Hither and Thither

Decisions, decisions

2012-01-05T22:03:00.004+11:00

I have spent a week agonising over this decision, only to come full circle.

I wanted to change this blog to one about Wauchope, because I will know the place well by the end of 2012. Then, I thought to change this blog to cover other small towns that I visit, not just in NSW, but anywhere really.

Then, my biggest and bestest brainwave: I would start a blog based on the video at the beginning of this post. This video was made in the Winter of 2008 sitting on a bench at the Milson's Point end of the harbour bridge, looking back to the opera house. My father had a number of party pieces, this was one of them. However, I counted the number of railway towns Dad mentioned, and instead of the obligatory 50, he only mentioned 38. What Bertie Witherspoon had done, was to teach his boys the towns along each track line: Main Southern, Main Northern, Main Western, South Coast Line, North Coast Line, and Broken Hill line.

However, to do the blog properly, I would need to travel to each town, get off and document the town. What if the train does not stop there amymore? It would mean that I have to stay in 50 country towns, for one or more nights. If I did one trip per month, it would take me just over 4 years.

I will mull ont it some more.

Wauchope - Fuels & Oils

2011-12-26T22:35:00.006+11:00

When I visit my brother, Barry, in the nursing home, I usually only stay for about an hour. Any more is very wearing for both of us. I then go for a meander for two hours, and come back for another hour visit. I do this on consecutive days.

So, I was meandering, sans map, and found this little gem on the quiet end of Hastings Street. It is a store like this that pulls a city slicker up with a thud! It is a petrol station. It is a garage. But it is more. It is one of the essential types of small business that are the life blood of a country town: the stock and station agent; the grain store; the saddler; the veterinarian. They do things differently on the land.

Look at that facade. Reminds me of the drawings of houses that 5 year olds come up with - a bit face-like. For some reason, this store-front reminds me of that old film by Peter Bogdanovich called 'The Last Picture Show'. Can't think why. Something lurking in the deep recesses of my poor brain. Which reminds me, and the link is tenuous: I saw "The Iron Lady' over the break. Streep is remarkable, and it annoys me that Margaret & David said she was 'impersonating' Thatcher. What else does an actor do, but impersonate? But, there was something that gnawed at my poor old brain again. I tend to think the script was inadequate. Does that sound like I'm up myself?

Streep was excellent, as was Broadbent. As were the pair of young actors who played (impersonated) young Maggie and Denis. And I did not pick up that it was biased, either to the right or to the left. But it was nearly all from the perspective of the demented 85 y.o. Thatcher. And I am not sure how accurate that point-of-view can be. How can anyone be sure what is going through the mind of someone with dementia? I think I kept on wanting it to get on with the bloody story. Let's have some barricades, and blood on the streets. Well, there were the two bombings ...

Nothing to do with Wauchope ... but ... it came into my head ... early signs ... perhaps?

The derision of a 'tidy town'

2011-12-24T21:12:00.012+11:00

I guess it is the 'inner city elites' often known as 'latte sippers' who sniff their noses up when driving through a country town in Australia that is as neat as a pin. They are known as 'tidy towns' because of an annual competition run by the 'Keep Australia Beautiful Council'. To the best of my knowledge, neither of these towns has won the title of a 'Tidy Town'. However, to my inner-city jaded sensibility, both Jamieson in Victoria and Wauchope in New South Wales would seem to qualilfy.

According to Wiki, The Keep Australia Beautiful Council is a not-for-profit environmental conservation organisation founded in Victoria in 1969. It is established now in every state and territory, and is jointly funded by both State and Federal governments. The KAB Council runs the 'Tidy Town' competition.

The Tidy Town awards encourage, motivate and celebrate the achievements of rural and regional communities across Australia. Originally focussed on litter reduction and civic pride, they now address the environmental, social and economic sustainability of local rural communities. There is a state winner each year, and an overall national winner.

I suspect there is a quota system at work in the winners list - a bit like the Nobel Prize for Literature. Each state seems to be equally represented in the list of past winners:

1991 Mount Tyson, Queensland
1992 Mount Gambier, South Australia
1993 Forbes, New South Wales
1994 Lucindale, South Australia
1995 Naracoorte, South Australia
1996 Kiama, New South Wales
1997 Stanley, Tasmania
1998 Denmark, Western Australia
1999 Goolwa, South Australia
2000 Batchelor, Northern Territory
2001 Horsham, Victoria
2002 Soldiers Point / Salamander Bay, New South Wales
2003 Wyalkatchem, Western Australia
2004 Port Vincent, South Australia
2005 Mount Gambier, South Australia
2006 Collie, Western Australia
2007 Swansea, Tasmania
2008 Toowoomba, Queensland
2009 Tamworth, New South Wales
2010 Beechworth, Victoria
2011 Lithgow, New South Wales

I think there was some political fall-out from the selection of Lithgow as the national winner for 2011. Something to do with under-handed, skulduggery in the workings of local councils. Really!

The first six images here were taken in Jamieson, Victoria at the end of November this year. The second six images were taken in Wauchope, NSW at the beginning of December this year.

Beechworth - The Diggings

2011-10-02T22:43:00.004+11:00

Touted as a grand drive through the diggings of a bygone era, I found the gorge to be rather sad and forlorn,, emphasising the destruction of the natural environment to man's insatiable greed.

