Table Of ContentKangaroo Valley Voice
Volume 22  Issue 4    ISSN 1833-8402   Circulation 800  October 2016   $2.50
Power to the girls...
ARTSLAB wows valley audiences
Read the full review 
on page 14
Take a trip to remote Northern  Discover upcoming workshops being  Get active in the veggie patch now 
Australia with Caroline Minogue held in the Valley spring has sprung, learn more
Page 8 Pages 17-19 Page 24
e: [email protected]            www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au
Page 2  Kangaroo Valley Voice   www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au  October 2016 
K ANGAROO
Regular Articles
Published by 
V ALLEY Kangaroo Valley Voice 
Preschool News    Page 3 
Incorporated. 
V OICE Registration No.  Vox Pop    Page 5  Make a note ...
Y2627221 News From the Pews    Page 5
Where are they now?    Page 6 OCTOBER
The monthly community newspaper of Kangaroo Valley
Family Osteopathy    Page 6
President  Larraine Hahlos Valley Voices    Page 7 
Treasurer  Ken Crocker
Travellers Tales    Page 8 
Secretary  Chris Brangwin
Committee  Angus Kennedy Responsible Pet Ownership  Page 11 30 Sep - 3 Oct 10am - 4pm 
  Jason Horton Agony Aunts    Page 12  Art in the Valley. 
  Diana Jaffray
  Jenelle Brangwin Star Struck    Page 13 Sat 8th Oct 6pm 
ECDdoeipstiyog rnE /dPitroord uction  DTDoeianlnyysa Be J aWarfnrfeirgtahtyt  BYoogoak  iCnl uthbe N Veawllse y     PPaaggee  1240  mStuesviec  K@iTlbheey A: RinT-Sc oLnAvBersation and 
AAdccvoeurtnitssin Mg aMnaangaegr e r  DJuenlyes eS mWirtihght Contemporary Apothecary  Page 21 Sat 15th Oct 10am-3pm  
DSHpiosontrrotirsba uRrtyei poLnoe rg t a   l Adviser  BPTooansribyt aiBoraanr  aannveadtti lAadbalem Acworth BVVauIElslWhewy  aGlkaerdrse ning Tips      PPPaaagggeee   222234 9LIt9ian4gol iwo oPrrkisnhtompa kKianrge nE t0c4h0in7g 9 &28  
 
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JJKeoeannne C lBlreor acBykr earn gwin  SCBurheerni sPd rPaer syScaoomrttbrook VSpieowrtpso Rinetpso rt     PPaaggee  3460 TOhcet  ASurtns L9atbh  U4ppmpe: rS Rteivveer  KHilablely @ 
Jeannette Dumbrell  Lee Sharam Firey Tales    Page 42 
BKaartbhay rHa aGrruiensgtt on  DRoussetym Samrya Srtt anton  Senior Lifestyle    Page 43 More events on page 51...
Jason Horton  Peter Stanton  Directory    Page 50
Rosemary Johnson   Sally Wallace
Gerard Keyzer  Ellie Williams
Sophie McGregor
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SEPTEMBER 20TH
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October 2016  Kangaroo Valley Voice   www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au  Page 3 
A few words from our fundraising 
committee
As part of our fundraising efforts the 
preschool continues to run a raffle at The 
Friendly Inn on Friday nights, starting 
around 7pm.
The prize is a $25 Friendly Inn voucher 
which can be used at the bar or the bistro 
What a wonderful welcome I was given  and is valid for 12 months.
when I returned from long service  Tickets are only $2 each or three for $5. 
leave. The children have had so many  The winning ticket is usually drawn within 
stories to tell. I love the beautiful art  an hour of the raffle starting.
work they created for me featuring  Light box art
The funds raised go towards putting icing 
all their beautiful faces. They have 
on the cake when it comes to purchasing 
followed my travels at preschool and 
preschool resources. Some of the things 
they are telling me all about the places I 
the raffle has made possible include 
visited. Thank you everyone!
replenishing interesting art and craft 
The children have certainly taken a keen  supplies, the supply and maintenance of 
interest in places around the world. We  our raised garden beds and purchasing 
have been learning more about the Statue  educational toys and equipment.
of Liberty, a monument that captured 
We would like to thank Pete and Laurel at 
their imaginations. We have made a 
The Friendly Inn and the Kangaroo Valley 
classroom book about the statue, and 
community for their ongoing support for 
have even tried some experiments. The 
our fundraising efforts. 
