First Sydney Park Visit

Friday 13th September

It would be remiss of me not to mention my first encounter with the legendary star of Australia memes, the Huntsman spider. En route to see Ali and SJ at Sydney Park Wetlands, I spotted her in the rafters of the loo. It was as if I knew she’d be there – upon walking in I immediately looked skywards, expecting to see her. 

I met my supervisors by the drinks kiosk, where we enjoyed talking about the multitude of dogs who exist in the space. Continuing on we followed the wetland. It struck me as being both wild and tame at the same time – straddling conformity and disarray… I am finding that a lot of Sydney encompasses this wildness and structure (a post about the “rude” animals of the city to come). 

We followed the water through the park and I made a note to come back when it rains so I could see the “waterfalls” storm water artwork in full swing. We sat in the picnic area and I broached the topic of Indigenous knowledges and traditional custodians with SJ and Ali. There is so much to learn and understand – it is not neat, nor succinct, but a complex interwoven narrative and history of people, place, language and Country. I have since continued my reading and feel there is so much to learn. 

After the park, we followed a stormwater drain out from the park, flowing underneath a busy road. After losing it, refinding it, and following it, we could see how it flowed out to the canal. However, this stream was running through a ‘Bingo’ industrial site. Always one to apologise rather than ask, we walked towards it but were instantly confronted by a large man donning a hard hat and vest. “Can I help you ladies? You can’t be on here”. After convincing him to give us a moment, we were able to walk to the edge of the site to see the water join the canal. He swiftly ushered us along. It prompted discussions around why and how water is invisible and hidden from the public. 

Ibis count x 5