ZOO CREW

Becky Jo with Rain, one of her favourite tasmanian devils

Becky-Jo

Head of Department

As a Rover, Becky-Jo is a valuable member of the team. She is a contributor to all aspects of the department and her enthusiasm, hard work and willingness to learn is appreciated.

Becky-Jo began at Australia Zoo in June 2003 as a volunteer whilst still attending high school. After a brief period of volunteering, she was employed as a Crocoseum host and quickly progressed to keeping. Becky-Jo has worked in nearly every keeping department in the zoo, from Kids Zoo to Birds, Mammals to Elephants and worked tirelessly in the Koala department.  Since joining the Roving Entertainment department she has worked her way up to one of our senior handlers/trainers and loves our adorable roving animals.

Becky-Jo has also recently started co-hosting the Wildlife Warriors Show in the Crocoseum.  It wasn't something she planned on doing when she started at the zoo, but it has been an amazing and challenging experience for her.

Vanessa with one of our gorgeous macaws

Vanessa

Department 2IC

Vanessa zoo career began when she volunteered at Australia Zoo whilst completing her zoology course at university.  Not long after finalising her studies, Vanessa began working as a casual zoo keeper in our birds department in October 2009.  Just a few short months later her passion for our native mammals was spotted and she began working closely with our Tasmanian Devils and Wombats.

Vanessa began a full time employee in January 2010 and had been dividing her time between Native Mammals and then our newest exihibit, Africa when it opened in September 2011.

Vanessa can now be found in our stellar Roving Entertainment crew and is having a blast.  When not a work, Vanessa is busy planning her wedding scheduled for November this year as well as shopping, going to the beach and just hanging out with her friends.

Jeremy kidding around with one of our gorgeous gators

Jeremy

Roving Entertainer

Jeremy is an Australia Zoo Entertainment veteran; joining the ranks way back in October 2004. Jeremy is currently the co-host of our Wildlife Warriors live entertainment show in honour of Steve Irwin in the world famous Crocoseum. He performs in front of an audience of up to 5,000 spectators daily.

Jeremy has witnessed many moments in the Crocoseum and has seen many smiling faces from all corners of the earth join as one to celebrate what is most important- Life.

When he is not on stage in the Crocoseum, Jeremy can be found hosting animal presentations for the Koalas and Aldabran Tortoises. You may also recognise Jeremy from Australia Zoo's Animal Diaries!

Sandi with some school girls and Burrow the Common Wombat

Sandi

Roving Entertainer

Sandi started at Australia Zoo as a volunteer in December 2002 and began working with the Rovers in March 2003. Previously a high school teacher, she loves teaching and is now honoured to be able to educate people about the animals she loves so much. Sandi is always smiling and likes to make sure everyone gets a pat and a photo. Her aim is to give people knowledge of, and a personal experience with, the animals. Sandi believes if you can educate people 'about' animals, it goes a long way towards them learning to 'love' animals. Sandi is currently training with some of our beautiful birds and koalas at koala photos.

Megan loves greeting our guests as they arrive at our admissions area

Megan

Roving Entertainer

Megan loves to travel and following many years abroad in Europe, Africa & South America, Megan came back to Australia and joined our zoo crew in October 2003.  Megan now meets travellers from all over Australia and the world everyday.

Megan doesn't like to play favourites with our many animals here at the zoo, but she enjoys working with our cheeky wombats.

When not hard at work caring for our gorgeous animals, Megan can be found spending time with her family and she also enjoys camping.

Lauren with one of our beautiful Dingos

Lauren

Roving Entertainer

Lauren joined the zoo crew in 2010 as an entertainer. Fresh out of uni, graduating with a Bachelor of Theatre Arts Acting major, she was auditioning for work left right and centre, not ever thinking her co-stars would end up being that of the animal kind, and now she wouldn't have it any other way.

Lauren lets her creativity run wild everyday writing scripts, directing shows, filming, and performing amongst some of the most incredible animals in the world. Keep an eye out for her and her team around the zoo, they're always out and about sharing their animals with the public or putting on a show in our mind-blowing 5000 seat Crocoseum!

Jackie gets up close with one of our sweetheart possums

Jackie

Roving Entertainer

Jackie is long standing member of the zoo crew joining our ranks in September 2002.  Jackie loves our cheeky and incredibly smart wombats and enjoys roving these guys around the zoo and sharing their individual personalities with our guests.

One animal experience that has stuck with Jackie is meeting our leaping lemurs for the first time and having them jump all over her.

When Jackie is not hard a work here at the zoo she is spending time with her two gorgeous daughters.

Rob roving with a cuddly koala

Robyn

Roving Entertainer

After 18 years in the hospitality industry as a Chef, Robyn moved to QLD and began volunteering at Australia Zoo.  Rob was offered a position with our keeping crew in May 2007 and hasn't looked back working in such department as koalas, birds and finally our Roving Entertainers since March 2011.

Robyn thinks that being a Roving Entertainer is a dream job as she gets to work with a variety of animals, all with their own individual personalites and she loves them all!!!

When not roving around the zoo Robyn is at home (all 12 acres of it) with her husband, beautiful son and her menagerie of pets including a pig she named Polly.

Nina checks out the Australian Wildlife Hospital

Nina

Roving Entertainer

Nina's past is somewhat varied and has included working with 16th century galleons, baked beans, dolphins, whales, seals, the Aquaduck, helicopters, Sofala gold ice cream, singing/songwriting and other adventures.

Her loves include animals, music, travel, sport, people, Australia, challenges, Africa, living for the now, adventure and learning/evolving throughout life. "I have an aching concern over the disrespect a large proportion of our population show toward the environment and animals...the voiceless and defenceless".

Nina's ethos is "Treat others the way you like to be treated, live for your Dream, look after the less fortunate and have a ball!"

Erin gets to know our beaut Dingoes

Erin

Roving Entertainer

Erin volunteered for 6 months at Australia Zoo before joining our Roving Entertainment team in September 2011.  Erin has already learned heaps about the care of captive animals and made the decision to further her studies with a zooloogy course at university beginning in February 2012.

Dingoes are Erin's favourite animal here at the zoo as they are intelligent but challenging to work with.  Erin believes that being a Roving Entertainer is the best job in the world because she can share her passion for animals and thier conservation with people visiting from all over the world.

Scott and Terri with Rosie the Boa Constrictor

Scott

Roving Entertainer

Scott is an inspiration to all at Australia Zoo. He has a special role, being BW Croc's best friend and all day assistant. Scott always makes sure that BW Croc is looking her best, her teeth white and he joins her for ice cream Sundaes in the food court.

Best of all, once a month, Scott and BW travel to Brisbane's Royal Children's Hospital to put a big smile on the faces of all the children there. Scott knows how important that is because he spent a lot of time in the same hospital when he was a child. Australia Zoo and BW would be lost without him. Another interesting fact about Scott is that he's also a qualified Swim instructor!

Alana with one of our gorgeous koalas

Alana

Roving Entertainer

Alana has been an employee at Australia Zoo since August 2007. She loves working at the zoo because of all the wonderful friends she has made.

When Alana is not carving up the dance floor with her mates in Brissy she is busy crossing off her list of 'things to do before turning 30'. Alana enjoys travelling and trying the cuisines the world has to offer. So far she has explored Europe, New Zealand and the UK.

If there's one thing Alana is good at, it is having a good old chin wag, so be sure to come in and have a chat, no doubt you'll find her in the Croca busting a move with Bindi and the Jungle Girls ("swing our wings, stomp our feet") or out and about taking guests on tour. Alana is looking forward to the arrival of the Orangutans as they are her favorite animal.