I am neither a knowledgable lepidopterist nor skilfull photographer, so the results
you see are mostly due to the imput from the following people, who I shall introduce as they entered my butterfly life.
Firstly my partner Lois Piroch who has accompanied me on all my lengthy expeditions, including Iron range N.P. & who has not only located many specimens but also several of her photographic contributions are included.
Frank Pierce my long time "birding’ buddy with whom I have passed many an enjoyable day chasing birds & butterflies & who is the only other image provider.
Kelvyn Dunn who showed me the fundamentals of butterfly life histories on a visit to Churchill N.P. & with whom I have had many informative conversations.
Fabian Douglas who detailed very many locations to find butterflies, particularly in the Victorian Mallee & with whom I have shared many a long phone conversation.
John Olive who shared his experiences & hospitality & who introduced me to :
Ian Hill who has been the biggest influence on the outcome of this challenge & who has offered me great hospitality & friendship & with whom I have shared many an enjoyable safari. Whilst I have seen in the field all but a handful of the butterflies photographed, Ian has supplied me with numerous fresh specimens for obvious better results.
Bob Miller who also shared several very pleasant outings & who is a great life history finder.
Rob Ham who generously gave me his Chaetocneme porphyropis pupa.
Matt Williams who provided me with enormous assistance in locating the butterflies of south-west W.A, including maps, GPS co-ordinates etc,. Without those guides there is no way I could have found so many species in such a huge area.
Andy Williams whom I met briefly but who followed up on my subterrestris sighting.
Richard Weir, Steve Brown & Cliff Meyer. "The Team"
Collectively & individually they have given me enormous assistance with site locations, maps, GPS co-ordinates etc., & escorted me on local field trips.
Also they have offered me hospitality & friendship which I greatly value.
Grant Miller, often seen in company with the above.
Spent several pleasant & productive days in the field with Grant & who also
has given me many site locations. He showed my where & how to collect
pupae of Telicota brachydesma which I did successfully & which was my first
Hesperidae larvae/pupae located.
David Lane whom I finally met on a shared trip to Iron Range N.P. after several
phone conversations in which he happily detailed local butterfly sites.
During the above trip David shared some of his knowledge to an interested listener.
John Landy whose helpful advice & generous offers have been hugely welcomed.
We have also shared several most pleasant days in the field.
Ian Knight, the Tasmanian expert, who despite never having met me offered his kind hospitality, a map of Tasmania with the route I should take clearly marked, with red dots to indicate my various stopping points. These dots were accompanied by remarkably accurate & detailed "mud maps" Needless to say on the two trips early 2009 I was able to locate all desired species.
Martin Purvis, a fellow butterfly photographer with whom I have exchange many
interesting E-mails.
Cleve Herd – The new boy on the block.
David Burren who advised me on the photographic equipment I should purchase.
Mark Stewart who taught me how to use it to a respectable level.
Geoff. Walker
23rd September 2009