Dear All
Martin Hartree has been caretaker of the Leanyer Sewage Ponds for - I don¹t
know how long I remember him driving up one dark night it must have been
the early 1980s - to warn Hilary and myself about a crocodile that hung out
near where we were watching for nocturnal birds.
Martin has not only been caretaker of the ponds, but also of the birds. As
visitors in the late Dry will know, waterfowl sometimes number in the tens
of thousands, and so this has been quite a job. Martin keeps an eye on
birders, ensuring they do the right thing by the birds/ For example he has
stopped people scaring them (so as to photograph a flock in flight). At
that time of the year many waterfowl coming to the ponds are in relatively
poor condition and harassment is the last thing they need.
Over the years Martin has catered for thousands of birders. He¹s rescued
the occasional one who has found themselves locked in (yours truly
included), and he¹s helped others who¹ve had car trouble . He has given
people advice on the best spots, and he¹s even rescued the occasional nitwit
who has fallen into the ponds. And, though Martin hasn¹t admitted it, I
suspect that he was one of those who submitted an unfair dismissal claim to
the union on behalf of Ben, a crocodile befriended by the sewage ponds
workers and later captured by the authorities.
Martin is now seriously ill, and so I¹m asking birders, not only in
Australia but the world over, to do something for this kind, thoughtful man
who has dedicated his life to the sewage ponds we all love. Would you all
please send him a get well card, and then pass this email onto others you
know? Let¹s all show Martin that we do care. Address the cards to:-
Norm Cramp
Manager Emergency Planning and Response
Power and Water Corporation
PO Box 1927
Darwin NT 0801
Thank you
Denise
--
Denise Lawungkurr Goodfellow B.A. Grad.Dip.Arts
1/7 Songlark Street, Bakewell NT 0832, AUSTRALIA
Ph. 61 08 89 328306
Mobile: 04 386 50 835
Birdwatching and Indigenous tourism consultant
PhD Candidate (Southern Cross University, NSW)
Interpreter/transcriber, Lonely Planet Guide to Aboriginal Australia
Vice-chair, Wildlife Tourism Australia
Nominated by Earthfoot (2004) for Conde Nast's Traveler International Award
http://www.denisegoodfellow.com.au
http://www.earthfoot.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baby-dreaming
www.fatbirder.com/
For copies of Birds of Australia¹s Top End or Quiet Snake Dreaming, visit
amazon.com
http://www.facebook.com/Wildlife.Tourism.Australia
http://wildlifetourism.org.au
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