Scenic sunday - Hooked On Fish

The One That Got Away
This unusual sculpture is one of the 72 aquatic installations used for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. These "fish" dominated the Yarra River landscape between Princes Bridge and the Swan Street Bridge - a stretch of about 1 km.  Each night during the Games, a spectacular sound and light show took place every hour between 8pm and 11pm - they shimmered and glowed in a dance of coloured lights and fountains, dynamic images drawn in the water spray, and a light show coordinated to music. The water effects moved 36,000 litres of water per minute when operating at full capacity.

This is what they looked and sounded like


The fish were selected to represent each nation competing in the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games - fish, whales, prawns, dolphins and a turtle, with each fish or sea creature sea creature being either indigenous to the country they represented or important to the local economy of that country.

Amber Myers from the River Team researched every fish and marine animal, and they were checked and verified by Dr Martin Gomon, the Melbourne Museum's Icthyologist (fish specialist). These choices were then reviewed by every competing country prior to final inclusion.

 

The "Procession"

After the Games were over, councils across Victoria had the opportunity to net one of the aquatic sculptures and my local coucil has this one -
Seychelles
Seychelles Blenny (Stanulus seychellensis). The 4 cm Seychelles Blenny is a cryptic fish and was featured on the Seychelles 10 cent stamp in 2003. Cryptic fish are those that are often hard to see, either because they hide from view, or because their colouration enables them to blend into the background.

"Blenny" is at Canning Reserve, which is on the banks of the Maribyrnong River and I've passed it many times, always meaning to stop for a photo - this was taken at our Australia Day barbie which was held at the reserve.

To see other participants of Scenic Sunday click here.

Today's Quote: Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish - Mark Twain.

Australia Day - Let's Go Waltzing!

Today (26th January) is Australia Day, a public holiday. Many people like to have a "long weekend" and so would have taken the Monday off. Bit hard to do though when the 26th falls on a Wednesday! One of the most well-known, and best loved Australian songs is "Waltzing Matilda" - written by one of our most famous poets - Banjo Patterson.

So famous in fact, his face appears on the $10 note along with the words to his "Man From Snowy River"! And a drawing of a Snowy River horseman. - How many people have their poetry printed on their country's bank notes?

A bush poet, journalist and writer, Andrew Barton "Banjo" Patterson was born on 17 February 1864, near Orange in NSW, and died at the ripe old age of 76, just 12 days short of his 77th birthday on 5 February 1941.

Growing up on a station close to the main route between Melbourne and Sydney at Illalong near Yass, drovers, Cobb & Co. coaches, and bullock teams were part of his childhood and became familiar sights to him. Seeing horsemen from the Snowy Mountains country and Murrumbidgee River area taking part in picnic races and polo matches, gave him a fondness for horses and inspired his writings -

"There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around
That the colt from old Regret had got away,
And had joined the wild bush horses -- he was worth a thousand pound,
So all the cracks had gathered to the fray..."

- So starts the immortal poem ("The Man From Snowy River") by the Banjo which most Australian school children of yesteryear learnt, along with "Clancy Of The Overflow" -

I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better
Knowledge, sent to where I met him down the Lachlan, years ago,
He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him,
Just "on spec", addressed as follows: "Clancy, of The Overflow".


A movie titled "The Man From Snowy River" was made in 1982, and who could forget the stirring sight of One hundred and twenty stockmen in Akubras and Drizabones led by the man from Snowy River at the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics?

During the Second Boer War, he sailed for South Africa in October 1899 and became a war correspondent for The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald.

Written in 1887 and set to music in 1903, "Waltzing Matilda" is often referred to as our "unofficial national anthem"


Sung by Slim Dusty - A great Australian country music singer-songwriter, he sold more than seven million albums and singles in Australia.