This hand picked and sawn race flows under Newtown Bridge. This bridge, on the eastern outskirts of Beechworth, started operation in 1875. Using no mortar whatsoever, it is held together with keystones.

Louis Chevalier set up a water-powered saw mill using water from this race in the middle of 1853. Later it was converted to grind flour, but ceased operation totally in the 1880s.

This entire gorge is very sad. All I can envisage is hordes of men, who failed at city jobs, desperately digging to try to make ends meet. Pounding the sides of this gorge into mountains of detritus and pock-marks.

Beechworth - the old hospital

2011-09-27T12:39:00.004+10:00

I did not feel engaged by the historic end of the town, but was more engaged up this end of town.

Originally called the Ovens District Hospital, it was completed in 1857 and demolished in 1940. Let's put its construction into context. The Victorian gold rush is considered to have been from 1851 until the late 1860s. Ned Kelly was born in 1855 and hung in 1880. My great-great-grand-father, Stephen Cole, settled in nearby Jamieson in 1862.

The first stage of the hospital cost 2,347 pounds. Even though another hospital was built in Wangaratta in 1871, further additions were made to this hospital in both 1858 and 1890. The hospital was demolished in 1940 when a new, smaller one, was built. Due to the shortage of building materials during World War II all salvageable materials were used for public works within Beechworth. All that remains of the 1857 hospital today is the granite facade, and remnants of the extensive gardens.

Even here, an opportunity has been lost. Down in Port Arthur the impact of the historic site has been magnified by snippets of the lives of the convicts and others who existed there. This hospital, too, would have a greater impact if we could stand and read about some of the miners and pioneers who benefited from its existence.

Beechworth - Echoes of History

2011-09-25T07:27:00.004+10:00

My first visit to Beechworth was in 1972. Yes, nearly forty years ago. So, it stands to reason, that things will have changed in the interim: the town will have changed; and, I will have changed.

And the way history is perceived and presented has changed.

In the year 2000, I gather, a sizeable amount of government funding was dedicated to Beechworth, to enable its story to be preserved for future generations. The tagline, 'Echoes of History', is the public face of this programme.

The result is a sterile, bureaucratisation of a provincial town. I guess it was either that or history as a 'reality show'. Needless to say, I was gobsmacked and disappointed. But I will be the first to say that I have changed equally as much as Beechworth has changed.

In my mind's eye, I had visions of a tumble of junk, of dirt, of old people with flowing beards working in blacksmith's shops, of slabs of decaying wood roughly joined together into huts. Was this what Beechworth had been in 1972? I am no longer sure.

But Beechworth today is fit for the busloads of senior's groups who are plonked down in the main street for an hour or so, and who spend their time in gift-shops and bakeries.

Myrtleford - Tobacco growing

2011-09-23T15:28:00.003+10:00

I did not realise that tobacco was a viable crop in Australia. The number of smokers in our community is down in the low 20%. All the major cigarette manufacturers are multi-nationals. Somehow I figured that all cigarettes were manufactured off-shore. However, when I think of it, in the late '30s and early '40s my mother packed Craven A cigarettes into packets in a factory somewhere in St Peters in Sydney,

These strange looking sheds are the drying sheds on the farms of tobacco growers in NE Victoria. Tobacco is primarily grown along the banks of the King, Ovens, and Kiewa Rivers and the Tobacco Growers' Co-operative of Victoria is based in Myrtleford.

The first viable cultivation of tobacco commenced in the 1930s and there is now about 1400 hectares under cultivation by about 130 growers which contributes $27 million to the country's GDP.

I sort of wish they wouldn't, but it really is up to smokers to quit.

Myrtleford - Butter Factory

2011-09-21T21:18:00.006+10:00

This was an inspirational morning!

We first met Naomi Ingleton at the St Kilda Farmers' Market, and she invited us to watch the 'butter churn' which she did each Thursday at the Butter Factory in Myrtleford. With us watching through the plate-glass window, Naomi and her biologist set up the churn, checking temps and adding 'bugs' when appropriate. Then she came out and gave us freely of her time.

In 2007 Naomi and her mother Bronwyn, set up a cafe in the Old Butter Factory, which had been built in 1930 but which ceased churning its own butter in 1966. With a young family and wanting more, Naomi plunged into producing butter in the middle of 2010. Bronwyn had mortgaged her house to enable the refit and gear-up.

The factory building (both cafe and factory floor) is leased from the owners, a local Myrtleford couple. The company now employs 15 local people, mostly women, and across the age spectrum. It really was a hive of activity.

Naomi has had a remarkable professional life which is obvious from reading her website. She traipses around the countryside to Farmers' Markets and restaurants. She produces the butter. She helps in the cafe and with the accounts. And she has a babe in arms!

When I checked with my local Thomas Dux in Paddington, they do not stock butter from Myrtleford. They do not stock much butter at all, in comparison with margarine. Yuk! I will chat with Grant, the manager.

Myrtleford - Trout farm

2011-09-18T19:41:00.004+10:00

After lunch - at yet another bakery - we headed out of Bright and along the Great Alpine Road toward Mount Beauty. We could see the High Country in the distance dusted with snow. As we had come to expect, the 'Mountain Fresh Trout & Salmon Farm' (just before Harrietville) was a hodge-podge of pre-loved buildings owned by people simply trying to make a go of things.

