Throughout the film, we kept looking, hoping to see them again ... but no such luck.

Next, Mike read an article about these curious creatures and shortly thereafter we watched a documentary extolling their

therapeutic effects upon people.

We'd bought 200ha at Taggerty, a pretty little hamlet in beautiful north-eastern Victoria.

The children were growing older, had almost finished school and we'd tired of city-living.

Llamas topped the list of animals we'd like to farm, along with cashmere goats … and as two of our youngsters were keen riders … Australian Stock Horses.

But we soon discovered llamas were scarce in Australia. Importing them was financially prohibitive so we put them on the back burner.… and settled on Cashmere instead (later to be exchanged with angoras ... but that's another story).

We embarked on a five-year building and development programme. Georgina was born and the years flew by. Cashmere was kind to us.

Prices were good and we did well. Guest Cottages were added to the estate, complementing the farming enterprise and Kingbilli became a busy place.

People arrived in ever-increasing numbers. Some came regularly … and wherever possible, planned their visits to coincide with kidding or foaling.

Why, we wondered? The answer? An afternoon spent sitting beneath a shady tree watching the babies play was hard to beat. It was relaxing and peaceful.

We needed an intelligent animal with a gentle disposition. One who was unfazed by, yet friendly towards people. You guessed it…llamas!!

Llamamania set in. We poured over magazines. We phoned people.

We discovered Mick and Anita Wescombe of Llovely Banks Llamas.They sent us a gorgeous video and suggested we visit as many breeders as possible to ascertain which particular type of animal we wanted before buying.

We did just that, finding llama owners to be a friendly bunch. Nothing was too much trouble. No-one minded sparing time to talk. Breeders spoilt us with lunch, answered endless questions and introduced us to their animals.

We preferred a gentle natured, large-framed, strong boned llama - well-conformed, single fibred, heavily fleeced ... and very banana ears!! If we could find them, we thought we'd aim for nine breeding females and eventually two or three herdsires.

The big moment had come! On the first day of Autumn, we headed down to Llovely Banks!

So much for thinking!

Our third female, Momma Mels, was pregnant and so left for collection until after the birth of her cria. In July, Gentle Jess and the irrepressible Jacko joined our herd.

Finally in September, Momma Mels arrived - with baby Gypsy Rose in tow.

The following Summer we added Brianna and Bubbles to the group. Then came our first llama babies...........!

Our husbandry program is equally strict. Winter in these mountains is harsh and cold, so we cria only during the warmer months.

Standard feed of lucerne and hay is supplemented with cubes containing a trace of Selenium, as our pasture is deficient in this mineral.

Adult llamas are injected twice annually with 5-in-1, crias at 12 weeks and again at 16 weeks. Animals are drenched in Spring and Autumn then injected with vitamins A; D & E in May and August. Toe-nails are trimmed twice yearly.

General health; weight; and growth are monitored and if the feeding of cubes has been unduly heavy, animals are tested for thiamine deficiency. Training is flexible.

People ask us what they're for? The answer … they're to love; enjoy; relax and have fun with. For trekking; driving; therapy; companionship ... and of course, guarding...

Much to Georgina's delight, they've proven to be the most marvellous livestock guardians and are used to protect the angoras from fox and dog attacks, dramatically reducing losses at kidding time.