Well if we are all or mostly to tell our story, I will also. Only on the basis
that it might help others of course. I don't know that our reasons for starting
are all that important. It is where we go with it that matters. Of course if we
do know a reason for starting then that might help for the future. None of my
family or close contacts when I was young had any serious interest in birds or
anything remotely close to nature. Nor have any developed an interest since
then, apart from my older brother, who studied and taught science for a while
and is generally aware of such things. During my pre school years my family had
a timber / hardware business and I liked machinery. At pre school I was once
given the task to draw something related to a train story, yes I drew a train
but most of the page was of an eagle picture. That was the start was evidence
of a bird interest and I have no idea where it came from. During primary school
years I had a huge back garden in Eltham in outer Melbourne. I well remember
that the first bird call that took my interest was a Spotted Pardalote but I
didn't know it was a bird. The family all anticipated (with some annoyance and
fascination) the arrival of the Gang-gang Cockatoos who ate our almonds. My
father loved going on trips to the outdoors, in particular Phillip Island, the
Grampians and similar. At school, I attempted to virtually memorise the
pictures in Cayley's What Bird Is That and Robin Hill's book which were the
only Aussie bird books at the school library. I started collecting feathers and
Tuckfield's Tea Bird Cards (the latter task I eventually completed). During the
early 1970s being interested in birds was not something to show off about at
school, not that I ever hid it. It did not enhance any popularity.
I joined the Melbourne BOC in 1970 when I was aged 13 and the RAOU / BA in 1975
and have been a member of those and others ever since. That is the best boost
that anyone could get to an interest. The issues about young members groups and
the importance of older enthusiastic mentors was no different then to what it
is now. It has been that and all the people met there and all the camps and
trips and seminars, plus my academic background that provided the impetus. It
has also been the opportunity to take a participatory or leading role in
several studies run through those groups that has been the strongest
contributor to my involvement. I am also interested in contributing to the
functioning of organisations. Being interested in birds is not exclusive of
other things. I have retained a passion for Hawthorn AFL Football (Hawks) club,
Deep Purple, as well as many years with Toastmasters, some years with Land
Rover club, Personal Computer Users Group, etc since then also.
Philip
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