birding-aus

Bruce Richardson

To: Denise Goodfellow <>
Subject: Bruce Richardson
From: "R. Bruce Richardson" <>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2018 17:07:31 +1000
One of the highlights of my life… and then in 2015- 2016 Lynn and I traveled 
the entire continent birding in a camper, not doing a big year, but we did 
count birds we saw together as a couple (639). It was the journey of a 
lifetime. We were fortunate enough to spend a few weeks with my Yabok again. I 
will get back up there soonish I hope. Oh and I did write a book about it… 
available online: http://au.blurb.com/b/8847459-the-year-with-photos 
<http://au.blurb.com/b/8847459-the-year-with-photos>

Thank you for that wonderful memory Yabok. It made my birthday all the more 
special!
Cheers,
R. Bruce Richardson
www.rbruce.net


> On 31 Aug 2018, at 3:57 PM, Denise Goodfellow <> 
> wrote:
> 
> I’m sure many birding aussers know of Bruce Richardson, the American birder 
> who has made Australia home. 
> 
> We met back in 2011, I think it was, when I guided Bruce and Lyn and another 
> couple around the Top End.  It was a momentous trip in more ways than one.  
> We did see some good birds, if I remember correctly, but probably the 
> highlight for Bruce was being adopted in Gunbalanya, western Arnhem Land.  
> 
> By chance we met up with Una, my daughter-in-law or Mamamh.  There must have 
> been something about Bruce that Una liked for she offered to go with us  to 
> see my older sister (Yabok) Esther, then in her mid-eighties.  Again, 
> usually, they don’t want strangers inside their homes.  But to my 
> surprise,Bruce and Lyn and their friends were invited to enter.  Yabok then 
> asked Bruce to sit down beside her, whereupon she began to show him some of 
> the treasures in her handbag.  I’ve got some wonderful photos of them 
> together.
> 
> Then, again to my surprise, Mamamh invited us back to her home to see her pet 
> water buffalo.  I’ll never forget Bruce’s face.  He looked absolutely 
> thrilled!  But it was nothing to what came next.
> 
> While we were standing around petting the buffalo Mamamh walked inside, and 
> came back with her new baby grandson.  Lyn had a cuddle as did their friends. 
>  I didn’t, because that little boy stands in the relationship of ‘poison 
> cousin’ to me - it’s a forbidden relationship.  
> 
> Then Bruce reached out to take the baby, and Una said sharply, “No!”.  Bruce 
> looked at her in astonishment.  I immediately twigged.
> 
> In all my years of guiding not one client has ever been adopted by my 
> relatives.  But in an instant that baby boy became Bruce’s ‘poison cousin’ as 
> well.  It also meant that I was now Bruce’s big sister, his Yabok, and he my 
> Dada, little brother.  Bruce had suddenly acquired another family, one that 
> included me.
>  
> I just like to take this opportunity to wish my little brother Happy Birthday 
> from his Yabok.
> 
> 
> 
> Denise Lawungkurr  Goodfellow Ph.D., B.A., Grad. Dip.
> PO Box 71
> Darwin River, NT, Australia 0841
> 043 8650 835
> 
> 
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> 

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