The rural abode in Darwin of agronomist Rob Wesley-Smith is like an international airport , a cavalcade of interesting people coming and going from hither and yon . A longtime activist and civil libertarian , he has contacts and friends in many places, here and overseas . He having fought long and hard for East Timor, it is not surprising that transiting Timorese nuns are accommodated in his troppo designed airy house, full of fascinating items,books and extensive files. And he chauffeurs them to and from the airport and takes them on tours. Recently some Frenchmen travelling about Australia in a van stayed with Wes, lodging in his shipping container for two weeks , and they hit it off. A storm blew down a tree which blocked the driveway and the visitors hopped in and helped clear it away. In the process, the largest cane toad Wes had ever seen was found and he delivered the coup de grace . Wes made his tools available for the French to make alterations to their van and put them onto a helpful German mechanic . By way of thanks , the Frenchmen fixed up his washing machine, got a turntable working for the first time in ages so that he could listen to Paul Robeson , and helped in other ways. To mark their time with Wes , one of them, an artist and muso who has written a children's book, provided the drawing , below, showing Wes ,barefooted as usual, with affectionate frogs.
