Philip Island

We saw koalas in the reserve, and though I had been there six weeks ago it was still great to again observe these wonderful creatures, up close. The reserve includes a tree-top walk so that you can get a really close up view. At night we visited the famous Penguin Parade. This is when up to 150 penguins come in for the night to nest but not before changing their minds several times and running back into the water. The smallest (and cutest) penguin in the world, the Little Penguin is around 33 centimetres tall with adults weighing just over 1 kilogram. The Little Penguin is the only blue feathered penguin in the world and will typically live for 7 years. Native to Phillip Island, the Little Penguins make the sand dune burrows their home. They start their day very early – leaving their burrows at first light to go fishing in the sea. At sunset, the magic of the Penguin Parade begins as the Little Penguins emerge from the sea and march in groups across the beach to their burrows. Unfortunately, on the night there were only about 15 or 16 that came ashore. When you consider that we were in a grandstand that contained about four thousand people, you can appreciate that it was a bit of an anti-climax. We did get to see four or five later waddling right beside us by the dunes on the way out, and that was amazing. Worth the time and expense and wait in the cold.
We stayed with the Mayor of The Bass Shire, which includes Philip Island: none other than Peter Paul, the principal from Chandler School in Melbourne. It was he who gave me the ITF details which was the beginning of my odyssey. As Zig and Zag would say:
"It's a funny old rock and roll world!"
Glynis and Peter were the perfect hosts and their house was like a hotel. It was great catching up as both had visited St. Mary's in Trim in 2008, the year after the Bursary. Peter has had many varied and unusual experiences as both principal and mayor and it was interesting and enriching to hear his many stories and views.