Profile

Susie Peake is a conservationist, teacher, illustrator and artist.

Having been a wildlife artist and sculptor for many years, Susie developed a series of colouring books for children based on local wildlife. This endeavour grew into a demand for information and activities for teachers to use in schools. Susie’s work has been commissioned by National Parks and various conservation groups.

She believes that teaching young children about wildlife conservation and the earth’s natural systems can help shape them into aware, responsible citizens of the Earth.

Susie is attempting to assist in the education of children in the hope that they will become committed to protecting wildlife and their habitats.

A proportion of the illustrations have been executed by Susie’s sister Beryl, also a teacher, writer and illustrator. She specialises in drawing flora and fauna.

Beryl Peake (Dip. Art Ed., CC – Certificate of Completion in Writing for Children Course [Writing School]) appreciates country life and loves to communicate about what’s happening to fauna and the environment by illustrating and writing in the hope that more can be done to preserve species.

Why protect wildlife and their habitats?

In the natural order of things there is a balance in nature. If the balance is upset, all the natural systems begin to collapse adversely affecting plants and creatures, especially the vulnerable ones.

Human beings are a threat to all living things on this planet; plants, animals and ourselves. We upset the balance.

We need to modify our behaviour in order to work towards a more sustainable future.

It is our responsibility to respect and manage the earth, its resources and its human populations.

What is habitat?

Habitat is the combination of physical, thermal, chemical and biological systems that support living things on this planet. It is a state of influences that allow life to be and continue. A situation that provides living things with food and shelter, where they can successfully breed, nest, rest, grow and interact.

Humans are part of this web of life and the cycles of life on Earth, and like native species, we depend on the overall functions of natural systems for our own survival. Natural systems create the air we breathe, purify the water we drink, break down our wastes, and ultimately supply everything we need to eat, live, breed, shelter, interact and thrive.

Within each ecosystem there is an interconnectedness between the biodiversity, that is essential to the health and balance of the living things belonging there.

This biodiversity balance ensures their survival. Habitat is lost or degraded when the balance is disturbed so that fewer species can live within their essential environment.

With their understanding of the interconnectedness of ecosystems and the species within them, Susie is hoping that our children will be part of the solution for the future of our planet.