 Sandbar on the Johnstone River mouth | Hello from Coquette Point, After three weeks of cool, dry and sunny weather 5mls of rain fell last night and more is expected in the coming days. A large high is moving into the ‘Bight’, and it will signal a strong wind warning along the coast and the return of the inevitable rain. Early this week strong winds brought breaking waves across the Johnstone River bar reminding me yet again of Lieutenant Johnstone’s report in 1872 of this ‘breaking bar across Gladys Inlet’. |
| I went to Cairns on Tuesday as guest speaker to Permaculture Cairns’ June meeting. I was so impressed with the enthusiasm and dedication of this group to sustainable living. They are an example to all of us. The group members help each other through ‘energy exchange’. They carry out working bees on each other’s prosperities, this strengthens their community and is a catalyst for innovations and the sharing of ideas, most of all members get a help to tackle big jobs. I stayed overnight with Permacultures’ Carol in her 100 year old cottage. On her small block Carol has every square inch under food production: she is inspirational. |  Carol of Permaculture Cairns. |
Cassowary ‘Jessie’ has renewed her aggression to ‘Snout’ and once again sets chase as soon as she sees him. Poor ‘Snout’ was sitting down having a rest the other day when Jessie turned up and the chase was on.
 Snout |  'Jessie' chases 'Snout' |  Jessie stands still |
It is now over 50days since cassowary ‘Little Dad’ finished his courtship with ‘Jessie’ and disappeared. ( hopefully sitting on eggs). Every day I look for his return with chicks no doubt he will return soon. Meanwhile, ‘Jessie’ also seems to be waiting, I often see her standing amongst the melaleucas’ absolutely still and looking into the swamp.
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The scats left by the cassowaries this week appear to contain a good assortment of fruits.
 |  | Camouflage is a remarkable ability that some animals have, none more so than the white-lipped tree frog. I found a frog in a woven read basket this week and it had turned a caramel-brown with chocolate spots. I placed it on a palm leaf and within half an hour it slowly started to regain green pigmentations to its skin. |
| Green ant activity is often linked to rain. This week I noticed that green ants have built one of the largest nests I have ever seen at the very top of an umbrella tree. They have neatly laced the large leaves into a football shape and the leaf stalks look like giant pillars supporting the nest. Perhaps the green ants could show our politicians what can be achieved when a community pulls together. |  Green ant nest |
Echidnas are out and about early this year and I saw three at Coquette Point this week. One large echidna waddled across the road in front of me, by the time I got the camera out it had half buried itself in the soft leaf-litter beside the road. Another echidna took a short cut into the garage and got lost. I picked it up turned it around, managed to get one photo before it took off into the forest.
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Echidnas can often be seen early in the morning and late evening. The first signs of echidna activity are small holes in the lawn as they search for ants. Over the next few months the echidnas will be looking for mates and it is not unusual for one female to be courted by up to ten males. About two weeks after the ‘prickly’ courtship an egg is laid and hatches within two weeks. The baby is suckled on milk for three months. The young echidna resides in an underground burrow for most of the first year of its life. Echidna’s spines are a good defence against predation, however motor vehicles are responsible for a lot of deaths of this ancient monotreme. Echidnas are most active at dusk and dawn so when driving near bushland, during those hours, keep a look-out for courting echidnas crossing roads.
| When one wakes in the morning one never knows who or what the day may bring. Today I was totally gobsmacked to meet a retired high school teacher from my old home town Ayr. Bill Donnelly and his wife Carol, also a teacher, arrived at the nursery today looking for the house where his father had lived, when he was manager at Mourilyan Sugar Mill in the 60’s. My house had been turned into flats in 1957 by the previous owner Harry Murray and apparently Bill’s father had lived here for a short time and during that time Bill also stayed on visits. When we started talking I soon learnt that Bill had taught at Ayr high when I was there and his father was the chief engineer at Pioneer Sugar Mill and my dad was the chief engineer at Kalamia Mill. Bill remembered my Dad and the fact that our Dads were friends. ‘Oh yes’, he told me ‘ I remember your father, Sid Dahl, well’. The other amazing coincidence is that Bill also spent time in the Pacific, Solomon Islands, where I also spent time in the 1960’s. We had a lovely afternoon together reminiscing. |  Bill and Carla Donnelly. |
 | Coquette Point has lost a dear friend this week. Buddy Hendle has left for doggy heaven. For the last 18 years Buddy has endeared himself to the community of Coquette Point. Full of play and mischievous at times Buddy was dearly loved and will be missed by Nila, Ray and Chris and all his friends. It is said that seven dogs years is equivalent to one human year, using this figure Buddy had reached the great age of 126. Until next week, Love and peace, Yvonne C. |
