VISITORS -- VISITORS ---

Extremely thirsty Dingo on his way to the Dam

Our first weekend at the Park proved to be very busy with three research scientists from Queensland Herbarium staying in the Quarters from Saturday (22^nd March) through until Tuesday (25^th March), and a day visit with the caretakers from Epping Forest NP on Sunday.

The three from QH were very interesting to meet – Annie, Sandy, and Mark.  We spent quite a lot of time Saturday and Sunday evening chatting with Sandy and Annie (only met Mark on arrival and departure) about the diverse flora in the Park and Sandy identified the beautiful, sweet scented branch of flowers we had in a jar as the sweet-scented bloodwood (Bucasia something!). The trees in the southern area of the Park, particularly Kapunda, are in full bloom with these cream flowers and there are hundreds of butterflies settling in those trees. Kapunda is the area that is always full of wattle in the Winter so it was interesting to see the cream flowers of the bloodwood, and the red of the wild grevillea, now filling this area with colour.

Caretakers all - OGO, Mrs OGO, John, Lesley, Col & Lynne

 

Sunday was a day of “socialising”. The volunteer caretakers from Epping Forest NP – John and Leslie Ferrier, and Col and Lynne Bonwick – travelled across to spend a few hours with us and to check out Nairana. These two couples were ‘first-timers’ at EFNP and had never been to Nairana.  So it was a good opportunity for them to make a comparison between the two parks, especially as the tasks at each park are so different.  EFNP is a research station for the hairy nosed wombat, so most of the tasks for volunteers revolve around duties associated with that research work, whereas Nairana is mainly hands on maintenance and on-park duties. Both couples were extremely easy going and we took a liking to them immediately – Mrs OGO was particularly thrilled to find both Lesley and Lynne were fellow quilters – so there was much ‘stitching’ chat during their visit. 

As our visitors were due to arrive mid-morning, Mrs OGO had made scones (in the new oven) and the table was set with her lovely placemats – the OGO thought it was a bit ‘posh’ but as it turns out the two ladies were delighted with the stitcheries and the gents loved the scones, jam and cream. Lunch was just as festive and easy-going with contributions from everyone – sausages, home-made burgers, home-made bread, home-bottled beetroot, potato salad, green salad, and a sultana cake that Lesley made that wasn’t eaten because everyone was too full with the meal! There was lots of discussion about travelling around Australia, and places that should be on ‘must-see’ or ‘must visit’ lists for everyone.

Our visitors left about 4pm with a promise from Col and Lynne to call in at Nairana on their way to Cairns next Friday, with some fresh milk and new strawberry jam. What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday at Nairana even in the extreme heat.