Statue of Liberty is made of copper and 
is green due to the copper oxidising. We          Robin Moffatt The swing ball
have been keeping some copper pennies 
on wet sponges to see if they will oxidise 
too. (Our young scientists have spotted 
a tiny bit of emerging verdigris with the 
magnifying glasses!)
The playground has been a hive of 
activity. The children have been busy 
creating their own amazing obstacle 
courses using our new wavy balancing 
system. They have been exploring the 
physics of pulleys, the properties of 
liquids as we pour water through our tube 
system, as well as developing their eye-
hand coordination while playing with the 
swing ball. 
The lizards are waking up from their 
hibernation and we have been observing 
these beautiful creatures as they bask in 
our playground. Stumpy the three-legged 
blue tongue has made an appearance, as 
well as another big blue tongue and lots 
Pattern Making Experiments with copper & water
of skinks. 
Summer is coming and we are looking 
forward to lots more exploration in the 
outdoors.   
Jacinta Perry
Artist at Work Experiments with water
Page 4  Kangaroo Valley Voice   www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au  October 2016 
Your All letters must be signed by the writer and give both business and home phone 
numbers so letters can be verified if necessary.
  The writer’s name will be published with the letter.
 Voice ...
  Mail to: The Voice, PO Box 6079 Kangaroo Valley, 2577
  Or email:   [email protected]
Editors note:  WOW!  
The Voice 
Reprinted with permission from Mark via  I’m still digesting ‘Songs about Girls & 
Notice of Meeting the Kangaroo Valley Community Facebook  their Fingertips’ which was presented at 
page. Visit   the beautifully revitalised Upper River 
www.facebook.com/ Hall over the weekend. 
Notice is hereby given that the Annual 
groups/537682933041451 to join or simply 
General Meeting of The Valley Voice 
search within Facebook for Kangaroo  I should have expected an outstanding 
Incorporated will be held on:
Valley Community. It’s a terrific group to  production from these girls, Sarah 
 
be a part of. Butler and Jilly O’Dowd (think ‘Tempting 
Date:   Tuesday 11 October 2016
Morsels’, the funny and fantastic cabaret 
Place:    The Ambulance Station,   
style show in 2015). In ‘Songs’, they are 
    Kangaroo Valley I’m sure plenty of you have your own 
joined on-stage by Isabella Moore who 
Time:    7.00 PM chooks. But we have so many chooks we 
plays beautifully her own compositions 
have a business selling eggs. We have 
providing the evocative ‘soundtrack’ that 
Agenda been selling or eggs for some time now in 
is central to the action and visuals.  
Ordinary Resolutions the KV General Store and I’m sure some 
The thought-provoking script, the quality 
Apologies. of you have supported us in that.  
of the acting, the set and visuals design, 
To confirm the minutes of the Annual  Mark and Nicole have been doing a great 
and the music are all exceptional - and 
General Meeting held at The Gallery  job of supporting local in the shop. I hear 
not just for Kangaroo Valley. 
Kangaroo Valley, on 28th October 2015. a lot of people talk about it and a lot of 
To receive and consider The Chairman’s  people write about it. Our girls are on 
This show would sit quite comfortably 
Report for the year ended 30 June 2016. new grass every week and you can see 
on the stages of Sydney and Canberra. 
To receive and consider the Treasurer’s  this for yourself when you drive past us 
(And talking of sitting comfortably, the 
Report, including the Balance Sheet and  on Bendeela Rd. If you ever want to see 
audience did…. with cushions and raked 
Income & Expenditure Statement for  it for yourself just get in contact with us. 
seating).
the year ended 30 June 2016. These are the best free range pastured 
To elect seven committee members  eggs you can buy. They have the safest 
The good news is you can still catch this 
in accordance with the rules of the  free life a chook could ask for and the 
show: you wouldn’t want to miss such an 
Incorporation. Nominations by members  eggs are proof of this. If you want the 
important community event! There will 
for vacancies on the Committee must be  best eggs and to support local, pop into 
be another performance later in October. 
received by noon on 10th October 2016  the shop and buy our eggs, and buy local.  
