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Steve's Safari Shuttle

Crikey! This has been a year the shuttle crew will remember forever.
We've had some of our crew pursue new careers within the Zoo and also Wildlife Warriors and we've got some new faces to take their place. The best part of being a member of the Shuttle crew is that we get to meet and greet people from every state over Australia and from all over the world.

We get to answer many questions asked by just about everyone and we get to do all the really cool things in the Zoo. We are the first people to meet and greet you on your way in and the last to see you leave. We get to drive around 70 acres of paradise on the Shuttle and talk about stacks of info on all aspects of the Zoo. After you've had a trip up to the beautiful wetlands then travel on to South East Asia where you will get to see our gorgeous girls Siam, Sabu and Bimbo and our magnificent tigers in the Tiger Temple. We then take you back to the entrance and help you with the morning Elephant feeding. The best part of being a member of the Shuttle crew is that so many people come up to you and say they have had the best day.

They can't believe how clean the Zoo is, how much fun the kids have had and how well looked after and well presented the animals are. So many people from all over the world constantly say to us that they have travelled to many countries and seen many zoo's but Australia Zoo has the friendliest staff and is by far the best. That makes us all really look forward to coming to work every day. We are looking forward to seeing you when you come to the best Zoo in the world and remember...

STEVE'S SAFARI SHUTTLE RULES!!!

John loves meeting people, but also has a soft spot for animals - including Cosmo the American Alligator

John

Supervisor

John has been nicknamed by workmates as ‘Label’ and referred to as the oldest employee at the Zoo. John attributes the “age shall not weary us” attitude to the stress free environment where the animals are lovingly cared for by their passionate keepers, the beautiful surroundings maintained by groundsmen, but, most importantly the opportunity of meeting and greeting so many wonderful visitors from not only Australia, but all corners of the globe. John has had various careers in Marketing and Corrections before becoming a member of the Customer Service team working on Steve’s Safari Shuttle. John gets to work with the greatest bunch of staff who all share the same passion for their jobs. One can’t help to refer to it as “paradise”. John’s hobbies include touch football, motorcycles and staying alive. A picture tells a thousand words, is John’s way of saying what his favourite animal is.

Grahame bides his time with Andi the koala until his relatives arrive...

Grahame

Steve's Safari Shuttle 2IC

Grahame started on Steve's Safari Shuttle in December 2004. Having travelled widely and utilising his PR experience, Grahame enjoys interacting with our overseas visitors and learning about their respective homelands. For relaxation, Grahame enjoys taking an early morning bicycle ride with his wife and friends, has an early morning swim, then tops it off with breakfast by the beach. Other interests include fishing and taking the dog for a walk along the beach. While the animal of his interest (the ones closely related to man) are yet to arrive, his favourite animals currently at the Zoo are the koalas.

Chris and I hanging about.

Chris

Crikey, have a look at this little beauty. This one's name is Chris and he belongs to Steve's Safari Shuttle enclosure. These humans are extremely difficult to catch as they move all around the Zoo meeting patrons from all over the world. We have had Chris since July 2005 and he just loves it here. I really enjoy letting Chris out in the morning and taking him to one of his favourite places in the Zoo. He just loves to be with Sabu, that really big Asian Elephant during the Elephant feeding. I love looking after the Shuttle crew as they save me heaps of energy when I have to travel around the Zoo. Shuttles Rule. (Written by Jenny the Burmese Python in the picture).

Stephen with one of our Blue-and-gold Macaws.

Stephen

Stephen has been in the business of entertaining for 20 years.

Before coming to the Zoo Stephen was the presenter and sheep shearer at a tourist homestead in NSW. There he treated domestic and overseas tourists to some good ol' fashioned Aussie hospitality with a farm show conducting demonstrations with sheep shearing, cattle, horses, kangaroos, emus, boomerang throwing, whip cracking, swinging the billy and making damper.

For many years also he owned and operated a recording studio where he was a producer/engineer as well as a session musician, and he prides himself on his versatility in all areas of performance.

He recently became a dad and reckons that his new boy is the best audience he's ever had! (Probably cause he isn't old enough to heckle yet)

In 2009 Stephen moved from Entertainment to Shuttles, to help entertain all the wonderful people aboard Steve's Safari Shuttle.

