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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