One early morning
I opted for a change of walk venue
taking the riverside path
opposite my home
The Noosa River
a sedate old lady
makes her way to the river mouth
and ocean
the mighty Pacific
weaving its way down from the Lakes
Cootharaba, Cooroibah
Como and Cooloola
originating in the Great Sandy National park
in the Wahpoonga Range
Loggers floated their booty
down her flanks in the 1860s
Richard Branson purchased
her island Makepeace
near Tewantin township in 2003
A small 9 hectare heart shaped island
originally called Pig Island
as pigs were once quarantined there
You can stay the night
in luxury for only $9000.00
without the pigs...
Though they grow well, the coconuts
that sway and rustle
along her shores never bear fruit
the climate not warm enough
The white cockatoos and rainbow lorikeets
have left their roosts for the day
thousands upon thousands of them
rising circling screeching
except for a few stragglers
high in the gums
leaving the trees for the mourning doves
the fig birds and the noisy miners
The river is a place for meeting
for families and friends
for fun and water activities
for relaxing and cooling
the Illawarra flame tree
Brachychiton acerifolious
a kurrajong - a genus of about 30 species
drops its leaves in early summer
and flaunts her beauty
of tiny bell shaped flowers
which sprinkle the lawns and sand below
like hundreds and thousands
maybe you know them as non pareils
or sprinkles
that cover a child's sandwich treat
called fairy bread
The name Kurrajong means fishing line
the tree's bark was used by the Aborigine
to make fishing lines
the early morning sunshine
is like the Dreamtime
like the rainbow serpent
conjuring elements and images
form and shape
from another world
a world of water and light
and colour
and even perfume...