A swagman or swaggie - A bloke who travels around the country (often in the bush) in search of work.
Billabong - A pool or lagoon of water.
Jumbuck - A sheep
Squatter - The big boss who owns (usually) many acres of land.
Trooper - Police.
Swag - A bundly carried by swagmen over their shoulder or back containing their possessions.
Matilda - The name given to the "swag". There's a reason why a swag is called Matilda - the story goes something like this -

There was once a swagman called Joe who "waltzed" ie, travelled far and wide around Australia for many years, and his wife, Matilda accompanied him. Known as Mrs. Swaggie Joe, she was kind, well-liked and respected by all the other swagmen.

The years passed and together Joe and his wife grew old. One day, Joe woke up only to find his beloved Matilda had died during the night. The bush telegraph was busy as it always is in the bush, and the other swaggies came to pay their respects - and they named their swags "Matilda" in Matilda's memory.

Swagman

Today's Quote: I'm the happiest little Vegemite this side of the Black Stump. Fair dinkum! - Australian (Aussie) slang.

Scenic Sunday - The Donkey Tree

When is a donkey not a donkey? When it's a tree! I spotted this Gum Tree last Sunday up in the Yarra Vally.

Give me a home among the gumtrees
With lots of plum trees
A sheep or two, a k-kangaroo
A clothesline out the back
Verandah out the front
And an old rocking chair

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Today's Quote: Do you think yourself wise? Then there's a donkey inside your waistcoat - Charles H. Spurgeon.

Rod Laver Arena

The Tennis Courts at Rod Laver

Tennis anyone?
Today is the start of the Australian Open, which takes place in Melbourne each year at Rod Laver Arena in January - the first of the world's four Grand Slam tennis tournaments. The four Grand Slam tournaments are the Australian Open (1905), French Open at Roland Garros (1891), Wimbledon (1877) and US Open (1881).

Only one person, Australian tennis player Rod Laver, has won the Grand Slam — winning all four tournaments in one year — twice.

Rod Laver Arena

Rod Laver Arena is a part of the Melbourne Park complex. Originally called Centre Court, the arena was officially renamed Rod Laver Arena in January 2000 to honour Rod Laver, a three-time winner of the Australian Open and one of Australia's greatest tennis players of all time.

Seating Plan

The arena which was finished in 1988, seats 16,820 and attracts over 1.5 million visitors per year. Since 1988, Rod Laver Arena has been best known as the venue for the Australian Open tennis finals, however it is also where almost every famous entertainer in the world has performed. The stadium’s versatile nature has seen everything from rodeos, motocross, swimming championships and basketball to children’s shows. The outside courts are available for hire and tours of Rod Laver Arena run daily.


Rod Laver Statue

Rod Laver's statue stands outside the arena and it is from this point that tours are conducted.

The Rockhampton Rocket

Rod Laver was born Rodney George Laver on 9 August 1938 in Langdale, Rockhampton (Rocky) Queensland. A skinny, sickly lad, and one of 13 children, he was raised on cattle farms and learned to play tennis on anthill courts his father built on the properties. A left-hander, he took up the game when he was six using a sawn-off wooden racquet, and was christened ‘Rocket’ by Harry Hopman because of his grit, determination and work ethic. He was inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in January 1993, and into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1981 a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Legend.


Grand Slam 1969

He is the only person to have won the Grand Slam twice, in 1962 and 1969 and was also the first tennis player to become a millionaire. Laver won Wimbledon four times, Australian Open three times and the French and US Open twice.
At the time, (1962) the Grand Slam events were only open to amateur players, who were given (under the table) little more than cost of living money for their appearances in tournaments.

It was not until 1968 that the rules were changed and professional players were allowed to participate and if not for the restrictions of pre-Open era tennis, who knows how many Grand Slam titles Rod Laver would have had?

Rod Laver vs Tony Roche - Australian Open 1969

Laver (in white hat) begins his journey to the Grand Slam 1969

Transport
The free city shuttle bus stops near Rod Laver and tennis fans heading to and from the Australian Open from 18 to 31 January can catch free shuttle trams running on Route 70 from the corner of Flinders and Swanston streets to Rod Laver and Hisense arenas.

Today's Quote: Ladies, here's a hint. If you're up against a girl with big boobs, bring her to the net and make her hit backhand volleys. That's the hardest shot for the well-endowed - Billie Jean King.

