News & Updates from Vicki Avcin ~ AusCrafts · Page 72

Last Saturday it was Riverfest time again. Each year the River Heads Progress Association hold a festival celebrating our waterways, ecology and people. There are markets, displays, art exhibition, activites for the kids and Saturday night there is a Dinner Dance. This years Dance was a Buccaneer theme.

River Heads is a peninsula and is the gateway to Fraser Island. Very much a reason to celebrate the wonderful area as nearly every block has gorgeous views of either the Sandy Strait and Fraser Island to the east or beautiful views out over the Mary and Susan rivers and where they join to flow into the Sandy Stait to the west.

My brigade also has a truck on display, where members (and potential members) can come and enquire about anything fire related.

We focus heavily when talking with people the importance of PAS (Prepare, Act, Survive) and how to prepare their properties for the fireseason, where to listen for advice in the event of a wildfire, and what the advice levels mean.

Of course we are a favourite with the kids who love having their photo taken sitting in the fire truck and getting a Hoses and Ladders game and some stickers.

We also get enquiries about joining up and putting something back into the community. We even had a photo in the local paper with some triplets sitting in the truck. It is always a fun day and plenty to do, see and eat!

One of the things I miss since living in Bowen is the annual Walk to the Lighthouse.Each year, usually at the end of winter in August, the tides are at their lowest and Bowenites make the trip to walk from Dalrymple Point (on the mainland) across to North Head Island and then up the steep steps to the top where the lighthouse stands.

The sand spit is exposed and each year hundreds of people take the 2 hour journey there and back. Keeping an eye on the tide is a must!

For those not so energetic, sitting at the café in Rose Bay or atop Flagstaff Hill, gives top viewing of those that do make the crossing.

The lighthouse was used since November 1866 until 1985 and was not manned during its use.

Last year it had a major restoration and will stand proudly for many more years to come much to the delight of those who live in Bowen and also those who choose to visit the island.

Each year more and more people are making the trip, so much so, that one of the local pubs is now making a festival of it with live entertainment for people returning (and the locals) in the evening afterwards.

We will make the trip back one year to walk over again as it really is an amazing experience where it is home to the Giant Red Starfish, which you see during the walk.

When is an eagle not an eagle? When its a Brahminy Kite of course. We have a pair of these beautiful birds that come visit every afternoon. They are also called Sea Eagles but they are not strictly an eagle.

They live along coastal areas but have been known to go inland. They can be found in northern and eastern Australia but also extend into south east Asia. They mainly like swamp land/mangroves but we have these 2 that we think have a nest in the park at the back of us.

We live about a kilometre from the coast line. (or as the birds fly about 800 metres)They fly around every afternoon and the last few weeks appear at bird feeding time around here.

We feed/throw mince for the magpies, butcher birds, kookaburras and drongos and this pair of kites have clicked they too can get a free feed.

Any mince that isnt taken by the other birds is now swooped on and scooped up with their feet very quickly, often to the magpies disgust as they will chase the kites either hoping to take it or the kite will drop it.

Usually an unsuccessful venture though. Their main diet is carrion (dead animals), insects and fish. It will steal from fish hunting birds like seagulls also. They are beautiful graceful birds as they glide around in the sky. The 2 in todays photo are the pair that fly around here.

Our 21 year old Miss Kitty just loves cuddles especially on the cold mornings this winter.

She has never really wanted cuddles, I guess now she is the only kitty we have(we used to have 7 but sadly all but her have crossed the rainbow bridge), she figures that all the attention should be on her and shes making the most of being the only one.

She took to snuggling up under my dressing gown or hubbys flannelette shirt and now she demands to be cuddled and will stay snuggled in for as long as we will let her.

Then the other day I saw an ad for a sweater, purpose made with a pouch for kitties. Hubby and I had a bit of a giggle saying that we couldve had a good market for kitty sweaters/shirts/dressing gowns as weve overcome the problem of having our Miss Kitty wanting to be carted around everywhere.

Hubby just does his buttons up and tucks the shirt into his pants, I just do the belt up on my dressing gown and our old girl just flops in and goes to sleep.

While shes contently sleeping the motor (purr) is going too. She gets quite upset when I have to get dressed or hubby has to do something and shes removed from her little haven.

Now that spring is approaching, then summer, not sure how shes going to like not being cuddled so snugly as all indications are that we are in for a long hot summer.

Days are already reaching high 20s during the day and it will be a bit hot and sweaty, especially with her long coat.

She is a Persian with a bit of Maine Coon thrown in.

We have finally seen the newest addition to our kangaroo population. We have seen the little one in Mums pouch several times but always look forward to seeing the joeys intro to the outside world.

Mumma was spotted down the back paddock with her 2018 joey by her side.

Just so cute.

Was a couple of days later before we saw her with Bubba up in the front yard but I only had my phone (which doesnt take great pics a the best of times) and snapped a few before there as a noise in the neighbours yard and they turned and took off down the back again.

We regularly have last years and the year before models come eating and resting round the house and although not tame they arent scared of us and usually dont take fright when we go out into the yard.

Previously weve seen them play fighting as they are still young themselves but during the week we watched them down the back paddock and Im sure it was a little more than playing this time round.

Trying to dictate who is the boss out of them I think.

Well my guess is neither is the actual boss because there is a big fellow who when standing up would be nearly 6 foot in height and he makes Mr Universe look weak with his strong and powerful muscles.

He too doesnt take much notice of us when we are in the yard, but not taking my chances and although we talk to him, we give him plenty of space.

They can do a lot of damage if they rake you with their hind legs.

I will try and get some more photos of our new addition in the coming weeks.