Jason with one of our gators

Jason

Starting at Australia Zoo in March 2007 Jason enjoys his time hosting and talking with guests on Steve's Safari Shuttle. Jason likes to keep fit and is very sports focused, playing soccer and taking his Siberian husky (Rimmer) for long runs. Jason is another staff member at the zoo that has a passion for our beautiful Big Cats.

John with Jenny the leucistic Burmese Python

John

John (JP) began working as a volunteer at the Zoo in October 2005; he then became a member of the Safari Shuttle crew in December 2005. John loves working on the Shuttle and really enjoys seeing the happy and positive reactions of families enjoying their day out. John has found the Shuttle crew to be a great group, and the fun and good humour they inject into the day makes working with them a pleasure. John's favourite animals are the tortoises, especially Harriet the 175 year old Giant Land Galapagos Tortoise, and says there is nothing better then seeing them respond to love and attention, and they really enjoy being given a good scratch. Outside of the Zoo John enjoys his large family and loves gardening, music and AFL football (not necessarily in that order).

Geoff is mad keen on wildlife - especially our awesome birds of prey like Amelio, the Wedge-tailed Eagle

Geoff

After 14 years of Sunshine Coast airport transfers and day tours with Sun Air Bus Service, Geoff joined Australia Zoo in 2006 on the Safari Shuttle, an attraction he’s visited many times as part of his work. Many visits were on day tours but plenty of others were as a host/guide for Tourism Queensland, Tourism Sunshine Coast and Wholesale Famils; bringing the Sunshine Coast to life and a Zoo experience a reality for hundreds of travel agents, writers and media from all around the world.

Geoff loves wildlife and the bush, so he has a great affinity with the Zoo. In 2002 Geoff was awarded for his services to the local tourism industry by the SKAL organisation. He hopes to put this past experience to use here at Australia Zoo. The cheetahs and birds of prey are his favourites – but crocs RULE!

Ross poses with one of our gorgeous Koalas

Ross

Ross’s interest and love of flora and fauna began on his family property in rural Queensland. Until recently Ross operated a bus and coach company transporting students to school and camps and conducting tours on the discovery coast, in and around the historic town of 1770. Ross loves to travel and experience different cultures, so combining working with amazing animals and assisting Zoo guests from all over the world, Ross reckons being part of a dedicated team at Australia Zoo is his perfect job!

Geoff helps out at the Elephant feed

Geoff

Geoff started at Australia Zoo in the warehouse in October 2006 and then joined the Safari Shuttle crew in November 2006 and he thoroughly enjoys interacting with the Zoo patrons and the other members of the Shuttle crew. Geoff is mad on sport (watching only) and his favourite animals at the Zoo are those beautiful Cheetahs.

Linda loves the Sunshine Coast lifestyle!

Linda

Linda started as a Customer Relations volunteer in July 2005 prior to joining the Shuttle Crew. She has always wanted to be a part of Australia Zoo from her first visit in 2004. She moved from Melbourne twelve years ago and loves the tropical lifestyle of the Sunshine Coast. Her favourite animals are the big cats and the gorgeous elephants. Her hobbies are salsa dancing, golf and movies.

Haydn with one of our beautiful asian elephants

Haydn

Haydn’s family moved to the Sunshine Coast from Sydney in March 2007 and after moving to Beerwah in September he started looking for work.  Australia Zoo had a position and Haydn was fortunate enough to be offered the job.  The Zoo is an awesome place to work.  Haydn loves all the animals, but his favourite are the Cheetahs, sleek, powerful and beautiful.  Remember this, “There is no job like an Australia Zoo job.”

The Departments

Initially a small family business, the expansion of Australia Zoo has seen the Irwin family employing hundreds of energetic people with a variety of skills.

With thousands of visitors from all over the world passing through the gates daily, all team members understand the importance of making a lasting impression to our patrons. A job at Australia Zoo is more than a vocation, it's a lifestyle - just ask any of our team members. Australia Zoo employees love animals and conservation, have an exceptional self-drive attitude towards work and of course, wear the world famous khaki uniforms with pride! You just have to walk around the Zoo to feel the electricity in the air. The atmosphere creates an exciting experience for all visitors and a dream workplace environment for all employees.