Scenic Sunday - Sugarloaf Reservoir

Cool Clear Water You may recall I posted a photo recently of Sugarloaf Dam, a wonderful picnic spot in the Christmas Hills, well this is the causeway you drive along to get there. It winds itself around for a couple of kms across the water.

The reservoir was completed in 1981 and holds a total capacity of 96 GL and is an integral component of Melbourne's domestic water supply. As you can see, the water level is quite low - we've been in drought for the past 15 years and last year (May) it had only 13.261 GL - only 13.8% full.

Unlike many other Reservoirs, which draw their water directly from protected forested catchments, Sugarloaf is fed by the Maroondah Aqueduct and the Yarra River. Upon leaving the Reservoir, water is thoroughly treated at the Winneke Water Treatment Plant to World Health Organisation Guidelines, before reaching Melbourne's domestic water supply.

Today's quote: Water is life's mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi.

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Cruisin' Along

Venice On The Yarra

Melbourne's Yarra River runs for 242km and has the largest port in the southern hemisphere. Hop on a boat at Federation Wharf and explore Melbourne along the picturesque Yarra. We have three operators - City River Cruises, Melbourne River Cruises and Williamstown Bay and River Cruises.

The boat pictured is the MV Melba Star, operated by City River Cruises and is the newest, largest and most luxurious cruise boat on the Yarra, with an extensive range of onboard facilities and services. The vessel can travel upstream towards Hawthorn and downstream to the Port of Melbourne, Williamstown and the Maribyrnong River.

So what are you waiting for? Jump onboard and let the Skipper take you on a relaxing, leisurely cruise seeing the city of Melbourne as you gently trail your hand in the water, a glass of wine in the other and enjoy 2 hours of one of the most memorable experiences.

Today's Quote: Cruising let's you share a back porch with a billionaire - Sir Francis Chichester.

The Big Pole

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's - not Superman!
This very tall "pole" stands outside T4 which is the terminal for Tiger Airways, one of our budget airlines which has been operating since March 2007. T4 was the former terminal for Virgin Blue (another of our budget airlines) when they first came into operation back in 2000.

St. Francis' Church - Victoria's oldest Catholic Church

St. Francis' Church - West Window, Elizabeth Street

St Francis' Church, the oldest Catholic church in Victoria is located on the corner of Lonsdale Street and Elizabeth Street and is one of only three buildings in central Melbourne which predates the Gold Rush of 1851. The "mother church of Victoria", St Francis’ Church was commissioned by the Franciscan priest, Fr Patrick Bonaventure Geoghegan, and the foundation stone was laid on 4 October 1841, the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, to whom the church is dedicated. The first mass was celebrated in the completed nave of the church on 22 May 1842. The church was blessed and opened on 23 October 1845.


View south, Lonsdale Street

The building looming over the church is the Melbourne Central office building which is Melbourne's sixth tallest building, with 54 floors and standing 246m high.


St. Francis' 1845

In 1848 St. Francis became Melbourne's first Catholic Cathedral and was the Episcopal seat of Bishop James Alipius Goold O.S.A. and remained so until 1868, when the diocesan seat was moved to (the still unfinished) St Patrick's Cathedral.

Blessed Mary MacKillop (1842–1909) made her first communion at St Francis’ in 1850, the same year that Ned Kelly’s parents were married in the church. (Ned Kelly is Victoria's most (in)famous bushranger).
(Lithograph National Library Australia)


St.Francis' 1861

St Francis’ Church became a eucharistic shrine in 1929, when the Archdiocese of Melbourne entrusted its care to the Blessed Sacrament Congregation.

St. Francis' 1930

A religious community of priests and brothers (currently under the leadership of Fr Tom Knowles SSS) live in the monastery attached to St Francis’ Church. The St Francis’ community was the subject of the five-part television documentary Once Were Monks, which was broadcast on SBS Television in April 2000.

Today, St Francis is the busiest church in Australia, with forty-three masses and over 10,000 visiting worshippers each week.