The current owner bought into the business last year, and is trying to increase his markets. He goes regularly to the Farmers Markets in Bright and Beechworth, and he had sent his son up to Sydney with x tonnes of produce, instructing him to call into the markets at Wagga on his way back.

The trout farm was 40 years old and he was the sixth owner. There was a series of 14 'ponds' that were stream fed - he had to buy a licence from the government - by hiving off water from Stony Creek (just before it joined with the Ovens River) as it stormed around the bend, sending it through the ponds, then releasing it back into the stream out the other side of the bend. The whole thing looked idyllic - but hard work.

The smoked trout we bought was D-licious.

Myrtleford - Vineyards

2011-09-17T09:30:00.004+10:00

During our four day stay in what is known as 'NE Victoria' - which is crushingly bureaucratic, hence my label, 'Myrtleford' - we visited three wineries: Pizzini, Gapsted, and Boynton (Feathertop).

We had no pre-set agenda, working it out each morning. We bought simply to consume that evening. There were SO MANY other equally brilliant wineries we could have visited, Brown Bros. at Milawa for starters. But we were driving ourselves, and took due care. I collected the email subscriptions to each vineyard to consider here at home.

I particularly liked the Sangiovese from Pizzinis, who also had a nice Verduzzo. But, if I had to choose just one wine, it would be the Sangiovese. However, from the point of a vineyard and the visitor experience, I would have to plump for Gapsteds.

The first two images in this post show Gapsteds Vineyard. The third image shows the Boynton Vineyard. The final image is from within the tasting room of Pizzini. All three vineyards are on Facebook.

Myrtleford - Krackatinny

2011-09-14T22:56:00.003+10:00

From our rented cottage on the Buffalo Creek Road on the outskirts of Myrtleford, we spotted this 'Blue Ridge Mountains' settlement, but could not quite read what was on the shed. I volunteered to trudge down to check it out.

Being a gutless-wonder from way back, I did not duck under the barbed-wire and brazenly check the joint out. I edged along the blue-metal road-edge, with the hairs on the back of my neck erect in silent salute.

I reported back to my road-trip buddies, and we had a quiet chuckle over our game of petanque whilst sipping chilled Verduzzo from Pizzini's.

LHI - Petrels on the way to Ball's Pyramid

2011-03-11T23:31:00.005+11:00

This is the White-Bellied Storm Petrel. They were absolutely magical to watch as they 'danced' across the waves. It is the smallest of the seabirds that breed at Lord Howe, and are only ever seen on the trip down to Ball's Pyramid.

Length 20cm
Weight 48gm
Lays one egg (in rock crevice) which hatches in 37 days and the chick flies in 80 days.
When feed the WB Storm Petrel hands in the breeze with its feet dangling, pattering the water.

LHI - Black Noddy

2011-03-08T00:12:00.005+11:00

We spent the entire day over at North Bay, travelling to and fro by flat-bottomed barge. Pinetrees provided us with a massive BBQ. We pushed through the beaten-path to Old Gulch were the large pebbles on the beach got the better of me. Then we went around the white expanse of beach and up into the rookery. Finally, we climbed as far as allowed up Mount Eliza. I made sure I was next behind the guide, to give me that extra psychological imperative to keep going.

These notes are taken from Ian's massive guide to LHI.

Black Noddies nest exclusively in the lowland forest. When they first colonised LHI in 1990, they were nesting in stunted Melaleuca bushes high up the cliffs of the Old Gulch. After their numbers increased to around 30 pairs, the colony migrated to the line of Norfolk Island Pines on the foreshore behind North Beach.

It was mainly the removal from the island of feral pigs, goats and domestic cats, that provided the impetus for the renewal of breeding. Cats especially have been totally removed, something resisted by residents for a while. Dogs are allowed, but this must be approved by the Board on a case-by-case basis.

Length 36cm. Weight 100gms. Sooty black body and wings. Forehead and crown are silver-white. Snatch fish and crustaceans from the surface.

Build a substantial nest of seaweed and excretea. Only lay one egg, which hatches after about 35 days. The chick flies after 50 days.

Sorry this last shot is not as focussed as I would like. I was wandering in and under the tree where anything could land on my head. Lucky I had substantial shoes on! It was quite dark under there and I could not get the shutter-speed high enough to counter the 800 ISO. However, I wanted to show you the feet ... umm ... another word I cannot think of.

LHI - our guides

2011-03-06T21:11:00.003+11:00

The trip to Lord Howe was for 5 days of birdwatching. There were 5 of us together with two guides, one from Sydney the other from the island. We jam-packed a lot into our time there, and I would have happily paid for another night to enable us to have two free afternoons. Generally, we did three things per day. I am just happy that the 9pm sessions with torches did not eventuate. I would so easily go back, just with one other or by myself, and take my time expending quite that much effort.

The tour was organised by Janelle from 'Follow that Bird' which is based in Avalon on he northern beaches of Sydney. She organises all sorts of tours throughout the year, some are one day drives in her bus from Sydney. She set up the 'lists' which were our aim.

Our guide on LHI was the remarkable Ian Hutton who went to the island in the 1980s as a meteorologist and they have not been able to get rid of him since. He writes books, leads tours, and is involved with researchers around the world. Helicopters drop him on top of mountains to do palm counts. He nips off into the bush to check his rat traps. That sort of thing.

