At the Manning Entertainment Centre, we've been keeping a secret under our hat for a little while in order to protect the safety of a small but very special family we've come to know.

Those of you who follow us on Facebook would be familiar with a feathered friend who appeared at our door back in October, welcoming us to work each morning.

This beautiful wild duck, who we nicknamed Daphne, seemed unfazed by our comings and goings. Before too long, we discovered that the reason she seemed to be ever-present, was that she had built a nest in the bushes, close to the MEC entrance.

As days went by, she laid eggs one by one, and then settled down in situ to keep them warm. It seems that Daphne had sought out a quiet place where she would not be disturbed, as the MEC had been closed to the public for some time.

Our research indicated that the eggs would take around 28 days to hatch, and we nervously checked our calendar, knowing that we had two packed out shows scheduled within the coming month. Plans were devised to cordon off the area near her, and the passing patrons were indeed unaware of her presence when a crowd of 500 arrived to watch John Williamson's farewell concert.

That is, until Daphne decided to join the fun.

Was her curiosity aroused by the humming throng, or did she simply want to hear a live version of "Hey True Blue" for the last time? We may never know, but imagine our surprise when she came waddling inside and strolled towards the theatre doors as the crowds were filing in. She calmly bid our patrons good afternoon, then with some gentle coaxing, headed back towards the nest.

To our relief and sheer delight, a week later six fluffy ducklings were revealed. Shortly afterwards Daphne and her littlies were gone; headed we presume, to a nearby watery wonderland for swimming lessons.

We wish them a long and quacky life, and if you've enjoyed this enchanting story, follow us on Facebook for more surprising and inspiring posts every week.

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