birding-aus

Bruce Richardson

To: Bruce Richardson <>
Subject: Bruce Richardson
From: Denise Goodfellow <>
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2018 17:04:36 +0930
And thanks in return, little brother.  We’re ready for a visit anytime.  I’ve 
attached one of my favourite photos, of you and Una.
Denise

On 31 Aug 2018, at 4:37 pm, R. Bruce Richardson <> wrote:

> 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
> 
> 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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