Renowned Australian vet Dr Chris Brown showcased the Bundaberg Region through Lady Elliot Island to more than one million viewers on Network 10's The Living Room over the Easter break.
Dr Brown presented the segment which saw him traversing the beach and ocean to witness green sea turtles in their natural habitat.
“Lady Elliot is regarded as one of the best diving and snorkelling spots in the world and it's pretty easy to see why,” he said.
Made up of a protected coral cay, the island is home to over 1200 species of marine life including dolphins, rays and many species of turtle.
After a quick dive with some of the green sea turtle residents, Dr Brown made his way to the beach where he caught up with local man and green sea turtle rescuer, Meechie.
The wildlife warrior had just rescued some hatchlings and was ready to release them on to the beach where their journey to the ocean would begin.
“I get excited every time I see some of these little guys run down to the water at night time knowing that I have saved their lived,” Meechie told Dr Brown.
“If I live to be 120 I will still love doing this.”
Dr Brown ended the segment watching a green sea turtle laying her clutch of eggs in a nest along the beach.
“It's crazy to think that at least 30 years ago this same turtle emerged as a little hatchling from this sand right here, ran down to the water and now she has come back to lay her eggs on the very same beach,” he said.
“She may have travelled over 2000 kilometres just to be here tonight.”
Segment reaches massive audience
Bundaberg Tourism CEO Katherine Reid said the six minute segment on the Living Room had an audience in excess of 1 million.
“This was made possible with a partnership between Bundaberg Tourism, Bundaberg Regional Council and Lady Elliot Island Eco Resort,” she said.
“Whilst Lady Elliot Island was featured as part of the turtle story, this national coverage is extraordinary publicity for the Bundaberg Region and the Southern Great Barrier Reef, with an increase in web traffic on www.bundabergregion.org during the time it aired and over the weekend.”
Mayor Jack Dempsey said it was fantastic to see the Bundaberg Region showcased to such a wide and varied audience.
“Residents here already know that we are blessed to call such a beautiful area, full of amazing gems just like Lady Elliot Island, home,” he said.
“The Living Room segment with Dr Chris Brown showcases our wonderful wildlife and diverse natural attractions, showing the rest of Australia exactly why we love where we live!”
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