St. Francis is listed with the Victorian Heritage Register, the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and the Australian Heritage Commission. Although there have been many changes made to the building, including the erection of a new tower to house the original 1853 bell imported from Dublin, the church remains essentially as it was designed by Samuel Jackson.

Today's Quote: Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words - St. Francis of Assisi.

Theme Day - Graffiti ...Dining With Dinosaurs

Dining with Dinosaurs?
I just love this wonderful piece of glorious graffiti don't you? I noticed it while on one of my Melbourne Walks. They say art imitates life, well imgaine if art came to life - think of the mad scramble there'd be!
I don't think many would want to be din-dins for this fellow! Look at those teeth...

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Today's Quote: Dinosaurs may be extinct from the face of the planet, but they are alive and well in our imaginations ~ Steve Miller, Freaks!

Melbourne GPO

Melbourne GPO 2010

Standing on the corner of Bourke Street and Elizbeth Street in the heart of Melbourne's CBD is the Melbourne General Post Office - or the GPO as we say. John Batman was appointed as the first Postmaster in 1836. In 1842 the first government building for postal services in Melbourne was opened.

In 1859, the foundation stone was laid on its present site and built in the Renaissance Revival style designed by A.E.Johnson.

Below: 1887 Clocktower

The building was extended in 1887 - a third storey was added along with the famous clock tower which quickly became a city landmark.


Cessation of the GPO
In 1992, Australia Post announced plans to end Melbourne’s GPO’s major postal role. The GPO ceased to function as an office of Australia Post in 2001 and plans for an upmarket shopping mall were approved.


The sorting hall

The hall was almost gutted by fire in 2001, but the building was restored. This photo shows the inside of the sorting hall after restoration and conversion into a shopping mall. The modern design retains many of the important heritage aspects of the site

The former GPO opened for business as a new upmarket retail centre in 2005 and now forms a major arcade running from Bourke Street through to Little Bourke Street. Melbourne’s GPO makes for a totally unique retail and leisure experience.

The calming and irresistible draw of the CBD’s premier boutique shopping destination provides an escape from the hectic Bourke Street Mall, and with over 50 stores across three floors, Melbourne’s GPO houses a diverse mix of dining options, the biggest names in Australian and international designer fashion, alongside exceptional event spaces which have been designed to impress.

Distances from the centre of Melbourne are still measured from the (former) GPO.

Melbourne GPO pre 1880

Lithograph of the first General Post Office before extension and remodelling in the 1880's. (Victorian State Library)

The heritage-listed GPO is considered one of Australia's most important public buildings. Heritage Victoria recognises its social significance as a public landmark and meeting place.


Today's Quote: And none will hear the postman's knock without a quickening of the heart.
For who can bear to feel himself forgotten? - W.H. Auden.

Skywatch Friday - Sunrise

I shall lift mine eyes to the heavens
The dark shadows of night slowly creep
Their lengthening lines do fade
The clouds ring out with colour
As the dawn brings on its hue

Through pinks and blues
And rays that shimmer
In the early morn
The crispness of the air
The song of birds to welcome the new dawn.

Today's Quote: Whether I retire to bed early or late, I rise with the sun -
Thomas Jefferson.


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A Real Classic

Boop-Oop-A-Doop
The companion to yesterday's Caddy - she's called Betty Boop and was parked behind "Lady Luck" - you can see the same building (Hargreaves Hill Brewing Co) in both photos.
This one was the lady's and there's a fur stole hanging out the window.

If you want to see
Just a perfect little she,
Wait 'til you, get a view of Sweet Betty!

There's the moon, 'way up high,
Here are you and here am I,
Oh, do, do, do, something!
Boop-oop-a-doop!

Today's Quote: Driving is a spectacular form of amnesia. Everything is to be discovered, everything to be obliterated - Jean Baudrillard.

The Roadster

Your Limousine Awaits
Imagine tootling along country roads in this beautiful old Caddy, and stopping at some shady spot near a lake and sipping champagne...Ah this is the stuff dreams are made off!

Called "Lady Luck", and one of a pair, she was the envy of many an eye.

