By Brendan Rees
It’s the mysterious landmark that quickly fuelled rumours of alien visitors.
The giant crop circle which had been etched into the grass of Kurll Park in Narre Warren North had heads turning on Friday morning, 18 October.
While it sent the minds of UFO hopefuls racing, the rumours were quickly quashed when it was revealed the crop circle was the work of a birthday stunt.
Owen Watson, who lives adjacent to the park, said his prankster daughter was behind the act as she wanted to surprise him for his 50th birthday.
“I’ve never had a crop circle before, that’s pretty cool,” he said, admitting he was known as an “alien enthusiast”.
After his daughter knocked on his bedroom door to say happy birthday, he also found a “card with a tin foil hat on the floor that I had to wear.”
She told him to look through his telescope when he says he discovered the mysterious circles and patterns.
He said his 18-year-old daughter spent about five hours in the torrential rain with friends creating the piece.
“It’s every bit of half a football field,” he said. “She should be studying for her VCE instead she’s making crop circles,” he laughs.
“It’s a great gift so I’ll get out there and get some photos,” Mr Owen added.
He said the crop circle was closely kept under wraps by his family.
“My wife took me out to the movies yesterday (Thursday) from about 3.30 and then out to dinner,” he explained.
“I could tell something was going on because I wasn’t allowed back, I wasn’t even allowed out to drive down certain roads.
“I thought that they were decorating the house or something. I had no idea.”
“It’s a bit of a joke in the house … I’m always out on the balcony looking at night seeing what I can find,” he says of his telescope.
