By ALENA HIGGINS
IT’S quite possible that Gil Perrett knows every inch of the state’s 555 kilometre-long rabbit proof fence by heart having spent more than 18 years making sure it was in good working order.
The unassuming leading hand started out as a trapper in 1987 before being promoted to leading hand of the Darling Downs division, where he was tasked with maintaining and reconstructing sections of the fence.
But after many years roaming its perimeter and protecting farmers’ livelihoods from the incursion of the destructive pests, the Chinchilla local called it a day last week much to the sadness of his colleagues.
CEO of the Darling Downs Moreton Rabbit Board Renee Mackenzie was among a dozen or so members to bid Mr Perrett farewell with a morning tea at Rabbit Board headquarters in Warwick last Thursday.
“You can’t buy experience,” she said of Mr Perrett’s retirement.
“Gil had an association with us for nearly 30 years so losing that knowledge and work ethic is tough.”
Chair of the Rabbit Board Ross Bartley thanked Mr Perrett for his loyalty and commitment.
“We appreciate Gil’s dedication to the job, which he was renowned for and that is why he was a leading hand,” he said.
“It is a difficult job to be out on your own fixing fences in hot, dry condition and in cold, miserable conditions during winter without anyone keeping you company.
“It takes a certain type of person and Gil was one of those unique people.”
The rabbit barrier fence has played a crucial role since it was first erected in 1893 in an attempt to keep the first rabbits to reach Queensland out, Ms Mackenzie said.
The fence now stretches 555 kilometres from Mt Gipps in Lamington National Park in the east, to Goombi in the south-west where it connects to the Wild Dog Barrier Fence.
It protects about 28,000 square kilometres within southern Queensland.
The board currently employs 17 staff and maintains eight houses along the fence for the patrolmen and their families.
Although most of the patrols are now done by motor vehicle or all terrain vehicles, some patrols must still be done on foot, due to the rugged nature of the terrain.