The first car I drove (after obtaining my licence) was a red car - but my car was not a "she". It was a genteman car which I called Rufus. A Datsun 1000 - 4 on the floor, no air con, 2 door, and it only cost $2 a week to fill the petrol tank. Petrol was only 20 cents a gallon. How times - and prices - have changed. If you buy a car, get a red one. Red always goes faster!

Today's Quote: It takes 8,460 bolts to assemble an automobile, and one nut to scatter it all over the road.

Princes Bridge

Melbourne Today

Princes Bridge, one of the central bridges in Melbourne links Swanston Street to St Kilda Road and because of its position, is often a focal point for celebratory events in Melbourne such as New Years Eve, Moomba and many other events taking place on the Yarra.
Built in 1886 - 1888, and in the best Melbourne tradition, the bridge is built on solid bluestone bulwarks - none of your flimsy sandstone - with plenty of cast iron.

The circular building is Hamer hall, part of the Melbourne Arts Complex where you can enjoy a variety of performances such as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, comedy and gala film events. The brown(ish) building is the Herald Sun and the blue one is the Eureka Tower.


Princes Bridge
Melbourne 1855

Above is a sketch showing the earlier Princes Bridge built of sandstone in 1850 and which stood for 35 years. Melbourne has come a long way in a mere 160 years.
(Sketch of the Paddlesteamer Gondola to Cremorne Gardens in 1855. State Library of Victoria)

Today's Quote: The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving - Oliver Wendell Holmes.

All Bottled Up.......

Ten green bottles hanging on the wall (Remember that song?) Well, actually 5,000 brown bottles went into building this Dutch windmill which is adjacent to the House of Bottles - pretty neat eh?

Today's Quote: There isn't a single windmill owner in Holland who doesn't have a second job, for when there is no wind - Johnny Ball.

Scenic Sunday - Sugarloaf Dam

Care for a picnic?
One of the lovliest spots for a picnic is up at Sugarloaf Reservoir Park which is located in the beautiful Christmas Hills - even the name sounds wonderful! There's a couple of beaut spots for a nice picinc, Ironbark Ridge and Saddle Dam. We went to Saddle Dam and the views were spectacular. It was a balmy 29º when we were here and you get a lovely fresh breeze at the top. There are no rubbish bins so you must take all yours with you and leave no footprint.

You can also bush walk, do a spot of fishing (rainbow trout, brown trout, redfin, roach or European carp) and even go sailing. If your lucky, you'll see the eastern grey kangaroos or black-tailed wallabies which live throughout the park. There was a family of overseas visitors from Vietnam and the lady asked me "Where are the kangaroo?" I had to explain there was no particular spot set aside for "viewing" - they are in a natural habitat.

Qoute for Today: I have no fear of losing my life - if I have to save a koala or a crocodile or a kangaroo or a snake, mate, I will save it. - Steve Irwin.

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Tree Stumps

The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn. Following on from yesterday's post, the trees may be dead, but the ferns are growing back.

Today's Quote: The best friend of earth of man is the tree, when we use the tree respectfully and economically, we have one of the greatest resources on the earth.- Frank Lloyd Wright

Theme Day - Changes

This is about the changes caused by fire

LAKE MOUNTAIN is, or rather was, beautifully forested with tall Mountain Ash - the tallest trees in Australia, and the closest alpine resort to Melbourne - only a 2 hour drive.

In summer, day trippers come for the scenic views and fresh mountain air - over 30 kms of walks, hikes and mountain bike riding. I did the hike up to the Lake Mountain summit (1433 metres above sea level) and was rewarded with magnificant views of the Victorian Alps. The summit loop walk is 2.4 km, and the Alps Lookout is 300 metres from the summit.

I'd been camping at the Black Spur near Narbethong, just outside of Marysville, (the car you see here is mine), and as it was raining I made the mistake of wearing gumboots. I don't recommend wearing gumboots hiking up a mountain - all that slipping and sliding! Nearly did my ankles in! But I made it. Coming back down - I slipped and slid on my rear end - not a very comfortable method of descending I must say.☺

And the wildflowers - absolutely beautiful. Alpine Mint Bush Prostanthera cuneata was everywhere. And the smell of Eucalyptus was gorgeous as you hear the sound of birds as they twittered and trilled and called.

