The protective Curlew in the centre of this Christmas card drawn by artist Angie Pollock is a remarkable Magnetic Island identity responsible for raising many orphans. In 2008 , looking forlorn , with an injured wing , scared of the world, she was given by a ranger to a keen wildlife carer , Bev, from the popular Man Friday Mexican and international cuisine cafe / restaurant , which has signs asking customers to heed the cry of the Curlew and watch out for wallabies , who took her home .
Because she looked as if she had been through the mill , scruffy, the name Motley was bestowed upon her. She promptly took refuge from the cruel world by darting into a walk in wardrobe .
There she has resided , on and off, popping out to catch up on the world news , inspect the latest waifs . She has even allowed an abandoned dog named Wrinkles , also saved by Bev , dressed up like a reindeer ( below ) over Christmas, to come into the wardrobe . Wrinkles was even invited to the Queen of the Jungle's Christmas Day morning tea party , treated to a saucer of diced cheese.
As Bev brought home other unfortunate Curlews , Motley's mothering instincts came to the fore . She treated them as if they were her own .
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| Mother superior Motley held by Mexican mother Bev . |
Eggs abandoned in various parts of the island for various reasons , usually due to a sad event , the death of a sitting bird, received Motley's care , new life resulting. Over the years , Motley has mothered umpteen orphans , hatched many. She even managed to lay eggs herself, below . If Motley lived in Russia ,she would undoubtedly be awarded the Mother Heroine Medal , annually.
Bev's partner , Jason , also a wildlife carer and golfer, is the son of the late Max Carlos , an Australian lightweight boxing champion , who represented Australia at the l956 Melbourne Olympics . He is shown below, left, in an epic 1958 battle with Palm Island born George Bracken in Melbourne's so called Hall of Pain, Festival Hall .
Details of Max's boxing and business career, his wife Yvonne , currently up from Melbourne on the island , and his connection with Magnetic island and the Townsville casino , were posted in Little Darwin .
Motley , ever ready for another round of motherhood , knows how it is to go through lockdowns in a wardrobe and come out victorious . Tragically, a recently recovered and released Curlew was found in the gutter on Boxing Day, apparently skittled by a car , there being many vehicles on the island during the holiday period.
