Page 85 - Port Douglas Magazine 31

MEET A LOCAL

BRYDI E MAR O

PORT DOUGLAS’S MRS DOOLITTLE...
OR RATHER DOO A LOT!

A
WORDS by Rosie Wang
It’s hard to know where to start on an article BRYDIE THE SNAKE
about Brydie Maro. Certainly, Leonardo Da WRANGLER Q &
Vinci and the Renaissance would have
From a young age Brydie wanted a pet snake.
embraced her ‘as one of their own’. A multi-
Finally, after continually nagging her parent’s
talented, ground-breaking inspiration of a
“no’s” turned to a resigned “ok”. After being
woman, whose accomplishments are many
approved for a licence, Brydie’s first pet snake If you see a snake what should you do?
and are limited only by the “pigeonholed”
(one of many), a python called Striker became
terms they are referred to. Keep your distance, do not approach it,
the new scaly member of the family. From
As an electrician, she was the first female in more than likely it will move away and you
having Striker Brydie’s thirst for knowledge to
Australia employed as a line worker. Her other can both carry on with your day in peace. If
learn all about her new pet was unquenchable.
hats encompass snake handler, wildlife rescuer concerned contact a qualified snake handler.
She worked closely with vets to learn more and
and carer, artist, and last, but in no way least, a What do you do with the ones you catch?
this organically involved her helping with snake
mother to her 11-year-old daughter, Lani. rescues. To be able to help in an official capacity Brydie checks for injuries and on their overall
I visited Brydie at her house in Mossman where she trained and worked as a reptile coordinator health. If healthy, they are released in a safe
she lives with her dog Raia, rescued baby bush with the Wildlife Information Rescue Service. It area away from human habitation. If injured,
stone curlew “Emu” and an assortment of snakes wasn’t long before Brydie was tackling Eastern she administers first aid and/or veterinary
including ‘Hannah Lector’ (previously named Brown snakes in NSW (the world’s fourth most treatment for serious injuries.
‘Hannibal Lector’ until she was correctly sexed). venomous snake).
Are snakes more active or seen more in
She is such a modern-day St. Francis that even certain months in the Tropics?
BRYDIE THE WILDLIFE CARER
the local bush turkeys are remodelling her
In spring and summer, as they get active for
backyard as a nesting area. Here in Far North Queensland in Douglas Shire
breeding and feeding.
Brydie is a registered volunteer snake wrangler.
BRYDIE THE ELECTRICIAN Also, be mindful that snakes and other
She also has a permit to care for snakes as some
Brydie was born in Cairns Base Hospital and she wrangles are pet snakes that wouldn’t survive wildlife may be found in higher numbers on
then moved to Illawarra on the NSW coast as a in the wild. With the nearest anti-venom roads. Especially at night please keep an eye
young girl. It was there as a child growing up that facility being in Cairns, handling taipans, death out at night for wildlife on roads and try and
she spent her happiest times with her ‘Poppy’ on adders, red bellied black snakes keeps her on top avoid collision.
projects involving rebuilding and servicing cars of her game (and alive!). How much does a Snake Handler charge?
and trailers. Her love of what makes things work
Her love of all animals has now encompassed Brydie does not charge anything for catching
and electrics started there.
her taking in birds and she has nursed back to or rescuing snakes or wildlife.
Straight from school she was employed as an health grass owls, fig birds, sun birds, welcome
Any donations received are put towards
apprentice electrician. She enjoyed climbing swallows and her favourite, curlews. She cites
medical supplies, food, and housing the
up power poles (no cherry pickers in those curlews as smart, compassionate, intelligent and,
wildlife.
days) and fixing the overhead lines and was the despite putting on an aggressive show when
only female at that time doing this. Her area guarding their nest, ‘they are all front’. Her latest
of expertise spread as she became an electrical patient is “Emu” who was found as a very young And of course the number we should have
fitter, electrical mechanic, electrical cable joiner, chick and who is thriving under her expert on speed dial in times of need
line worker, electrical engineer and achieving an care. Brydie has no funding for her care work
0423 640 209 Brydie
electrical contractors licence. and it can cost up to $400 alone to rear a bird
from hatchling to surviving adult ensuring it
BRYDIE THE MOTHER Brydie is a herpetologist and ornithologist of
has the specific food it needs from a specialised
27 years specialising in disease and injury
Destiny was playing its part with a job transfer supplier. The commitment of an ornithologist
management of Australian reptiles and birds.
to Townsville and then to Cairns which took her and herpetologist.
If you would like to contribute to her work
full circle back to her birthplace. With the birth I was nearing the end of the interview when
of her daughter, Lani (Hawaiian name meaning find her Go Fund Me page “Brydie’s QLD
the sound of an engine pulled up. She said, Wildlife Rescue.”
“Sky”) in Cairns Base Hospital the circle was
“Got to go, I’m heading to the Tablelands to
complete.
search for taipans”. Certainly not a standard
Along with being a mother she continued to reply to “What are you doing this weekend?”.
work to keep her electricians licence updated And with that, the woman who would put a
and current, switching from nappy changing dynamo bunny to shame, disappeared to spend
one minute to electrical wire changing the next. a weekend hunting a snake with the most toxic
She still continues today to be a mother and venom in the world.
owner of BME Electrical, a successful electrical
contracting business.
PORT DOUGLAS MAGAZINE 85