Tidbinbilla with the Alvarez Family

A wonderful and welcome (although very brief) visit from one of my oldest friends (in terms of how long we've known each other - not a reflection on the age of either of us). We were unable to fully repay the hospitality of Our Gracious Host and Hostess, but we did have a lovely day at Tidbinbilla.

Our Gracious Hostess in borrowed headgear

 

Steel yourselves for cute fluffiness overload!

Mummy and baby koala

Momma

Baby

The long-necked turtles are not as cuddly, but still pretty cute.

 

 

The water dragons are fairly appealing...

And I also quite like pelicans. 

 

This little red kangaroo and chum were quite fetching too.

But I'm a bit dubious about this fellow...

Red-bellied black snake swimming through the pond

Working on the 'leave them alone and they won't bother you' principle, our little party continued on its merry little way.

Ignore it and it will go away!

 

Namadgi

I have hurt my back (stupid 10km races on road!) and am hobbling and wincing with movement in that tragic 'Yes, I'm over forty now - laugh all you want but it will happen to you one day' way, so we chose the woodland loop from these enticing options.

Gudgenby Hut is an 1845 slab hut recently rebuilt as an interpretive shelter. Originally one of the ACT's oldest European structures, constructed by Scottish immigrant Charles McKeahnie, the hut was dismantled in 1964 and the timber slabs were stored in a shipping container. The hut was rebuilt using the salvaged materials of the original edifice and traditional methods and building techniques carried out by the rangers at Namadgi National Park. 

Interpretive panels, photographs and audio stories tell the tales of the early settlers. The new technology contrasts with the skills used by pioneering families before electricity, to overcome challenges such as managing stock, extreme weather, isolation, transport, schooling and medical help.



Gudgenby Hut





Original timber slabs from the hut, covered in newspapers





Long-necked turtles peeking out of the pond



There is a dodgy little bridge along Smiths Road. Even children know it is not safe to speed over it!

 

Tidbinbilla

We took our guests to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. It is thought the name Tidbinbilla derives from the Aboriginal word 'Jedbinbilla' meaning 'place where boys become men'. There are many sites of significance in the park where boys were educated and underwent initiation ceremonies.

Their education involved three stages: gatherer; hunter and warrior (roughly equating to primary, secondary and tertiary school).

Mothers and grandmothers brought their young boys here to teach them the values and properties of plants. When ready, their education was handed over to the men who taught them to hunt. Finally, after going through Aboriginal Law, the boys became men.

This education was based upon engendering a respect for the elders, and a view that all living things are connected and interdependent. This concept was embraced throughout the reserve with plaques and nature trails to follow, combined with activities for the children. The environment is pretty scenic too.

Trees are naturally an important part of the eco-system.

The Bogong moths in the Canberra region were important to Aboriginal people, who noted their growth, life-cycle and movement as seasonal indicators. Collecting the moths was an important step in the first stage of manhood where boys went on to hunt and catch larger game, such as ducks, swans, emus, kangaroos, and wallabies.

At a certain times of the year various tribes would gather at the foot of the ranges.An advance party would hold a ceremony involving much noise-making, shouting and swinging bull-roarers. After the ceremony, the collected tribes would break up into smaller groups, and ascend the mountain to hunt and eat the moths, and to continue ceremonies, and to hold initiations.

A large rock like this sits nearby at Uriarra where, in the past, moths were regularly cooked for large numbers of people to feast on.

Rock carving of Bogong Moth

Incidentally, these moths arrive in Canberra in almost plague-like proportions in Spring as they migrate to the Snowy Mountains. They aim for the highest, brightest building en route, which happens to be 'The House on the Hill', otherwise known as Parliament House, where the lights are dimmed as a deterrent.

Back to Tidbinbilla, where there is a small (70-seater) theatre, at which I presume meetings are held and presentations and demonstrations are given. It is a purpose-built outdoor theatre with panels featuring Aboriginal artwork by Ngunnawal artist Jim Williams and other local community artists.

Artwork representing a Bogong Moth ceremony in the Ribbon Gum Theatre



A brolga

The brolga is a large grey crane (sometimes called the Australian crane) with a red head and elaborate mating dance. It is common to wetlands in tropical and Eastern Australia and is the official bird emblem of Queensland. The movements of the brolga dance are imitated in certain Aboriginal ceremonies.


And here's some more wildlife.

These little cuties are long-necked turtles and, don't worry; they're totally harmless. Unless you happen to be a fly, I suppose.

I'm not so sure about these wee beasties, however...

Due to his father's aptitude with a camera, long-suffering Nephew Aidan is very good at standing still for photos.

Huckleberry Niamh