Tourists would shell out to give Bob a helping hand

I MISS Bob. He was crook, bad back, but they looked after him so well in hospital, I suppose it was simply time to go.

True, I was sad, as were all his friends at his farewell, but we were happy to know he was going home. Upsetting though, not a wave! Bob simply left. We waved and cheered, so a “thank you” would have been nice.

Actually, if the truth be known, all of us at his farewell were so happy he was leaving. To see him healthy was all the thanks we needed.

Bob was cared for wonderfully by all the doctors and nurses at Turtle Hospital, Bob is a green turtle, and we watched him slide down the beach, pause at the first wave, as if to say “I remember”, and then he was gone.

A few kicks from his strong flippers and he’d vanished beneath the waves of our beautiful Cleveland Bay in moments. I’ve been a part of Turtle Farewells before, but each time is different, each time a fantastic experience. To see them return to the wild after being crook, or in Bob’s case copping a kiss from a boat propeller, is an absolute joy, and I reckon we should share it if we can.

Sometimes it’s not possible if the turtle is too sick, but in most cases, let’s make the Turtle Farewell an event – especially for school kids. Imagine if a class did an assignment on Bob, from his arrival, the superb care from his new mates at Turtle Hospital, and finally the event, Bob on the beach and going home. Totally Turtle!

We cheered Bob along, we could do that with a school class too – they’d love it. These kids are our future and it’s their generation that will make sure we keep these turtles around for a long time.

We have all these beaches along The Strand with no name, why not name one Turtle Beach? Few places in the world have a beach in the heart of a great city where its common to see turtles and dugong ... and, of course, the occasional four metre croc.

I reckon you could have a specially built and designed sign, with the name and basic story of the turtles released. Now tell me people wouldn’t come from faraway places to see a turtle released in the wild.

It’s OK for some of us, we’ve seen them, but many in the world have not.

I have mates in Melbourne who I told about this, they would fly up just to be a part of it.

I guess it’s being proud of what we have, this great little hospital, with amazing people, who make an amazing difference to these incredible, sometimes endangered creatures of our local wilderness.

Thank you Rohana and Connie from Reef HQ and, of course, Bob!

Happy days … and Happy All Australians Day.