Lord Howe Island - White terns

2011-03-06T00:00:00.004+11:00

The white terns nest in the Norfolk Island Pines close to the row of boat sheds along Lagoon Beach. This is close to a flurry of cottages which provide a bit of protection to the terns from the predations of owls and rats. A number of times I saw the carcass of a White Tern where the owl had ripped out the juicy breast mid-flight.

Ooo they are a pretty bird, a delicate bird, a fragile bird. And sooo white ... They lay their egg balanced on a limb of the pine, open to the elements. Islanders have banded together so that after strong winds, they scout around early in the morning and ensure that eggs and young are replaced on branches, out of the way of you-know-who.

Length 30cm and weight 110gm. White all over, thin black circle around eyes, forked tail. Eggs hatch in 28 days. Plucks small fish and squid from the surface. Swift, rapid wingbeats, parallel courtship flights.

So, how did we get so close to the chick? His location was well-known to our guide (shall introduce you to our guides tomorrow). He was sitting on a fence post beneath an overhanging tree, at the rear of the town meeting place. He had been there for a couple of weeks and would remain there until about the 70th day when he would fly off with his parent.

Caracassonne - the layers of a town

2010-10-31T23:37:00.005+11:00

These three images are part of the perimeter of The Bastide.
Top: Rue Barbes (yes, it made me smile, too) runs around the perimeter
Below Left: Portes de Jacobins on the southern wall
Below Right: Portes de Toulouse on the western wall

Carcassonne is a town/city composed of layers. There is the medieval castle and its walls that protected the original inhabitents about 1200AD. Then there is the Bastide on the other side of the RIver Aude to the castle. Surrounding both these are the suburbs of the city of the current era. We never ventured there. For the next few posts, I will show you around the Bastide, the centre of which is Place Carnet, and, as you know already, our apartment was very close to Place Carnet. It was fine during the day, but dead as a dodo at night.

The Bastide is very orderly and the streets, although narrow, are laid out on a grid-pattern. Generally, they are one way, with a partner street going the other way. Many of the streets could be blocked off by the council whenever. The council, may I say was very active and efficient. Place Carnet was clean and tidy about 30 minutes after the market had finished on the Saturday. I was impressed.

Assorted streets laid out in a grid pattern. The traffic is quiet in all of these. It did get locked up occasionally, but they were more patient than I would have been. They used the barriers extensively to restrict parking and to alter the flow of traffic.

Beetroot - I think

2010-10-29T22:55:00.005+11:00

Here is more detail about the beetroot that Letty queried. The first image shows the cut product, and the final image a totally uncut tray. The two smaller images show the vegetable insitu on a market stall. Now we come to the sign.

'Cuites au four' or 'cuites au fous' depending on the writing. The first I think translates as 'cooked with the furnace' and the second translates as 'cooked with the insane ones'. I guess it depends on whether one likes beetroot.

Carcassonne - J'adore le peuple

2010-10-28T20:17:00.006+11:00

In this, our final visit to the town markets, let me introduce you to some more of the people who live in and around Carcassonne. Some of these people are farmers and some are customers. The all seem to work in the sun and the rain, they are weather-beaten. One of their attractions, I feel.

Carcassonne is in the Languedoc-Rousillon department of La France. It is a hard-working, down to earth, unpretentious area.

Carcassonne - Birds-eye view

2010-10-27T21:28:00.005+11:00

Place Carnet in the Bastide, Carcassonne (old city), on an overcast Saturday early afternoon. The market was already set up by the time I was looking out the window at 8am and by 5pm mot a skerrick of mess was left. The city council is very efficient. It was fascinating to watch it from above, although scarey as I had absolutely no confidence in the strength of the balaustrade!

It is a produce market, but also a social gathering. There was such a mixture of races. I think that Sydney is fairly mixed, but it pales in comparison to Frances. (Sorry, poor choice of word but I shall leave it there!)

Lots of babies and children, but light on for teenagers.

Embiggen photo 6 - it will take your breath away!

Carcassonne - paen to place

2010-10-24T22:52:00.006+11:00

Although there were mid-week markets in Place Carnet, they were not a patch on these Saturday markets. We have been flying out of Sydney on a Saturday and arriving in France on the Sunday. This seemed to set up a pattern of having weekly accommodation that started on a Sunday. Hence, the best markets were the day BEFORE we left each place. What a waste!

This was an exclusively produce market. My preference. The markets in Italy had a combination of produce and goods, with the latter being mass produced and often made in China. Defeats the purpose of going to a market, I reckon. Carcassonne had excellent boulangeries and Chez Felix - on Place Carnet - had nice coffee and red wine. The red wine in France is cheaper than the coffee.

Carcassonne - beginning at the end

2010-10-23T05:18:00.005+11:00

In September, I went to Europe for three weeks, spending a week in Paris, a week in Carcassonne, and four days in Barcelona. I am using my experiences in Paris to help me learn more French language. It can be found in 'à pied dans les rues de Paris'. My appreciation of both Carcassonne and Barcelona shall appear here until the end of 2010.

Carcassonne is a reasonably sized town midway along the Canal de Midi, from Narbonne on the Mediterranean across to Toulouse. It's main claim to fame is the magnificent medieval castle atop a hill. However, the thing that I was most taken with, was the Saturday market in the town square, just below my window. I will make a series of posts introducing you to the villagers who live in Carcassonne and its surrounds.

