Even living in a suburban area, I still find little surprises right in my own neighbourhood. Every now and again, you stumble across a tiny pocket park or a stretch of undisturbed bushland, and it feels like a secret waiting to be discovered. Those small moments make you appreciate what’s around you.

Being close to the river means I get to see a lot of different wildlife on a daily basis. We’ve got the river rats, which are always lovely to watch, and then there are these tiny little marsupials that people often mistake for rats, but they’re actually unique to this area. Just a short drive up in Canning Vale, there are bandicoots, which are sadly edging towards the endangered list. And if you go a little further, you’ll find western grey kangaroos wandering nearby. There are also smaller animals, like turtles, that you start to notice once you really look.

It’s moments like these that remind me how connected we are to the natural world, even when we live so close to the city. Supporting wildlife and local reserves becomes so much more personal when you can see these creatures just outside your door.