Check it out at http://artslab.com.au/
posted to: The Voice, Mark, Kristen, Matilda and Cami. 
event/songs-girls-fingertips/ 
PO Box 6079, Kangaroo Valley, NSW 2577   
And make sure to get there early to enjoy 
or email to the Secretary,   Mark McLennan  
a drink and nibbles in the ambience and 
[email protected].   Delicious Gardens
comfort of the new lounge area.
All nominations to the Committee must 
 
be proposed and seconded.
Chris Pryor
To transact any other business brought 
before the meeting in accordance with 
the rules of the Incorporation.
School Holiday Workshop!
 
Secretary  
Does your child love taking photos? 
Christopher Brangwin
There’s still time to book in with 
local photographer, Colin Talbot 
for the upcoming workshop. 
Have something to say? We would love to 
Check out page 19 for more 
hear from you.  
information
All letters must be signed by the writer 
and give both business and home phone 
numbers so letters can be verified if 
Melbourne Cup Luncheon
necessary.
The writer’s name will be published with  for CMRI 
the letter.
1st November 11am 
Mail to: The Voice, PO Box 6079, 
Kangaroo Valley, 2577 Or email:  Kangaroo Valley Hall
[email protected] Tickets $40
Call 4465 116 or 4465 1851
Tickets also available from  
A reminder to please send all content 
Homelea Cottage (lolly shop)
to [email protected]  
Dress your best!
or call 0429 594 659 to book your 
More information on page 10
space by  
OCTOBER 20TH
October 2016  Kangaroo Valley Voice   www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au  Page 5 
Q: As a local, what new service, 
amenity or facility would you like 
to see in the valley, including 
any that might appeal to visitors 
coming for a short stay or 
On Friday 16 September we hosted 
weddings, conferences and other  another Retired KVers activity entitled 
functions?  ‘Discover the Birds’ with Joy Pegler. To-
date Joy has discovered 123 different 
species of birds in Kangaroo Valley, 
although some who came were able 
to let her know of a few more. We 
also learnt more of the ecosystem in 
Kangaroo Valley and how it favours 
certain species of birds. It was a 
delight to have Joy with us, and we 
look forward to more ‘Retired KVers’ 
activities in the coming months. 
Fran Pritchard, KV
I think we need more car parking for 
locals and visitors in the village. At 
busy times, there is no readily available 
parking. One potential solution would be 
extending the small carpark behind the  Cooch Allan, KV
chemist and nearby shops.  I’d like public toilets closer to the centre 
Joy Pegler speaking at Discover the Birds 
of town, perhaps in the public car park. 
Retired KVers activity
Families with children and elderly people 
On Sunday 18 September we held a 
are often quite disappointed they have to 
church ladies’ night. Ladies ranging from 
walk so far to the existing facilities. 
14 to 73 enjoyed playing fun games, 
talking together, and praying together. 
The ladies also heard Camille Delmenico 
and Margaret Barton speak about how 
they became true followers of Jesus.
Ladies favourite bible verses on leaves at 
Elaine Apperley, KV Church Ladies Night
I’d like to see ‘movies in the valley’,  At our fortnightly mens’ group Kevin 
perhaps once a month. There should be a  Summerill spoke about what God had 
good variety of films, and they could be  Jeremy Butterworth, KV been doing in his life over the past year. 
advertised in the KV Voice. The proceeds  We currently have some good music  Kevin had been living in Kangaroo Valley 
could be used for KV community projects. venues in the village. However, as a  for the past 12 months or so at Bendeela. 
musician, I think it would be great if the  He then decided to attend a three-month 
pub could provide a larger indoor space  bible training course in Sydney through 
for bands and audiences. The KV Hall  ‘Youth with a Mission’ (YWAM). Following 
doesn’t have a space problem but the  that course Kevin went on a short-term 
acoustics would be better if there were  mission trip through Asia, and is now back 
wall hangings, or similar, to absorb the  in Sydney continuing his bible studies. We 
echo.  wish him well and are praying for him. 
On Sunday 16 October at 10am you will 
be able to hear an outdoor gospel music 
Nerolie Barnes, KV (left)
service on the grounds of the Church of 
I’d love KV to be known as more of a 
the Good Shepherd. It will be led by our 
‘festival’ town, bringing extra life and 
lovely new post office managers Gary and 
colour to our community. We currently 
Katrina Thomas. Gary has a wealth of 
have the wonderful Arts Festival and Folk 
Christian music from southern USA that he 
Festival. Could we also have gatherings 
will share with those who come along on 
that celebrate, for example, culinary 
the weekend of the Folk Festival. All are 
arts, arts and crafts and other musical 
welcome and it is free to attend!
genres?