I wandered Place Carnet for over two hours, watching and absorbing and making up stories in my pea brain. The earthiness (and realness) of both the stall holders and their customers, entranced me. I watched this particular lady sell her wares for maybe 30 minutes. She had obviously been coming to market for many years. I guess her to be well into her 80s. Her customers were very patient and respectful. The black man, in particular, was going nowhere until he had purchased from her. When she toppled the box of tomatoes, he lept to her assistance, and then went back to waiting. Patiently.

Ballast Point - Sydney Harbour

2010-09-02T17:42:00.005+10:00

Ballast Point occupies the northern point of Mort Bay off the suburb of Balmain. It is just a hop, step and a jump to Goat Island. Andrew has the information about the previous use of the point.

Located on the harbour as it is, it is understandable that rapacious developers wanted to get their greedy hands on it. However, it was spared for the people and industrial landscapers were let loose upon it. It is a confronting park from the water. But I will stay judgement until I have walked around it. It would be accessible by taking a ferry to the Thames Street wharf, walking around the Mort Dry Dock and entering from the bow of the park.

Telegraph Point, Mid-north Coast NSW

2010-08-14T23:41:00.006+10:00

Barry lives about 45 minutes from either Wauchope or Port and there is about 20 kms between those two towns. Telegraph Point is mid-way between them. Situated on the banks of the Wilson River - a tributary of the Hastings, these shots were taken on the northern side of the old punt connection.

It is neither a wealthy nor a thriving hamlet, but it does have Barry's church of choice, St Bernard's which is an outreach of the massive St Agnes in the centre of Port. Barry is well known by the parishioners, and even knows the code for after hours entry. I went along to Sunday Mass which is celebrated on Thursday night and he introduced me to the upwards of 50 fellow travellers.

The original St Bernards was burnt to the ground in 1993. For me, the old building looks much nicer but I am not a believer as Barry is. However, I do believe that this is a warm family for my brother, who remember his birthday, chat to him on the street in both Wauchope and Port, and have invited him into their homes for over 15 years to celebrate Christmas.

Wauchope, Mid north coast, NSW

2010-08-07T23:05:00.004+10:00

Both Wauchope and Port Macquarie lie on the Hastings River, Wauchope being 20kms inland and Port right on the coast. Wauchope is a typical country town of about 7,500 people whereas Port is a thriving retirement mecca of close to 45,000 people.

My older brother, Baz, lives on a communal property about 40kms outside of Wauchope near the hamlet of Rollands Plains. He moved onto the land in about 1983 and the following year he and Dad together constructed a house. Baz has since constructed a shed and an extensive vegetable garden. Until recently, Baz was a vegetarian and hence could supply his own requirements.

By trade Baz was a communications engineer, but that was back in the 70s and the world is a totally different place now. For the last 30 years he has scraped a living doing leather-work and selling at markets around the state. Earlier in July he turned 65 and qualified for the Old Age Pension. This is the most money he has earnt in is life.

Oh, and did I tell you he is schizophrenic?

Normally, he comes to Sydney twice a year, stays with me and visits Dad. This time I visited him.

Wallaga Lake, Sapphire Coast, NSW

2010-04-27T00:00:00.000+10:00

Although not the largest state in the federation of Australia, the state of New South Wales is quite large at 800,000 sq kilometres, larger than France at 536,000 sq. kilometres, and larger even than Texas at 696,000 sq. kilometres. One of the nicest areas of this state, is the South Coast, and within that, one of the nicest areas is referred to by marketeers as the 'Sapphire Coast'.

The small town of Bermagui hosts the biennial Four Winds Festival which is a treat for the ear and for the soul. As is the township as it straddles Horseshoe Bay, with its upgraded marina to house the fishing fleet.

A few kilometres to the north of Bermagui, nestles the hamlet of Wallaga Lake with its delightful timber bridge.

Australian Garden, Cranbourne

2010-03-13T19:54:00.012+11:00

The Australian Garden is located within the Royal Botanic Garden, Cranbourne and is a garden that has been especially designed to reveal the beauty of Australian plants by using specific designs to explore the relationship between the land, the culture and the stories of Australia and Australians.

Most of the text to accompany my photographs has been taken from one of the excellent brochures I picked up during my tour. They also have one of the better audio tours that I have encountered where the young member so the gardening staff enthusiastically tell what they are trying to achieve at The Australian Garden. These photos show Stage 1. Stage 2 is due to commence construction mid-way through 2010.

Austraia's landscape is diverse, both in look and botanically, and yet historically, European settlers tended to characterise the land as empty rather than full. This garden aims to dispel this myth. The Diversity Garden leads visitors on a journey through the 85 bio-regions of Australia.

The Water Saving Garden explains issues of water conservation and the wise use of water in home gardens. This garden conveys the significance of water and its relationship to plant selection and suitability. A range of terraces demonstrate three distinct watering regimens and the plants suited for low-water use.

With vibrant red sand, circes of blue-grey saltbush and crescnet-shaped dunes, the design of the Red Sand Garden is inspired by the shapes and colours of arid Australia. A hightlight of this area is the seasonal flush of wildflowers along the north line. The 90m long Escarpment Wall sculpture is inspired by iconic red sandstone escarpments, such as those found at Uluru and King's Canyon.

