COCKATOO MAN

~

“When I was growing up in Timor Leste, we had a pet cockatoo. He would copy everyone and follow us when we went out on the farm.”

“I was 19 when I came to Darwin. There were 18 of us who came on a little fishing boat. I was the captain and we made it as refugees across the ocean.”

“I have a good life here in Darwin but it’s hard to be away from my family in Timor. I miss them a lot.”

“Paulie is a part of my family now, like my little brother. He can come anywhere with me.” 

“Paulie likes bike riding and music! We ride down to Nightcliff every afternoon. People always smile at us and say we are exercising NT-style.”

“Paulie is very friendly but he can be a bit cheeky too. Sometimes he likes to pull our dog’s tail and hassle her.”

"Paulie can say a few words - Hello, how's it going? bye-bye, I love you, water and our names."