opted Committee member of the Nature Society (Singapore) and also in their Conservation Committee.

Edie is "less than half a century" as he puts it and is currently self employed. He volunteers as a nature guide at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

Posted by greenEd Posted on 15/08/04 17:27 Edie has such a good laugh & it comes from that wry humour of his. Alway so much to learn from him - at times the quiet, strong & reassuring presence.

Posted by Ria Posted on 15/08/04 17:36 Thanks greenEd, I forgot to mention Edie's wonderful laugh. Although when he laughs I get a bit worried for myself as he is always up to something :-)

Posted by hoppiesg Posted on 16/08/04 19:30
good to have volunteers serving with passion

Posted by otterman Posted on 18/08/04 11:14
I had seen Eddie around Sungei Buloh and was struck by his calm but knowledgeable manner, a boon to visitors. And he wasn't afraid to ask questions. I first worked him when he signed up as a guide for a special mangrove guiding session for participants of the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore. We wanted them to learn about the ecosystem they were helping to clear! But the team of guides only got a short briefing on the morning of 7 Sep 2001. I was relying on their experience to coordinate well because there were loads of students - we had to prevent bottlenecks on the boardwalks and visitor centre. Each guide also had to sow a series of stories which would form the basis of a lightnning quiz later! It would only be fair if all groups had covered the basics and it was was up to the guides to figure out a sequence for their group and see the organisms we were going to feature later! Each guide ended up improvising as they went along to make the plan work and later we laughed as we recounted the things we did to make it work! Eddie worked very well with the other experienced guides from the Habitat Group although it was the first time they were all working together. He was already an old hand at this. Years later when I saw that letter to the forum page, I nodded sagely. Eddie, you had that coming, you're an excellent guide!

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