The Arid Garden and Dry River Bed Garden explore how plants have adapted to dry conditions and how water shapes the land by both its presence and absence.
The Eucalypt Walk explores the many varieties of Australian eucalypts such as Stringybarks, Bloodwoods, Box and Ironbarks and how they in turn have shaped our perceptions of Australia.

The design of this garden explores the reality and dilemmas posed by the artificial manipulation of plants to achieve particular commercial or aesthetic effects. This includes horticultural techniques such as grafting, hybridisation, the development of cultivars, and most recently, plant bioengineering, all seeking to alter the naturally occurring form of a plant.

Bena - Living things

2010-02-24T18:00:00.000+11:00

Cows are curious like cats, but dumb like sheep.

Now, I remember the name of the cat was "Coco" (as in Chanelle) and it was some sort of a short-haired Brit. But the two dogs, Beagles I think, had names starting with S. They were gorgeously friendly. As was the cat, BTW. I prefer cats. Nothing to do with individual dogs. I just think my personality gets on a plane quicker with a cat.

To get information on this little device, I tried googling "snake vibrator" and you can just imagine the links that I was presented with! Eventually, I found the one that I needed by googling "getting rid of snakes". A brilliant device!!

Must be on a sexual plane this evening, as two of these images are reminiscent of certain parts of the female anatory.

And I conclude, with this gorgeous shed full of round hay bales. When I was a kid, we only had rectangula hay bales. I reckon the taste of hay in a round bale must be much more delicious!

Bena - until needed again

2010-02-20T07:00:00.005+11:00

Farms - and farmers - do not give up on things easily. They have a remarkable capacity to stash the smallest of gadgets and the oldest of implements until the day comes when their purpose on this earth may once again come to the fore.

Until their time comes 'round again, these offcuts of a busy way of life, wait patiently in a ditch, against a barn, "down the back" providing fodder for artistic types who may want to sketch them, or photograph them.

Bena - Run rabbit run rabbit run run run

2010-02-07T00:00:00.015+11:00

When I go to Melbourne for the tennis each January, I stay with my friend, Diane, whom I have known since the end of 1972. Each visit, we do touristy things and maybe take in a musical. This year, Di organised a trip through Gippsland, staying the Saturday night at her cousin's farm just outside Bena. The farm is owned by Robyn and her husband, Brian. Until recently, they had been living mainly in Frankston, but just recently they moved onto the farm, Brindalea Oaks, permanently.

The previous owner still runs his cattle by agistment on the property. Brian is undergoing extensive tree planting under the LandCare programme, to manage erosion on the relatively step slopes, and also to improve the quality of the soil.

On the property, there are dotted reminders of the history of the property which is a fraction under 100 acres. The 100 acre size is important, because in Victoria only properties OVER 100 acres can have new residences built on them. Under this acreage limit, requires renovations only. The sheds in these images are reminders of the piggery run by the second generation of the Twite family.

The title of this post refers to the advert for tourism to the Yarra Valley, purely because the rolling hills of this part of Gippsland reminded me so much of parts of the Yarra Valley that we visited at this time in 2009, just immediately prior to the devastating bush fires.

Noojee - hauling the timbers

2010-02-05T10:00:00.001+11:00

The story so far ... built 1919, burnt down to 5' stumps by the reknown 1939 fires, rebuilt nearly immediately before the railway closed in 1954. Known as No. 7 ...

The bridge was originally designed to carry the weight of an N class steam locomotive, with the smaller J & K classes also using the line. When the line was beng dismantled, the Buln Buln Shire Council puchased the bridge from VicRail for one pound to enable it to be preserved.

The main piles are Grey Box and Yellow Box with Red Gum, and White and Yellow Stringybark being used for the cross-members. This bridge is classified by the National Trust.

The original piles were driven, but, on rebuilding, the new piles were butted and splced to the stumps of the originals. If you enlarge some of the images, you can see lengths of rusting metal bolted towards the lower portions of the piles. These are in an advanced state of deterioration and the government is devising methods of funding its restoration. Sounds like a case for a "giant, big, new tax".

Details:
Length 102 metres
Radius of curve 604 m
Maximun height 21 m
Spans 5 at 4.5 m and 13 at 6.1 m

Noojee - edge of the tall timbers

2010-02-02T11:30:00.008+11:00

Noojee is on Di's regular route up to the snowfields of Mt Buller, so she was interested to experience the area in summer. The day delivered its promised rain in scuds rather than squalls, and hindered neither driving nor exploring. Starting with Neerim North (which was eerily like Yarra Glenn which we visited two weeks before Black Saturday 2009) we wound our way through the pasture lands, stopping at the trout farm watching families experience the "natural" world. After a quick chat with the owner, Di discovered that he established the farm in 1972 - apparently eons away in real time, but not in mine!

After a quick snack of blue cheese, crackers, quince paste and prociutto on the tables beneath the trestle bridge, we clambered up and over the 21 metre high bridge, the only remaining of seven bridges constructed for hauling timber in 1919 that were burnt out by the 1939 Bushfires. This one was reconstructed in the first half of 1939 and finally was without a role when the rail line closed in 1954.

Stopping mid drive for a Frosty Fruit, we turned southwards towards the farm of Diane's cousin outside Bena where we were anticipated for the evening. Warragul on a Saturday afternoon is, shall we say, quiet, but the drive through the rolling hills was a delight especially seeing first hand how productive this part of the state of Victoria is.

