A group of Millennium Kids (MK) families met at Harold Rossiter Park, Kensington last Sunday for our monthly MK Lab. It was very hot in the sun, about 35 degrees celsius.
The Friends of Jirdarup Bushland had a petition to save the Black Cockatoos at the start of the limestone path that does a loop through Jirdarup bushland. Most of our group signed this petition to help the birds.
We all enjoyed a bush walk through this area until 12pm. While we were walking we collected rubbish, pulled up weeds, spotted the odd bird (bird spotting is better done early or late in the day) and we identified some of the plants. We saw Red-tailed Black Cockatoos, New Holland Honeyeaters, Singing Honeyeaters, Swallows and Ravens. Cat told stories about the lemonade tree and the toilet bush. The flowers of Banksia attenuata (candlestick banksia) can be soaked in water to make a sweet drink that tastes like lemonade. In the past Adenanthos cygnorum (wooly bush) was used as toilet paper.
At the end of the walk, we sat under the trees and talked about what we were going to do at the next MK lab on 20 March 2022. The shade was a welcome reprieve from the sun on the walk. We had lunch in the shade here together.
The next venue was Perron Place in Victoria Park, a short drive away. We car-pooled to save energy. At Perron Place there was a theatrette inside. We sat in here and talked about indigenous acknowledgements at Millennium Kids events including workshops and talks.
One issue that is topical at the moment is the plight of the penguins on Penguin Island. We all made origami penguins and discussed this situation. We wrote messages to Reece Whitby, the Environment Minister, about the penguins.
Nick from the Friends of Lake Claremont arrived and and shared some exciting news. They are reintroducing 30 Quendas into Lake Claremont bushland. We had the opportunity to ask lots of questions about this.
Next on the agenda was a painting workshop. I talked about my Green Lab Postcard Project with the group. I showed everyone how to do the grid transfer method to transfer a picture and make it a different size. People chose different postcards to work from. I helped guide participants with their drawings and painting. This was a nice way to end another Millennium Kids Lab.
Patrick
25/02/2022