Sunday 31 May 2020. Newport Lakes Reserve, a former quarry site in Melbourne’s inner west, is an attractive park of lakes and bushland, criss-crossed by walking and cycling trails. On the lovely, late-autumn afternoon of the Handels’ visit, walkers, joggers and picnickers were legion. As we crossed the stepping stones that separate the larger of the two lakes Black Swans approached us. Many other species of birds call the park home too.