iH: So that’s how you started working for Eric Worrell?
McKechnie family. Bob McKechnie, the patriarch, was a
well-known industry figure. I was to engage frequently
PK: We rented a room in Sydney and I had a few jobs to with Bob and his sons, and they took me out and showed
make ends meet. Through a supplier that I had dealt with me some impressive stuff, including wild camels and
in Munich, I was introduced to all these well-known
ostriches, and hairy-nosed wombats. The McKechnies had
people, including Charles Tanner and Bill Hosmer. Bill’s a licence to export camels to places such as the USA.
mother actually found us our first accommodation.
Australia was recognised as being free of foot-and-mouth
disease, and consequently boatloads of camels went to
Eric Worrell was the guru. I think I first met him when he America. Once Eric arranged for me to pick up four baby
was at his original place in Umina Beach. I would travel
camels from Bob, which I drove back to NSW in a small
up to see him at the reptile park in Gosford, and he would trailer. Another time, whilst I was on holiday, the reptile
sometimes give me odd jobs - like the time he wanted me park contacted me to ask if could pick up some Water
to collect some Gippsland Water Dragons. I was grateful Buffalo calves in Darwin and deliver them to Bob in
for any financial assistance, and Eric hinted that he
Adelaide. I was travelling with my old friend Lothar
wanted to give me a permanent job.
Urban, who was visiting me from Germany. We rigged up
something on the flat tray of the reptile park’s Landcruiser
I had met my first wife, a girl from Finland, at Bonegilla. that looked like one of those wagons you see in old west-
She was only 16 and I was 20. Anyway, when we
ern movies, with two buffalos on each side. One of them
travelled to Europe on our honeymoon, Eric organised a
was being difficult and wouldn't let its partner stand up, so
consignment of reptiles for me to bring back; I also
we christened it
utilised my contacts. So I had mambas, cobras and various ‘Arsehole’. Ironically,
we found that Arsehole
Bitis species on the boat, with few proper cages and no
had died somewhere
antivenom! I also had some good baby Galapagos
near Coober Pedy, but
Tortoises which I believe can still be seen at Taronga, and
the other three made it
the reptile park. Much later there was some debate as to
to Bob in good
which islands they originated from, but I was unable to
condition.
assist, as the dealer hadn’t provided that information.
‘I had mambas, cobras and
various Bitis species on the boat,
with few proper cages and
NO ANTIVENOM !’
3.
Then Eric created a position as curator for me at the park.
At the time, Papuan Black Snakes were in high demand,
so in 1964 Eric went to New Guinea to procure some,
along with Papuan Taipans, tree kangaroos, cuscus, etc.
Then I was sent over to follow up and organise the
animals for transportation. By the time they left Port
Moresby, they were all properly housed - including a
three-metre New Guinea freshwater crocodile that at the
time was the largest of the species in captivity. Some of
the cages were made out of tea chests, with a special front
fitted.
I went on many memorable collecting trips for the park -
some on my annual leave, towing the park’s trailer behind
my VW. Eric also sent me to Far North Queensland on
numerous occasions, and I became familiar with the
Atherton Tablelands. I also flew from Cairns to Iron
Range in a small aircraft to collect cuscus and Varanus
indicus, amongst other species. I was assisted by a
German friend, Werner Zureich, who was apprenticed as a
zookeeper shortly after me.
Later, Eric sent me to South Australia, to a small zoo
called the Gorge Wildlife Park at Cudlee Creek, which
was founded and is still, to this day, owned by the
4.