EMU FARM

OOPS! I just found this post which was still in draft mode but it happened last year.

 Margaret, one of the residents in our village organises bus trips for us. Last week we went into the country to visit an Emu Farm at Marburg, Afterwards we would go to another country town, Boonah, for lunch and a browse through the main street. As we drove through the lovely countryside I wondered why anyone would farm emus.

The Emu is Australia's tallest native, flightless bird, reaching between 1.6 m and 1.9 m when standing erect. Adult Emus are covered with shaggy grey-brown feathers except for the neck and head, which are largely naked and bluish-black. The wings are greatly reduced, but the legs are long and powerful.

It appears on our country's coat of arms with the kangaroo. They were chosen to represent a forward moving country because these animals cannot move backwards easily. 

After an hour we were at the entrance to the farm. The paddocks on the left had many emus.

The bus pulled up near a pen full of teenage emus. They were shy but also a bit curious.

Stephen Schmidt, the farmer gave us a talk about how he became an emu farmer and what they make from the emu. He used to be a truck driver but developed a painful shoulder and knee. He was told to rub in Emu Oil and within five days the pains disappeared. He was so impressed he changed his business to emu farming. He did a lot of of research into the Eskimos who eat seal and whale fat and they have high levels of cholesterol but do not suffer from heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a build up of cholesterol in their arteries. he then studied the omegas in emu oil and found they were similar to those in whale oil.

He then decided to injest the oil and it lowered his cholesterol. It is the good cholesterol and dissolves the plaque on the walls of the arteries. He makes capsules of the oil. He has had many satisfied customers. 

Personally, I was a bit dubious about his claims. (If it sounds too good to be true..........). But that's me I'm a bit of a skeptic. 

The emu eggs are green and very large. The male and female work together to make a nest but after the eggs are laid the male chases the female off the eggs and he incubates them. He sits on them for seven days without moving or eating. He lives off his fat. he then rears the chicks while the female has gone off with another male. (floozie)

Naturally, we were invited into the shop to see all the products made from the oil. Besides the capsules they sell the oil to rub onto sore joints and heat rub as well as a range of beauty products. I bought some oil to rub into my arthritic hands.

Then it was back in the bus for a short drive to Boonah for lunch.

We passed the paddocks full of mature emus.

I was very disappointed with my blurry photos. I have the latest phone so don't know why this happened. Most likely the operator.

We drove through more lush farming areas to Boonah where we were dropped at the Tavern for lunch. It was typical "Pub Grub".

Brave Gary was the only male who joined our trip so he sat at the head of the table.

After lunch we had a stroll through the town. They have interesting stores in country towns. Some visited the art gallery. I bought a nice top.

It was lovely watching the peaceful country pass by on the way home.

My new top.