But all this was to change.
Fire is, and can be, our friend. Fire helps us keep warm during winter - snuggling up in front of an open fire, warming your toes. Fire can cook our food for dinner, and fire can also boil the water for cups of tea and coffee.

But when fire rages through the bush and ravages everything in its wake, it is no longer our friend - it becomes a destroyer. Instead of falling snow, it rained fire on 7th February, 2009. The temperature was 46.4º C (115.52º F) with winds up to 150 kmph.

An eerie silence surrounded us as we drove up the mountain on Tuesday. The higher you ascend, the more sombre it becomes. We stood in a barren, desolate wasteland - the silence was deafening. There is no birdsong because there are no birds. Most of the trails and hikes are closed. I looked to where I judged the start of my hike to be and everywhere is blackened, burnt out lifeless trees. The ground a littered mess of black and twisted tree limbs. And I felt saddened and somewhat depressed at this destruction - what makes it worse, is these fires were deliberately lit.

The photo to the left is a close up of where the shelter block was. There were lovely cottages, green if I remember correctly - all gone. The only building left is the Lake Mountain Information Centre/ Bistro/Cafe you see in the top right-hand photo. The only place you can walk is around the concreted parking area, or to the right and slightly behind the Cafe.

The photo on the right-hand side is that which is in the upper photo to the right of the Bistro/Cafe.

Ninety-five per cent of Lake Mountain was burnt at high fire intensity. It was said the tempereature of these bushfires was between 1400 - 1600 degrees. Mountain Ash and Alpine Ash are killed by fire - they have no fire defence other than the seed, so they must regenerate from the ground up.




Quote for today: And where two raging fires meet together, they do consume the thing that feeds their fury. - William Shakespeare

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New Year's Day - Customs & Traditions

For all my friends around the world may the coming year bring prosperity, peace and happiness.

Ring out the old
Ring in the new
Ring out the false
Ring in the true

Love and joy come to you
And to our wassail too
And God send you a Happy New Year













Traditionally on New Year's Eve, just as the clock strikes midnight, Mum and Dad and us kiddies all gathered 'round the piano and sang "Auld Lang Syne" - written by the great Scottish bard, Robbie Burns. (25 January 1759 - 21 July 1796)



Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine.
We've wandered mony a weary foot,
Sin' auld lang syne.

And ther's a hand, my trusty friend,
And gie's a hand o' thine;
We'll tak' a right good willie-waught,
For auld lang syne.

Robbie Burns has his back to the church and his face to the pub. Which is the way he would have wanted it. (Photo taken in Dunedin, 2007)

At the stroke of midnight, when the old year departs and the new year begins, "Auld Lang Syne" is traditionally sung around the world, especially in English speaking countries, and everyone joins hands with the person next to them to form a circle.

New Years Customs
Apart from getting giddily tipsy and kissing everybody in sight at the stroke of midnight, there are other customs as well -

like
First Footing - The first person to cross your threshold and enter your home should be dark haired, tall and good looking. Preferably bearing a gift. If that person is a red head or blonde, then I'm afraid you're in for a run of bad luck for the coming year. Oh, and the "First Footer" must, I repeat, must be a male - no females please. That'd bring disaster on everyone's head!

Pay Your Bills - Tis bad luck if you've any unpaid bills on the 1st January.

Have food in the house - Having an empty pantry or food cupboard is also bad luck.

Make A Big Noise - Loud noise scares away the evil spirits so make a big racket even if it does annoy your staid, 80 year old neighbours next door!

Of course, if you have bad luck on New Year's Day, then that bodes ill for the next 364 days!

I wish all of you, everyone, prosperity and good luck for the New Year.
Cheers.

Note: I selected the "Waterloo Bridge" version of Auld Lang Syne as it was the best I could find and the most poignant.

Quote of the Day: Friends help you move, real friends help you move bodies!