Upstairs in the bedroom Brolga puts on fancy threads.
Downstairs in the kitchen Quokka butters fairy bread. 
Tassie Devil squeezes lemons for his secret brew.
At the door is Kookaburra letting in the crew. 

What’s going on? What’s all the fuss about? What are the animals doing? A surprise celebration to mark the birthday of a rare and cherished friend is being planned. Penny is very shy and doesn’t venture out often or far, so the animals are hoping a true-blue jamboree will be just the thing to tempt her out of hiding. But remember, she doesn’t know it’s especially for her so – shhh – let’s keep it a secret! A Birthday Jamboree is a story full of fun, friendship and surprise for one very special Australian Potoroo. Full story below. 

‘To be a bee or not to be a bee. That is the question.’
‘Oh no’, thought Boris. ‘He’s been watching too much TV through the bee keepers’ window again.’
‘Seriously Barry?’ sighed Boris. ‘You ARE a bee. You can’t be anything BUT a bee!’ he groaned in frustration.
‘But why Boris? Why can’t I be something else?’ implored Barry.
​‘What else would you want to be Barry?’
‘Hmmm. . . why not a butterfly? They have wings like us. They’re beautiful. And they come in all the colours of the rainbow,’ Barry replied.
‘That’s true,’ said Boris, ‘but they can’t fly as fast as we can, and their wings are not shimmery and see through like ours.’ Boris admired his wings and gave them a little buzzzz.

Dennis the dragonfly loves all things ‘D’.
Daffodils, daisies and dragon fruit trees.
He’s spent life so far in fresh water ponds,
eating and growing among the green fronds.

When the time came for young Dennis to fly
He crawled from the bottom, up to the sky.
As he broke free from his watery place
He found a nice stem where the sun warmed his face.

He stayed on that stem as slowly he shed,
unfolding, unfurling till out popped his head!  
Followed by legs, a torso and wings.
Shimmering, shining such beautiful things.

He still could not fly. He needed the sun
to harden his body. When that was done
he let go the stem. Flew off to explore.
To find a new mate, one he’d not met before.

He flew quite a ways. He flew all around.
Then he saw Debbie! She made his heart pound.
She looked so fantastic with eyes wide and blue.
Her wings were so clear! The sun shone right through.

Dennis the dragonfly loves all things ‘D’.
Daffodils, daisies and dragon fruit trees.
And now there is Debbie to add to his list.
She’s right at the top and not to be missed!

Dennis the dragonfly loves all things ‘D’
like daffodils, daisies and dragon fruit trees.
His best friend is Barry whose favourites are ‘B’
like buttercups, bluebells and tall Birchwood trees.
 
But lately the plants and trees they loved well
were harder to find, and harder to smell.
It seemed that the humans were making things grey,
and taking the smells and the colours away
 
The fields once green, were covered with scars
from crisscrossing roads, where people drove cars.
Dennis and Barry decided to leave
to find a new life. So on New Year’s Eve
 
they flew off together to find a new home,
hoping to find all the things they had known.
After what seemed like such a long time,
they saw something wonderful. Something so fine!
 
Down they flew and when they were near
their eyes opened wide! Their hearts filled with cheer.
They buzzed up above the colourful scene
rubbing their eyes thinking, ‘Is this a dream?’
 
So many insects were flying around!
Fireflies, butterflies, queen wasps with crowns.
Beetles and dragonflies, aphids and ants.
Lace bugs and honey bees wearing striped pants!
 
A pretty green Mantis who was their friend May
Looked up and called out to them, ‘Hey! Come this way!’
They flew down to greet her and as they embraced,
Dennis turned slowly and asked, ‘What’s this place?’
 
‘The one place that’s left where we can live free.
Where insects are safe. Where humans can’t be.
‘Just look at what’s here!’ laughed May with delight.
She pointed out wonderful things left and right.
 
Blackberries, strawberries, peaches and more.
Lavender, lilies, roses galore!
Jasmine, snow peas and daisies so tall!
There’s food for you both. Food for us all.
 
We’re many that travelled from near and far.
We fled from the fields, the ones filled with scars
of marks made by humans, who don’t understand
we have just one chance to be kind to this land.’
 
As Dennis and Barry looked over at May
they nodded. ‘Together’ was the only way.
So humans please note - you are not here alone.
We all share together, this Earth we call home.