NB: Through this entire trip, I suffered withdrawal symptoms from lending my 55-250 lens to Kirsten for her trip to Vail. These were all taken with the standard 18-55 lens, which was an exercise in itself.

Travel by train - the countryside

2010-01-29T17:50:00.008+11:00

Being a transport corridor, for cars, trucks and trains, this trip struggles to show off the diverse natural beauty of Australia.

The relative size of the two states is brought home by this journey, two-thirds of which is spent crossing half of NSW, and the other third crossing the entirety of Victoria, which is still considerably more parched than NSW.

Some of the strange light and colours in these photos are reflections from the inside of the carriage.

Travel by train - the journey

2010-01-29T17:00:00.001+11:00

Astounding how important the XPT between Sydney and Melbourne is to people who live in the country. Leaving both cities, my carriage was well-nigh empty, but there were points where it was full. Travellers are pensioners, young country folk and backpackers. I had the same lonely Macedonian on each trip. All he wanted to do was talk. He sat next to me on the way down and I heard his tale. He sat behind me on the way back and I heard his tale, again.

I am tempted to take the Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin, but I probably wont take this journey again.

The daylight XPT leaves Sydney about 8am and gets into Melbourne about 7pm. The return journey leaves Melbourne about 830am and gets into Sydney about 8pm. Neither journey was on time, due to heat and waiting in lay-bys. With a Seniors Card the return journey cost me $130. I think the least I have paid one-way to Melbourne by plane is about $80. Depends what is more important: time or money. I wanted to see the countryside.

Our island state

2009-10-14T21:54:00.006+11:00

Research on a bike for toughening up the buttocks

2009-09-20T09:37:00.004+10:00

Choice did not tell me much at all.

Have looked through Woolys Wheels.
Have looked through Clarence Street Cyclery.
Have looked through Inner City Cycles.

Clarence Street is for people who are loaded or bike-snobs. Woolys stocks Giant brand, too, but at about $200 more than Glebe.

Inner City Cycles have a rudimentary web site, but the bikes are within my range and my level of detail. They also have a bike group that meets early each Saturday.

Not sure that my travelling partner sees the need to get tough by cycling. She wants just to do more strenuous walking. I think both will be essential. More as today progresses.

Getting the right equipment

2009-09-19T16:16:00.003+10:00

Tim suggested I bring the old bike in and they would quote on fixing it. Then I could decide whether to do that or buy a new one. He said that by the sounds of it (new tyres, new saddle, look at the gears and the brakes) it would not be anything below $200. Heard that joke about the farmer's axe that has had 10 new heads and 5 new handles?

He showed me three bikes: a Giant (American) for $585 that had big tyres, ergonomic handles and turnoffable suspension; an Avanti (NZ) for $585 that had wide tyres and fixed suspension; and, another Avanti for $399 that had thin tyres and no suspension. The saddles were all the types with the holes (yay!). He did not go much into brakes and gears except to say they were similar to all three and that the main thing for me would be comfort.

Comfy in the saddle

2009-09-14T07:04:00.003+10:00

Pushing straight over the poor focus, my saddle is showing the elements, with just a hint of gizzards pushing through in one spot.

Still a long way to go to reach the dizzy heights of the charmer below which was nonchalantly propped against a wall at the Royal Cruising Yacht Club at Rushcutter's Bay.

My son-in-law has just purchased a Gary Fisher bike for $2K so, on the assumption he is not just being profligate, I will ask him about saddles and padded pants.

We will fly out on Saturday 18th September 2010 and return Saturday 9th October. Two weeks beside the canal - with hired van and bikes - and a week in Paris.

Grander days

2009-09-13T07:52:00.005+10:00

A thorough brushing of the cobwebs and dirt will soon have this looking better. However, I will need to have the chain and the gears looked at and both tyres replaced. I will check out the seat or comfort.

Preparing to cycle le canal du midi

2009-09-12T11:55:00.007+10:00

Hopefully, this will eventuate September/October 2010. These images were made during 2008 in the Languedoc.

I am preparing the occasional post to sort out what I need to do to prepare the ageing body for two weeks cycling tow-paths. Need to have a bicycle renovation, first!

French knockers

2009-08-12T06:00:00.003+10:00

French men

2009-08-07T06:00:00.005+10:00

Rural France - Languedoc

2009-08-03T06:00:00.005+10:00

It was a lovely area around St Andre, I just wish that we'd had bikes.

The final two images are included to remind me of the value of populating a shot with people. I just wish I had retained the zoom of the first shot and just been more patient.

We are considering biking along canals for our 2010 sojourn: either Brest-Nantes or Canal du Midi.

Provincial windows (1)

2009-07-30T06:00:00.006+10:00

Top left: a private residence in Arles
Top right: Saint Trophime Cloister in Arles
Middle left: Private chapel of the Duchy Uzes in grounds of castle
Middle right: Private residence in Uzes closed during the mid day
Lower left: Crevice in the tower leading up to the top of the Duchy castle
Lower right: Looking down into Les Baux from the ruins of the fortress

View into the aesthetic of man's aspirations

2009-07-28T07:00:00.005+10:00

1) View from Pape's Palace, Avignon
2) Saint-Trophime Cloister of Arles
3) Algueze
4) Goudargues, Langedoc
5) Saint-Trophime Cloister of Arles
6) Saint-Trophime Cloister of Arles
7) Notre Dame, Paris

Provisions from Ile de la cite

2009-07-27T06:45:00.001+10:00

Parisian street performers

2009-07-21T05:59:00.005+10:00

Paris in monotone

2009-07-16T06:45:00.010+10:00

Old father time

2009-07-13T21:35:00.008+10:00

History is my big passion: digging underneath the today to understand what came before. The top image here is taken from Greenwich Observatory (hence the silly pun!) looking over The Royal Naval College and Queen Anne's house, across The Thames to the city itself.