Warm regards,    
Andrew Paterson
Page 6  Kangaroo Valley Voice   www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au  October 2016 
Osteopaths can be visited without a 
referral from a GP, and are trained 
to know the difference between 
uncomplicated back pain and back pain 
requiring referral to specialist care. In 
Back and neck pain some cases there may be a more serious  John and Susan Ballinger
cause for low back pain, such as disc 
80% of the population will suffer from 
injury, fracture, tumour and infection, 
back pain at some time. Studies show 
which requires ongoing specialist support.
that osteopathic treatment reduces 
Common causes of back and neck pain 
back pain, increases mobility and 
are:
speeds the recovery process. Your 
•  extensive sitting or standing 
osteopath can assist you to develop the 
•  heavy lifting
course of action consistent with your 
lifestyle, symptoms and goals to manage  •  injury
your back and neck pain.  •  changes during pregnancy
Your osteopath may: •  constipation, irritable bowel    
•  work on joint mobility   endometriosis
•  work on muscular tension,     •  menstrual pain
  inflammation and nerve irritation  •  insufficient flexibility
•  investigate blood supply and drainage   •  muscle weakness
  to and from the spine and pelvis  •  dysfunction in the thorax, lower limbs  
•  reduce the duration of low back pain     and pelvis.
The 28 years John and Susan spent in 
  and help prevent future episodes  ©Osteopathy Australia 2016. Green Valley Road, where they bred 
•  offer advice on posture, exercises and   For more information or to find out how  Border Leicester rams, was a vital and 
  stretching  osteopathy may help you, contact Sally  thorough-ly enjoyable part of their lives. 
•  provide advice on improving your   on 0419 494 027 or   As they approached their 70s, the farm 
  ergonomic environment  [email protected].   and their big garden were becoming 
•  provide guidance on diet, hydration   Book online at   more onerous and less enjoyable. They 
  and exercise  www.familyosteopathy.com. sold the sheep and flirted with the idea 
of building a new house among the 
•  communicate and plan treatment with  
kangaroos on Tallawa Dam Road. The 
  your GP 
farm took two long years to sell so, 
•  refer you for radiological assessment   fortunately, the option on that land fell 
  when required. through.
Five years ago the farm did sell, and 
they both retired and moved to The 
Arbour in Berry. Shortly after, John was 
diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease and 
early dementia. They have maintained 
an enjoyable quality of life. Instead of 
gardening and farming, they exercise by 
walking to the village each day, or in the 
gym or the indoor heated swimming pool. 
They take a holiday every year, including 
a six-month caravan trek covering the 
western side of Australia - up to Darwin, 
then down the West coast and home 
across the Nullabor Plain. This year they 
went on a river cruise from Budapest to 
Amsterdam, then drove around Wales 
and Cornwall.
Clearly there are big challenges ahead, 
but they live among extensive gardens 
filled with birds (no lyrebirds or wombats 
– sob!) and in a vibrant and supportive 
community. They are very happy with 
where they find themselves now.
If anyone knows of other ’emigrants’ 
from the Valley, young or old, whose 
location, occupation or lifestyle might 
be of interest to Voice readers, please 
contact Sue Prescott at  
[email protected].
October 2016  Kangaroo Valley Voice   www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au  Page 7 
outside. It was like a dream!” “It is good being on different 
committees and becoming involved. It 
When Dan Cole bought the pharmacy 
is on committees that relationships are 
from Tom, Jeannette worked as back-up 
formed. There are so many interesting 
when needed, and now works one day a 
people in the valley; it’s not just a little 
week for En Qi. “It’s always hard to sell a 
community that looks inwards, it’s much 
pharmacy and it’s great she has come in 
more outward looking. People have come 
and given it new life.” 
