Meanwhile, back at the Billabong
Welcome to our very first information Blog: “Meanwhile, back
at the Billabong”.
In this & future blogs we will attempt to provide you
with some of the goings on & news
“At the Billabong” AKA (Age Of Fishes Museum).
By now regulars here
will have noticed the web site has been updated, resulting in an even better
experience for visitors. It’s hoped you enjoy the new changes.
Our January feature display “Fins to Flight” has been very
well received by visitors to both the museum & Information office. It’s a stunning
photographic display of the evolution from Devonian fish through to modern
birds told utilising stunning pictures by wildlife photographer, Akos
Lumnitzer.
The school summer
holidays have seen a number of families through the museum; we had a good old
fashion “whodunit” to entertain our younger visitors. The visiting children (of all ages)
were assigned the task of identifying who, in “mudhole springs”, stole “Ossi
Grossi” fin ring gemstone (tygereye). The reward was their own Tiger-eye gemstone to
keep. Some solved it easily, some had a good attempt, ALL were winners.
A National Rock Garden is being
established in Canberra currently & is due to open to the public in 2
years’ time. We were approached to supply a fossil slab for display in the
garden. We complied with the request by supplying slab #4 for permanent
display. Alex Ritchie, Bruce Loomes & Warren Keedle supervised the delivery
of the same to Questacon Canberra where
it will be on display until the garden is ready for it.
Dr Alex Ritchie |
David & Judy Elliot of “Australian Age of Dinosaurs” Winton Qld. Fame, paid AOF a visit in January 2015, David and Judy founded
Australian Age of Dinosaurs and continue to play a key role in its development.
They organise and run our annual dinosaur digs and operated the fossil
preparation facility during its formative years. They have forged a sound
working relationship with the Queensland Museum and enlisted support from all
corners of Australia in their quest to conserve Australian natural history.
Together they publish the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Journal each year and work
full time towards delivery of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural
History. In 2006 David, Judy and their children were awarded the
Queensland Museum Medal and recognised by the Australian Geographic Society as
Australian Conservationists of the Year. David was Queensland’s Local Hero in
2003. AOF has donated “on loan” Slab 88 for display at
the Winton Dinosaur museum.