Get-togethers with Xenia

Jane Goodall memorial at Taronga Zoo

Gavin and Upschool have partnered with the Jane Goodall Institute so I was invited to her memorial service at Tarronga Zoo. It was very moving and inspirational and the setting was sublime as you can see from the photos.

Jane Goodall is one of my role models. She has done so much to bring attention to the natural world and the need to protect it, especially amongst children. 

Here are some fascinating facts about her ...

• She discovered that chimpanzees use tools.  In 1960, Jane Goodall observed a chimpanzee named David Greybeard using a twig to fish termites out of a mound. This shattered the belief that tool-use was uniquely human and forced scientists to redefine what it means to be human.
• She had no formal scientific training when she began her research.  Goodall went to Gombe Stream at 26 without a university degree. Her fresh, unorthodox approach—naming chimps instead of numbering them, observing quietly rather than imposing strict protocols—helped her make groundbreaking discoveries.
• She transformed the study of animal behaviour. Goodall was the first to document chimpanzee warfare, adoption of orphaned infants, and complex emotional lives. Her findings helped shift science away from rigid behaviourism toward a richer understanding of animal minds.
• She was one of the most travelled activists in the world.  Jane Goodall spent more than 300 days a year on the road (even into her 80s), advocating for conservation, animal welfare, and climate action. She said she’s rarely home long enough to unpack a suitcase.
• Her childhood dreams predicted her destiny.  As a girl, she carried a beloved stuffed toy chimpanzee named Jubilee and dreamed of living with wild animals in Africa. She later laughed that everyone thought she’d “go mad” doing so—until she actually did it.

Jane birthday lunch

We celebrated Janes birthday at a wonderful Greek restaurant in Manly. We all had octopus which was the restaurant's speciality. I felt a little guilty.  After watching "My Octopus Teacher" a few years ago, I promised myself I would never eat octopus again!

 

Sydney University

I explored and photographed Sydney University near Glebe with my Photography Meetup Group. What a stunning university with lots of buildings made of sandstone. It reminded me of University of Cape Town and made me feel nostalgic.