Jeannette Dumbrell here for many different reasons. They’re 
Before they moved they came down for 
thinking people; I think that’s a bit 
the first Arts in the Valley festival. “We 
Jeannette is one of four children. At  unusual. It’s been a great experience. I 
were totally amazed by this fantastic 
her school, North Sydney Girls’ High,  didn’t realise how much I would value the 
event in a small country town, sitting in 
the students  quiet, the peace and the dark sky with 
a marquee, listening to Yvonne Kenny. 
were told that  all those stars. I really love the actual 
It was quite astonishing. Once again, 
girls could do  life-style”.
instead of struggling to the Opera House, 
anything and they  And to all her Sydney friends who keep 
we just drove up and parked in a field. 
should all try  asking her what she does all day, she just 
It was so easy! When they were looking 
to have tertiary  laughs!
for people to help with the third festival 
educations, which 
I volunteered because it was such a  Jenelle Brangwin
was unusual 
worthwhile thing to make sure it kept 
for the time. 
going.” Jeannette is now Vice President, 
Jeannette’s 
doing much of the administrative work.
father, typical of 
She has also held several positions on the 
the day, thought 
VIEW Club committee and on occasions 
education for girls was a waste of time, 
writes its report for the Voice.
but her mother wanted all the children 
to have professional training, and  She started writing her column, 
Commonwealth and Teachers’ College  ‘Contemporary Apothecary’, to help 
Scholarships made that possible for  promote En Qi and the pharmacy, 
them all. “That was a wonderful time,  because it’s important that as many 
when education was free and gave  local people as possible support it. 
people like me the opportunity to go to  “Without a pharmacy it is hard to 
university.” She became a pharmacist. attract and keep a doctor.” Jeannette is 
Jeannette and Peter came to the Valley  now more interested in discussing and 
from Sydney in 2007, initially Peter  weighing up issues, such as the medical 
joining her at weekends. Jeannette was  use of cannabis, and feels her articles 
very much a city girl, loving her trips to  complement other health-related articles 
the opera, ballet and concerts, and had  that are published in the Voice. She keeps 
never considered moving to the country.  up with the reading of her professional 
But after they had downsized to an  journals and with continuing education 
apartment, she realised a place where  programs in order to continue practising. 
she had no opportunity to walk out onto  “I enjoy it. It jeeps my mind busy.”
the grass was no place for her. They had  Busy is correct. As well as all her 
two children, one, a daughter, living in  above commitments Jeannette has two 
Kangaroo Valley, whom they often used to  grandchildren living in the Valley, with 
visit. Here there was plenty of grass and,  four others in Sydney who regularly come 
more importantly perhaps, an Anglican  to stay.
church for Jeannette plus a golf club 
for Peter. Jeannette’s Christian faith is 
very important to her. She helps with the 
Sunday school, is on the Parish Council 
and is currently the Minister’s Warden.
Many of us know Jeannette from the years 
she has spent working in the Kangaroo 
Valley Pharmacy.  Before 2007 there 
was no pharmacy and we all had to take 
scripts to Nowra to be filled. Marjorie 
Skidmore and Esther Barger approached 
Tom Elford and his partner at East Nowra 
Pharmacy. Tom could not be in the valley 
full time but, because Jeannette was 
available to help three days a week, 
they agreed to open the KV pharmacy 
in October 2007. “It was a wonderful 
thing to come and work in the pharmacy 
and get to know people in such a lovely 
place, and such a contrast to my previous 
position in a pharmacy at Town Hall. 
Instead of having to catch the train to the 
busiest station in Sydney I could just hop 
in the car, drive for five minutes and park
Page 8  Kangaroo Valley Voice   www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au  October 2016 
A trip to Northern Australia
As supporters of the Australian Wildlife 
Conservancy (AWC), Nick and I were 
fortunate enough to visit one of their 
conservation properties in a very 
remote part of the Northern Territory in 
July 2016. 
small ten-seater plane. Our daughter  a waterfall from an unexpectedly warm 
Alice was thrilled to be allocated the  thermal spring. Just so we wouldn’t get 
seat next to the pilot, after being given  too comfortable, one of the ecologists 
stern instructions not to touch any of the  even managed to capture and show us a 
plane’s controls or pedals!  small green snake she had seen basking 
After flying over sparse dry-season  on the rock-face nearby. After evening 
vegetation on Cape York, we crossed the  drinks at the top of the cliff, we were 
coast of the Gulf and saw Mornington and  flown back along the spectacular Calvert 
other smaller islands dotting the brilliant  River gorge, glowing in the setting 
blue sea. Passing the coast again on the  sun. After dinner one of the ecologists 
Northern Territory side after some 30  gave us a presentation on the details 
minutes, we landed surprisingly smoothly  of AWC’s ongoing ecological surveys. 
