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Chapter 1
We live in a beautiful place where flora and fauna thrive. The vast expanse of the Australian
outback is home to an array of animals who scurry about their day. The golden wattle and
eucalyptus sway in the soft, warm breeze and provide shade from the sweltering heat. Most
days the animals lay out in these cool areas and nap and dance and eat to their hearts content.
Then there are the birds, the birds who soar high above us and, who swoop low to the ground.
The kookaburras, the cockatoos and the parrots with their stunning, colourful feathers parade
around and take in the picturesque scenery. Not all of the birds fly around and fill the
expansive, blue sky with their colour. The flightless emu bird prances around on its long legs,
like it was strutting down a runway.
In the midst of this exquisite place, is Evandale primary school, a quaint little school that is
one of a kind. It is filled with few students of a wide range of nationalities who love to learn
about their bush surroundings and the animals who occupy it. Even though they love all of
the animals who come to visit them, however, they do have a favourite, who lives a little
further away. Terry the Tasmanian tiger spends his time travelling around the Australian
outback and Tasmanian national parks. He sings and dances everywhere he goes through the
night and into the small hours of the morning, and spends the day exploring new places and
meeting new friends. No matter how far Terry ventures, he always comes back to visit
Evandale once a year on a very special day. His birthday.
This year the children at Evandale started planning the bush extravaganza weeks in advance,
they had crafted and hung banners from the native plants and flowers, they had made a huge,
delicious cake and best of all, they had collected enough firewood to have a magnificent