This has expanded greatly since coming to New Zealand, and learning how much the Maori language, embraces the natural world and that the word Kaitiakitanga
\n - means guardianship and protection.<\/p>\n
Her first understanding came to her as a child, walking and observing the bush\/nature near her home in Australia. Then as an adult making a difference
\n to her community, she started to glean how \u2018as in community - as in nature\u2019. She saw that we can\u2019t disregard any of our spheres or scapes, especially
\n our soundscapes. To do so is to ignore a fundamental part of our connection with our nature. We need diversity for harmony and health.<\/p>\n
So as a scientist and an agronomist lecturing in biology and its interconnections, she immersed her deeper self into nature the natural order and the web
\n of all life. Here she found out about our inter relationship with the earth, and also the mineral kingdom and in fact - with all biota. That the vegetable
\n and animal kingdoms were more than a symphony of living form, texture and pattern. But more - that everything is harmonically coupled to the natural
\n ecology, and that within the biosphere there is an added frequency of sound that can both enlighten, heal and inspire. This is where Fiona is putting
\n her focus today.<\/p>\n
Fiona\u2019s original training is scientific, having completed both a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at Adelaide University in 1986 and a Post Graduate Diploma
\n of Agriculture at the University of Queensland in 1988. She has worked as an agronomist, lectured in Biology, Botany and Environmental Science and
\n worked for the Department of Conservation in Australia as an education officer.<\/p>\n
However, the more I delved into this interview the more I enjoyed what Fiona was conveying - as she migrated from her scientific self over to her artistic
\n understanding of showing that in nature, everything is connected. The web of life is integral to our survival as a species. <\/p>\n
Originally from South Australia she as a child spent a good deal of her time connecting with the bush and biota of the hills that surrounded the city of
\n Adelaide. That later in life, when she studied the soil and botany she realised that diversity was so important to retain the nuance and balance of
\n nature.<\/p>\n
She says that when man, takes out big chunks of the ecosystems - by broad spectrum spraying or even clear felling of trees or planting monoculture crops
\n - we are taking a big slice of life and area - out of the natural system. However, to mitigate this later on - can become fraught with challenges.
\n So to minimise this from the very beginning, would be a very good forward thinking strategy.<\/p>\n
With large cities especially in summer in Australia, like Melbourne and Sydney they become \u2018heat islands\u2019 but when we go away out to the bush and get under
\n the canopy of leaves - we feel the instant coolness - hence we have to have trees in all cities … essentially greenbelts.<\/p>\n
Fiona mentions that nature in the cities is very much seen as \u2018lip service.\u2019 <\/p>\n
Now living in Whangarei, in Northern NZ - she has been teaching - but she comes back to - \u2018relationships\u2019 and who we are as a community and how our natural
\n world functions.<\/p>\n
She belongs to the organisation - Child Friendly Cities as part of her work in Whangarei - that if we can design a city that is safe and there are places
\n for children to play and they get to experience nature - then that city will be healthy for everybody. <\/p>\n
https:\/\/childfriendlycities.org<\/a>\n<\/p>\n If you are connected to something bigger than yourself and you have a purpose and you can aspire to something that brings you forth into the future - then Listen …<\/p>\n Today, In Whangarei there is a wonderful experiment of working with people who have in many ways missed out on belonging in an extended family - sort of Fiona also integrates Natural Philosophy into her learning modality and that of Viktor Schauberger - known as the father of \u2018water dynamics.\u2019 Where theConnection and Purpose<\/h3>\n
\n life becomes kind of cool - because of the sense of belonging …<\/p>\nWorking and Teaching With The Less Fortunate<\/h3>\n
\n way - and that through playing music and being part of an orchestra - so to speak - they see themselves as part of a movement that opens them up to
\n joint harmonies and a sense of belonging. It is validating everyone for the part that they are playing in working in unison for the betterment of the
\n whole. Listen …<\/p>\n
\n sound of trickling or running water can create a soothing natural ambience that allows people to relax into a realm where industrial sounds are left
\n behind.
\n <\/a>\n<\/p>\n