on the red dirt runway at Pungalina. The  These typically comprise 2,000 live 
full-time manager and some of the AWC  trap nights, 150 camera trap nights, 20 
AWC is Australia’s largest private owner 
team, including four scientists/ecologists,  spotlight surveys, five bat trap nights, 
of land for conservation. From a single 
were there to meet us. Opportunities  20 vegetation surveys and five wetland 
property in 1991, it now owns and 
for supporters to visit to such properties  surveys. Surveys are assisted by the 
manages 25 properties nationwide, 
are rare, and are timed to help defray  local indigenous ranger group and the 
protecting endangered wildlife in 
the cost of scientific surveys or data  indigenous owners of Seven Emu. AWC is 
over 3.25 million hectares. The AWC 
collection tasks being undertaken by AWC  focused on the recent catastrophic loss 
estate protects a very high proportion 
at that time. of small mammals in northern Australia, 
of Australia’s terrestrial biodiversity, 
and identifying and implementing land 
including 71% of all terrestrial mammal  For a briefing on the activities planned 
management strategies which will halt 
species, 86% of all terrestrial bird species  for us during our three-day stay, we 
and reverse this decline. The organisation 
and around 50% of all reptile and frog  were given a presentation on the bank 
also works hard at developing good 
species. It protects some of the largest  of one of the Calvert River tributaries. 
relationships with its neighbouring land-
remaining endangered species such as  Great emphasis was of course placed on 
holders, many of whom are indigenous. 
Bilbies, Numbats, Woylies, Bridled Nailtail  not swimming anywhere except where 
This allows regional (rather than local) 
Wallabies, the Gouldian Finch and Purple- advised by AWC, as crocodiles were 
action plans to be developed to tackle 
crowned Fairy-wrens. everywhere! The visit-coordinator had 
such problems as feral animals (cattle, 
her back to the creek while she spoke to 
We were therefore excited about seeing  pigs, donkeys, horses, buffalo), fire and 
us and almost on cue, most of us noticed 
AWC’s property, Pungalina-Seven Emu,  weeds (parkinsonia).
a small crocodile suddenly raising itself 
on the coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, 
out of the water onto the rocks behind  Next day saw us up at 7am for a bird 
in the Northern Territory, just over the 
her and grinning at us toothily…Where  walk. Not great twitchers ourselves, it 
Queensland border. AWC purchased 
there was a small croc, wouldn’t there be  was amazing what the experts could find 
Pungalina, a former cattle property, and 
a large parental one somewhere nearby?  and identify - black kites, buff-sided 
obtained a lease of almost 30 years over 
Despite the wonderfully clear water, we  robins, double-barred finches, purple-
the adjoining indigenous-owned Seven 
suddenly lost all interest in swimming  crowned fairy wrens, black-faced cuckoo 
Emu property with its 55km of pristine 
right there!  shrikes, crimson-winged parrots and many 
coastline. Pungalina was attractive to 
others. Later we examined a fossilised 
AWC as it contains over 100km of the  Activities had been planned to showcase 
stromatolite bed and a nearby cave 
nationally significant Calvert River, which  the property’s diverse habitats, and that 
system. Never having seen the rare living 
has the greatest diversity of freshwater  afternoon our group of eight was taken 
stromatolites of Western Australia’s Shark 
fish in Australia. This huge river system  by helicopter to a beautiful water-hole 
Bay, we were surprised by the bizarre 
flows into the Gulf of Carpentaria on the  which we were assured was crocodile-
appearance of their fossilised relatives 
Seven Emu property. free. About 40 metres across and edged 
– a cross between a cauliflower and a 
by red cliffs of huge weathered sandstone 
Visiting Pungalina-Seven Emu means a  rock. Single-celled microbes had built up 
blocks and lush vegetation, it was fed by 
two hour journey west of Cairns in a  accretions of calcium carbonate to form
October 2016  Kangaroo Valley Voice   www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au  Page 9 
the coastal fringe. From the air, the 
52km feral-proof fence which AWC 
had constructed last dry season was 
impressive, and only a few cattle, horses 
and donkeys were still to be seen in the 
area. The fence would be completed 
within the next few months and all 
remaining feral herbivores removed. The 
sea was beautifully clear, and we were 
able to see several female dugongs and 
their calves feeding on sea grasses at the 
mouth of the Calvert River, as well as 
saw-fish, manta rays and the occasional 
crocodile. There was indeed a kilometre 
or so of mangrove die-back along the 
shore, extending inland about 30m, but 
the ecologists were hoping that as these 
mangroves died back, they would be 
replaced by more heat-tolerant species. 
