Hi All,
It is with a very sad heart that I inform you that another great birder, of
our Australian bird watching community, Wallie Coles has passed away.
Wallie was a stalwart of the Ballarat Branch of the BOCA for many decades
but has suffered from ill health for a few years now. My condolences go out
to Eileen, his family and his close birding friends.
Let me take a few lines to reminisce about my old mate and birding mentor.
I first met Wallie in 1976, when he popped into the old zoo in Ballarat,
where I was living, to observe how our aviary birds reacted to the solar
eclipse that was happening at the time. From then, he took me as an 11 year
old kid to see a flock of Glossy Ibis at the Flaxmill Swamp (behind the
Mars factory in Ballarat), gave me my first binoculars and started me in
birding. Over the years, we went on a number of trips most often with his
birding buddy and good friend Helen O'Donnell, to many parts of Victoria
seeing many new birds. One of my most memorable locations was to the Clunes
State Forest, and that "Magic Tree" to see the Painted Honeyeaters. I know
there are hundreds of people from across Australia and the world who owe
their first Painted Honeyeater to Wallie and Helen, along with numerous
other birds. Wallie and Helen accompanied me on my trip around the birding
"hotspots" of the Ballarat district while I was compiling the chapter for
"Where to See Birds in Victoria". My last trip out with him, and Helen, was
to Clarkesdale Sanctuary and Devil's Kitchen a couple of years ago. He was
looking frail even then.
I'm not sure of funeral details yet, but they will appear in the Ballarat
Courier in due time I presume.
Thanks for all of the birding memories!!
Rest In Peace my good mate.
John
*Yours in all things* "*GREEN"*
*John Harris BASc, GDipEd*
*Croydon, Vic*
*Director - Wildlife Experiences Pty Ltd*
*Principal **Zoologist/**Ecologist*
*Nature Photographer*
*Wildlife Guide*
*www.wildlifeexperiences.com.au <http://www.wildlifeexperiences.com.au>*
*www.facebook.com/wildlifeexperiences/
<http://www.facebook.com/wildlifeexperiences/>*
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*www.flickr.com/photos/wildlifeexperiences
<http://www.flickr.com/photos/wildlifeexperiences>*
*0409090955*
*Past President, Field Naturalists Club of Victoria*
*(www.fncv.org.au <http://www.fncv.org.au/>)*
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