Koala Bushlands 1

While at Burbank we found out that we were only a 10min drive to visit the Koala Bushlands, although on our visit we did not manage to see any it was a very pleasant walk.

Brisbane Koala Bushlands

Brisbane Koala Bushlands are located 15 kilometres south-east of Brisbane's CBD.
Brisbane Koala Bushlands were set aside primarily to protect significant koala habitat. The majority of the land has been purchased with funds from the Bushland Preservation Levy.
The vegetation communities have considerable significance and include open forest, woodland, riparian forest and heathland. Wildlife that may be seen during the day includes koalas, wallabies, reptiles and a wide array of bird species.
At the Alperton Road visitor node, visitors can enjoy barbecue and picnic facilities. You can learn about koala conservation and handy hints to help spot a koala while on the Stockyard Creek walking track. There is also an interactive wildlife information activity where you can learn about the wildlife sights and sounds in the local area.

These bushlands are part of the Koala Coast Network that is one of the most important koala habitat areas in Australia. It also extends into parts of Logan City and Redland Shire. The Koala Coast protects between 3000 and 5000 koalas, as well as many other native animals.

Brisbane Koala Bushlands were set aside primarily to protect significant koala habitat. In 1992 the establishment of the bushlands was approved and since then there has been significant and ongoing acquisition of additional properties. The majority of the land has been purchased using funds from the Bushland Preservation Levy, however some land was also kindly donated.
This significant fauna corridor extends to Logan City and Redland Shire.
The bushlands contain many different vegetation communities and habitat for many animals, including part of one of Australia’s most stable koala populations.

And so we move on

Once again our time at Burbank has all but come to an end and on Wednesday 11th sees us once again head to the Sunshine Coast for a surgeon appointment and Dr. We have a 2 day break before we head to our next house sit and we are lucky enough to be able to stay with our very close friends Helen and David and will catch up with them and see some of their amazing photos of a trip to Europe that they have just completed. So will catch up with more news from our next house sit at Redland Bay.
At Burbank we were on the flight path for Brisbane Airport and each afternoon at 4.00pm Air NZ flew over, managed to get this photo one afternoon.

A couple of photos of some Orchids that are growing in pots along the side of the house.

 

 

 

 

The Owners

Farewell Miss Abbie

Chris having a last minute chat with Abbie, she followed Chris everywhere, two old ladies together.

These photos are of Garry and Chris, they went to New York to do the marathon. Garry finished in 3hrs something and shows him here with his medal, Chris had, had an injury during the year and had never intended to do the whole marathon, she did 10k and was happy with what she did her highlight was this photo taken on the course with a New York Police officer -

A great couple and an amazing effort, we have met up with them since they have been back for a coffee which was great, they bought us back a couple of nice gifts, a momento of San Fransisco where they went after NY.

Skippy the Bush Kangaroo

We used to walk old Abbie down the back of the property in the late afternoon and on many occasions we came across resident Kangaroos grazing happily on the short grass, Abbie never bothered about them as she was so used to them.

 

 

King Parrots

We were advised by the home owners before they left for the USA that they had a pair of resident King Parrots, and they would need to be given sunflower seeds when they called in for a visit. I asked Chris and Garry the owners how would we know they were there - their reply oh you will hear them. Well about day 3 into our stay I was sitting outside one morning having my breakfast and sure enough here comes this beautifully coloured male King Parrot, he duly had his fill of seeds and left. That afternoon they both appeared on the fence calling to let us know it was seed time. We never realised how big these birds were and seeing them close up brings it all into perspective. They then called 3-4times a day and we spent ages watching them and were able to get really close to them. A real bonus getting wildlife like this in your back yard something you don't get in suburbia. The female is the paler green with red underbelly, male is vivid green with bright red underbelly.

 

 

 The below photos are or a baby Bush Turkey that was roaming around the fish pond one day, we never did see a parent bird with it so don't know if it was lost or what.

 

And good old Sulphur Crested Cockatoo he came down a couple of time for sunflower seeds.

Meet Miss Abbie

She is a Rhodesian Ridgeback Kelpie Cross, a dear old girl, Miss Abbie just sleeps all day long and I mean all day. She hardly moves off the outdoor seat on the patio, occasionally she gets a sprint on if we walk down the back yard and she acts like a pup other times she can hardly walk. She loves the pool and when she gets too hot she gets in and has a soak then gets out and shakes all over you. We are also getting a pair of beautiful King Parrots come down and feed on sunflower seeds almost daily, the male the brighter of the two is a real guts he would eat all day if you put it out for him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greetings from Burbank

Well apparently it is Rochedale South!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! however it was advertised Burbank and the mail has Burbank on it so Burbank it is - where/what is Burbank.

Burbank is a large, greenbelt suburb in south-east Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It has been claimed the suburb was named after Alfred Harry Burbank, a surveyor and farmer, who was a resident in the area from 1890 to 1908 or that it was named after Frank Burbank, a local horse dealer. Mount Petrie lies just to the north of the suburb. Burbank has a number of small intermittent creeks winding between cleared and uncleared rolling hills. At the 2011 Australian Census the suburb recorded a population of 1,137.
The main road across in the area is the Mount Gravatt-Capalaba Road. There are also a couple of working and hobby farms. There are a few palm nurseries and at least two turf farms in the area. Burbank has a number of churches and temples and there is a jewish school. The closest public primary school is Mount Petrie State School in Mackenzie. There are no shops in the suburb and public transport is very limited.

We are on 5 acres which Brian thinks is wonderful for his golf practise - still not hitting the ball that well
hahahahaha - heaven help me. It is just brilliant here so much space, bird life, kangaroos on the back paddock. There is a small dam which does not have alot of water in it. The owners here have gone to the USA they ran the New York Marathon last Sunday, Garry doing it in 3hr 30mins and I think Christine his wife only did 10kms as she has had a bad back and leg injury. They fly home next Wednesday the 11th when we head to the Sunshine Coast and friends for 2 days before heading to our next house sit at Redland Bay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phil and JiHeyons Wedding

Back on October 10th I said we were going to our friends, son's wedding. Here are the photos.
Below photo is Brian and I taken with our friends Keryn and Graham - parents of the groom, Keryn is wearing a traditional outfit called a Hangbok - the mother of the groom has the blue on the shoulders of her outfit and the brides mother has pink on her's. It was just beautiful, held at Keryn and Graham's in the back paddock (they have 6acres) which for months Phil and Graham had cut with a ride on mower and turned it into a lawn.

Mother of the Groom and Mother of the Bride

Nuptials

Cake Cutting