2016 STRETCHY'S GARDEN: FROM MY PIC OF BOUGAINVILLEA IN JOHN STRETCH'S FRONT YARD, CARNARVON, WA. JOHN, AN EX-PAT ENGLISHMAN & FINE BUSH POET WORKED WITH RICHARD AT BOOLATHANA, A 500,000 ACRE SHEEP STATION. RICHARD SUPERVISED A 10 YEAR TRIAL FOR THE WA AG DEPT, CULLING WILD GOATS, MONITORING PLANT LIFE CYCLES; ANALYZING DATA, MUSTERING/SHEARING SHEEP & EMPLOYED ME TO COLLECT SAMPLES, REMOVE INVASIVE PLANTS CHOKING WATERING POINTS & RECORD TALLIES AT MOBILE SHEEP DIPS. IN 1998-2001 HE WORKED AS A HYDROLOGIST/AQUARIUS FOR QLD DEPT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES ON A CATTLE STATION. IN 2009 I ASKED HIM TO BE MY DRIVER/NAVIGATOR ON MY $7500 ARTS GRANT TO THE GASCOYNE & PILBARA. HE JUMPED AT THE CHANCE TO GO HOME TO THE WIDE OPEN SPACES OF GOD'S OWN COUNTRY & SEE HIS OLD MATES. HE'S NOW 74 & WORKS AS A VOLUNTEER, MENTORING THE OLD & FRAIL HOW TO USE LAPTOPS WITHOUT TEARS. HIS SURNAME IS DERIVED FROM SCOTTISH ALLAN & SUMERIAN ALAN/CHIEF SCULPTOR. THE MAGICAL EGYPTIAN WORD HEKA MEANS TO SHAPE/SCULPT.