Whilst in London at the end of September 2008, I took a guided tour - usually I give these a wide berth. However, this one was with an actress who took us around two city blocks either side of St Paul's weaving Dickens and Shakespeare into the very bricks of the pavement. Under her tutelage and great sense of fun, the past came to life.

Entries and exits

2009-07-12T21:16:00.008+10:00

Amazing how fascinated photographers are with windows and doors the ways in which they are "treated" in differing countries and in differing ages. Being from a country relatively new to European culture, I am drawn toward old windows and old doors. For me it is often the enter/leave conundrum rather than the physical fact of the door. I guess it is also that this is the way air and light comes into buildings: both of these in their literal and allegorical meanings.

Top: The alter window for St Martin's in the Field, Trafalgar Square.
Centre left: One of the windows in the Painted Hall of the Greenwich Hospital of the Od Royal Naval College, Greenwich.
Centre right: Westminster School, fronting onto Dean's Yard - Southern quadrant
Bottom: Westminster School, fronting onto Dean's Yard - close to the exit from Dean's Yard

Adventurous architecture

2009-07-08T22:47:00.005+10:00

Top left: Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Top right: Looking past Lloyds of London to 30 St Mary Axe aka The Gherkin
Bottom left: Old Covent Garden markets, 1500s - 1974
Bottom right: London Stock Exchange, Paternoster Square, near St Paul's

Europe October 2008 - The Thames

2009-07-07T23:00:00.005+10:00

Top: Sunrise from the Millenium Bridge
Centre: Barging around the esses near Richmond Park
Bottom: Rowing past Greenwich

The back of beyond: Where to now?

2009-06-24T06:00:00.000+10:00

Flashes of detail

2009-06-23T06:00:00.004+10:00

Top quartet: fence on the way to Glen Davis with detail from the Running Stream shack
Middle: railing outside St Marys, Mudgee plus shop detail in main street
Bottom: detail from abandoned house, Hargreaves Road, view of Running Stream shack.

A Hill End life

2009-06-22T06:00:00.003+10:00

A cleared land

2009-06-21T06:00:00.000+10:00

Death and the dream chasers

2009-06-20T06:00:00.011+10:00

Sofala, in the Turon River valley, grew after Edward Hargraves discovered gold in February, 1851 with the Royal Hotel being built that same year. However, with other - more lucrative - finds nearby, come 1855 Sofala was in decline. By 1871 the population of the town was 644. Nowadays, its main claim to fame is the 1948 painting by Russell Drysdale.

Tiding them over the dry times

2009-06-19T06:00:00.003+10:00

Decaying beautifully

2009-06-18T06:00:00.005+10:00

Slaking a parched land

2009-06-17T06:00:00.001+10:00

Rylstone buildings

2009-06-16T18:56:00.004+10:00

Railway to nowhere

2009-06-15T22:42:00.002+10:00

Abandoned detail

2009-06-14T08:57:00.005+10:00

Top left: Window sash, Hargreaves Road
Top right: Window trim, Hargreaves Road
Bottom left: Window sill, Running Stream
Bottom right: Roofline, Hargreaves Road

Forsook and forsaken writ large

2009-06-14T08:27:00.007+10:00

Top left: Shed out the back, Cullen Bullen
Top right: House with extension, Hargreaves Road
Bottom left: Cottage, Running Stream
Bottom right: Garden shed, Rylstone

Trip to Mudgee - May 2009

2009-06-11T22:45:00.006+10:00

Leaving Sydney at 7am on a Saturday we travelled west in the direction of Bathurst. When we reached Lithgow we headed NW to Mudgee where we stayed the night. Mostly we travelled that straight stretch of the Castlereagh Highway. We took one detour out toward Glen Davis and another that encompassed both Kandos and Rylstone.

After a hearty country breakfast on the Sunday, we headed SW from Mudgee on the Hargreaves Road toward Hill End. There was some dirt road in this stretch but not as much as we had been warned about. From Hill End we headed due East to Sofala, then South through Wattle Flat to the outskirts of Bathurst where we turned East and headed for home via the Great Western Highway reaching Sydney about 6pm on the Sunday.

Cullen Bullen departed

2009-06-11T22:20:00.007+10:00

Sacred to the memory of
Eileen Mary Scott
Who departed this life
29th August 1901
Aged 8 years and 6 months
RIP

Irene Philomena
Beloved daughter of
T.P. & E. Rogers
Died 6th February 1902
Aged 5 1/2 months.

Cullen Bullen cemetery

2009-06-11T22:02:00.005+10:00

Hill End fences

2009-06-10T23:00:00.001+10:00

Rylstone fences

2009-06-10T22:55:00.001+10:00

Mudgee fences

2009-06-10T22:50:00.001+10:00