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Setting the scene
It’s Kevin Koala’s birthday and he has invited all
his friends to a party in his towering gum tree
deep in the Australian bush. Kevin – sitting at
the centre of the action – is surrounded by
assorted sweets including his special boroniaflavoured
cake with pink gumnut icing.
Meanwhile his little bush friends arrive from
far and wide to join the festivities. Mrs Goanna
wheels baby Gregory in his pram while the
Sugar Glider family prefers a more aerial route.
Down below, little Courtney Kangaroo and
James Wombat, under the watchful eyes of their
parents, clamber up a ladder to join the party,
while Jessica Platypus and her mum ponder just
how they’ll manage the ascent.
Also there for the fun and games is Jack (a
cockatoo) who joins his dad in a jig, dancing
and squawking raucously to the Bilby and
Antechinus bush band.
Emily Echidna and Kyle Kookaburra are
enjoying the celebrations. Chloe, a ring-tailed
possum, is feeling a little queasy after one too
many grevillea-leaf cupcakes.
Approaching from a tree limb are the ants.
Although they were not invited they are hard at
work, devising a strategy to reach the sticky
delights of the birthday feast.
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Bush musicians
Screeching loudly, a
young sulphur-crested
cockatoo and his father
dance a jig to the music
of the Bilby and
Antechinus bush band.
Possum party
A ring-tailed possum,
her baby clinging to her
back, swings down to
join the party. Two other
small ring-tailed
possums are already
feasting on the treats.
Kevin’s cake
The hero of the day,
Kevin Koala, enjoys his
special birthday feast.
How will he ever return
to a diet of plain gum
leaves?
stamp collecting is wild, baby!
Bilby gifts
The little bilbies gather
together with their gifts
at the foot of the big gum
tree. With them are
Joshua Crocodile and
Emma Emu. One little
koala, having slipped on
his way up, plummets
head over heels
back to earth.
Jumping high
A leaping mother
wallaby, joey in pouch,
encourages her young
wallaby to hang on tight
as she makes her ascent.
Beside her an echidna
urges her baby on as he
clings to the ladder
beside a little platypus.
James Wombat
Mother wombat does
her best to help James
up the ladder. Wombats
are ground-dwelling
animals and efficient
burrowers. They are not
at their best when it
comes to climbing trees!
First day covers, miniature sheets
First day cover, gummed
First day cover, self-adhesive
2 October 2001
Further reading
Schodde, Richard and Tidemann, Sonia, The
Reader’s Digest Complete Book of Australian
Birds, Surry Hills NSW, 1988.
Strahan, Ronald, The Mammals of Australia,
Sydney 2000.
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