Mother Kate Sumner and her baby Lily "really enjoyed" their visit at the Sydney Wildlife World at Darling Harbour. They were sitting close to the wallabies' glass enclosure when the 11 FCA members came past. We touched snake Simon that curled its way around keeper Col South's neck and shoulders, patted a Kookaburra called "Cookie", and took pictures of a 20cm long stick insect resting on another keeper's hand.

Sydney Wildlife World opened on September 22 this year. There are still some animals, such as the winter possums, that are getting used to their new habitat.

"It took about 18 months to build the park, which is partially built on water, and a year to gather all the selected animals", said Group Marketing Director Ravini Perera.

As we stroll along the one kilometre walkway, Honorary Secretary Juergen Corleis says, "Ah, yes, the red back. We had five in our garden. The pest control took them away." Executive Secretary April Pressler remarks, "Oh, the red belly black snake, there was a six-foot one in my bed in Seaforth and my cat played with it". I was reminded of the ringtail possums that had clawed along the trees in front of our house when I stroked one's fur in a keeper-built pouch.

"I guess, we'll all come out of here, feeling quite warm and fuzzy", I told colleague Rudolf Hermann from the Neue Züricher Zeitung and he smiled back. There are no crocodiles, fish or other sea creatures; they are next door in the Aquarium.