By Marlene Jennings
ZOOMED in and with a focus on nature, the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve Discovery Centre is showcasing its Microeye, allowing visitors a microscopic view of the unique attributes of the rainforest.
The addition of this innovative durable microscope enables groups of people to view specimens on a screen as opposed to the older conventional single view version microscopes.
Sunshine Coast Council Environment Interpretation Officer Jennifer Waithman said the Microeye is a way “to get up close to the different details and patterns that nature has, whether to look at leaves or the little, tiny hairs of a spider or the possum bones in there that goes with our marsupial display”.
The Marsupials Beyond the Pouch display is one of the many intriguing displays and sensory activities within the Discovery Centre, and is available until December.
The Mary Cairncross Reserve, located at Maleny, maintains an ecological significance, as Jennifer notes a variety of rainforest species are endemic to this particular ecosystem.
The ecosystem “used to cover the Blackall Range and is now reduced, so the reserve does hold a lot of unique plants and animals,” Jennifer said.
“As you walk around the rainforest it is a very magical experience, it’s not something everyone has done and having them explore nature in a different way shows the importance of having the reserve here.”
The Microeye, at a cost of around $10,000, provides a connection between what is seen in the rainforest to view and generate conversations of the detailed observation of specimens.
Visitors have responded positively and volunteers who man the Discovery Centre have given their seal of approval as they passionately spread the word of the wonder of viewing specimens under precise magnification.
The Sunshine Coast Council also facilitates another Microeye at the Maroochy Wetlands Sanctuary Reserve Centre at Bli Bli, where visitors can view in detail specimens from the wetlands and mangroves.
