Kerry and her friends often played in her backyard at Ukarumpa, which sloped down to the edge of the
Bae River, the river that borders two sides of Ukarumpa. At the water’s edge, where the fork of a big old
tree overhung the river, Kerry and her friends would sit for hours daydreaming, having fun and doing
everything short of hopping into the water (which they were not allowed to do without adult
supervision). This special spot, along with the Steinkraus house, became a place where many of Kerry’s
friends would call “home,” even well into their adult years.
Kerry gave to her friend Lois a special gift just before she died. Vonnie had gone to dinner at the
Healeys’ house at Ukarumpa. She gave the Healeys a box meant for Lois. Due to miscommunication, Lois
became aware of the gift a month later, after Kerry’s death. In the box, sitting under the house, was a
milk tin (approx. 6”x8”) full of a large number of live blue and black weevil bettles (eupholus bennetti)
local to the Tifalmin area, as well as a few staghorn beetles. At the top of the tin there was a letter from
Kerry, somewhat the worse for wear with moisture and mould damage from the time under the house.
When Kerry was younger she had observed these beetles in the village. She watched what they ate,
where they were, and admired their various colours. She brought them into Ukarumpa several years
before she died and had tried on many occasions to set up enclosures to make pets of them. They were
amazing escape artists, even with fine mesh.
Blue and black weevil beetles. (eupholus bennetti) from Kerry – Photo Courtesy of Lois (Healey) Ong
On one accession Kerry and Lois even hunted down some of the type of vine the beetles fed off, in
hopes of planting these vines in the enclosure, which came complete with water! However, whatever
they did, beetles had always died.
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