Who remembers the day we came back to school from lunch to find a land camoodi in the tree right beside the school gate? We weren’t allowed to go in and some of the men (can’t remember who) were called to come and deal with the situation. While we were all standing around watching (this was all very exciting and a great way to miss classes!) a kisskadee flew into the tree and was swallowed by the snake. As soon as the men had killed and brought the snake down they cut it open to see if the bird was still alive but unfortunately it wasn’t.
Camoodi in Watooka
BobW (Who knows where this photo came from?)
If you don’t remember that time, how about the time we were picnicking in the jungle at Kara Kara creek? The current was so strong that we we always had to swim with ropes tied around our waists and an adult sitting on the bridge holding on to the other end. This one time we went up there was a water camoodi curled up on the little sandbank at the side where we used to swim to so we weren’t allowed to swim that day rope or no rope.
Then of course there was the time John Langham found a land camoodi on the road, brought it home and kept it sedated in his back yard. I am sure we all went and had a look at that. Julian could probably add more to that story.
Any more snake encounter stories out there?
I remember the Langham comoodie – he drove around with it tied up in the back of his Mini Moke for couple of days (or was it a topless Land Rover?)
Also remember the Easter egg hunt years before at the Club when a Comoodie was found back near the malacca tree. It had just eaten a big toad and had a big lump in its neck. There was quite a cufuffle trying to get all the little kids to stop looking for eggs as the snake was “removed”. I don’t think it survived. I was a little kid at the time and remember being dissappointed at not finding many eggs.
I have a picture of the land camoodie that Margo’s talking about(will post later) with my father holding the “serious end” with me at the other and dexter Hutt’s young brother looking on. Workmen had discovered it in the bush along the Ituni road between Richmond Hill and the Airfield and reprted it to the Constabulory. my father jumped at the chance for a bit of excitement (!) and after a couple of days showing it off, he skinned it and we have the snakes’ skin at home to this day. It was delicious, by the way! (just kidding!).
Greetings! I was born in Watooka in 1943 and I have a huge file on B.G. with many current contacts of my little friends there who have all grown up.
It is important that anyone receiving this PLEASE contact me to give me the tel. no. of any/all of the names on this website asap, thank you. I am in the process of writing a book, “The Children of Watooka” … so, it important that you all be in it!
Steve Connolly
1-819-422-3662
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BobW ( Steve, I’ve sent you an email )
Hi Steve! Welcome!, Glad you found this blog site. Most people here lived in Watooka spanning the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. So far all were associated in one way or another with DEMBA, as a point of reference. Do you recognize any of the names?
It would be great to hear more about you, your experiences and contacts with folks in Watooka though this blog. Hopefully we can connect the dots.
I was born at Watooka Hospital in 1955 and attended Mackenzie High for one year in 67-68.
Well, how ’bout that? Fascinated by phone call from Robert Castel recently and Margo Roza’s recent to my mother in St. Catharines, I googled Eileen Malabre’s name and hey presto there I was back in Watooka. Wow! Count me in. I’ve been attending reunions and keeping in touch with Steve Connolly, Ralph Sinke and Joan Fraser and getting bits of news from my mother’s annual correspondence with Bev Roza and Sheila Hiscocks, but this is a wonderful way to correspond! We are looking for Judy Hunter – Kreller – at least Steve Connolly is … I have fond memories of the Casses as well. Wow!