We were certainly impressed by the work 
which AWC is doing on its properties, 
many of which are extremely remote. 
these limestone ‘rocks’ over billions of  no scruples and quite a few were seen  Its dedicated managers staff the 25 
years. Stromatolites take 100 years to  hopping about. On the way back to camp  properties throughout the year, while 
reach 5cm in height and are believed to  we stopped for a refreshing swim in the  scientific staff are employed both to 
be the building blocks of all of Earth’s  ‘Bubbling Sands’, so named because as  research wildlife issues and to provide the 
higher life forms.  water is pushed up from below where the  objective data necessary for developing 
Rock-hopping over the stromatolite field,  dolomite and sandstone layers meet, the  possible solutions.
we reached a small gap between two  sandy floor seems to ‘bubble up’ through  Caroline Minogue
limestone rocks and slithered down into  the crystal-clear water.
the darkness. Not far below the surface,  The highlight of our visit was a 
in what appeared to be 100% humidity  helicopter trip to the coast of the Gulf  Where have you travelled lately? We’d love to hear 
and 35º heat, we discovered a huge cave  of Carpentaria next day. The weather  about your adventures. Email your submissions 
through to [email protected] and 
system. Unlike several other caves on  was unseasonably cold and wet but the 
inspire others through your travel stories!
the property, it was not a nursery cave  view was magnificent as we flew north 
for bats, but cane-toads seemed to have  over sandstone tableland and down to
Page 10  Kangaroo Valley Voice   www.kangaroovalley.nsw.au  October 2016 
Melbourne Cup Luncheon for CMRI
On 1st November 2016 the Kangaroo 
Valley CMRI (Childrens Medical Research 
Institute) Committee is hosting their 
30th anniversary of the Gala Luncheon. 
As their only fundraiser for the year, 
the CMRI Committee relies on as much 
attendance and support as possible.
CMRI is an independent organisation 
committed to unlocking the mysteries of  of course best lady’s hat (get creative 
Mark Hill childhood disease. ladies!).
27/03/1971  -   25/10/2014 Did you know that 1 in 20 children are  Tickets to the event may be purchased 
born with a birth defect or genetic  from Homelea Cottage (Lolly Shop) or 
Another year without you.  Missing and  disease, and world-wide over 160,000  from Joan Good on 4465 1166 from 5th 
thinking of you every day. children are diagnosed with cancer every  to 25th October. Please book early for 
May the winds of love blow softly and  year? As world leaders in the areas of  catering purposes.
whisper for you to hear, that I will love 
cancer, embryology, neurobiology and  When booking please mention with whom 
and remember you and forever keep 
gene therapy, CMRI researchers are  you would like to be seated. There will be 
you near.
working hard to find real answers in order  tables of eight and two tables of ten for 
 
to give these children a healthier future.  larger groups.
Your ever-loving
Your donation and support goes a long way  Venue: Kangaroo Valley Hall,–Moss Vale 
Mum xxx
to providing the resources these leading  Road, Kangaroo Valley.
experts need. Time:–11am – for welcoming champagne 
The Melbourne Cup Luncheon will be a  or orange juice.
Save the Date!
great affair, with champagne or orange  A two-course lunch will precede the race 
Kangaroo Valley  juice on arrival (further drinks are BYO  broadcast.
as there is no bar in the hall) and a 
Tickets are $40.
Folk Festival  two course lunch preceding the race 
broadcast. Get in the spirit and get  If you have any enquiries, please call Joan 
14-16th Oct  involved; there will be $1 and $2 sweeps,  Bray on 4465 1851.
Details on back page a raffle with lots of lovely prizes, fashion  For further information about the work of 
competitions (dress your best!), and  CMRI, visit www.cmri.org.au.
SPEED
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The NBN is here
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Description:Page 14. Yoga in the Valley. Page 20. Contemporary Apothecary. Page 21. Bushwalkers. Page 22. VIEW. Page 23. Valley Gardening Tips. Page 24. Rosemary Stanton .. and feels her articles complement other health-related articles  Wallabies, the Gouldian Finch and Purple- crowned Fairy-wrens.