tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86107122770004665132024-03-14T05:23:52.985+11:00Five O' Clock WaveFive O' Clock Wave - Home of Australia's greatest stories and achievementsAussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-50302589510759075412011-03-17T23:00:00.000+11:002011-03-17T23:00:14.240+11:00The Numbat<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TYFfRsT5zgI/AAAAAAAAAJU/iFBl6KpTUos/s1600-h/220px-Numbat%5B42%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="220px-Numbat" border="0" alt="220px-Numbat" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TYFfSWExflI/AAAAAAAAAJY/Ip6aJ8cGYy4/220px-Numbat_thumb%5B40%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="134" /></a></p> <p><a title="Numbats" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbat" target="_blank">Numbats</a> are Australian <a title="marsupial’s" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsupial" target="_blank">marsupial’s</a> now only found in Western Australia. They grow to 35cm-45cm in size and have reddish-brown fur with distinctive stripes. They are the only Australian animal to feed entirely on termites (white ants), of which they can eat up to 20,000 a day.</p> <p>Numbats are seen to be active during the day and live in open woodlands, taking shelter from predators in logs and burrows. They are best seen at <a title="Dryandra Woodland" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dryandra_Woodland" target="_blank">Dryandra Woodland</a>, near Narrogin, and at <a title="Perup Forest" href="http://www.australiassouthwest.com/en/Things_to_See_and_Do/Nature_and_Wildlife/Native_Wildlife/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Perup Forest</a> near Manjimup in Western Australia.</p> <p>First discovered by European settlers in 1831, the numbat population has been wiped out in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia due to the introduction of the European red fox in the 19th century.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-12323799427835703662011-03-16T11:00:00.000+11:002011-03-17T11:11:41.933+11:00Australian Uranium Mines<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TYFRscoxHoI/AAAAAAAAAJE/sMWFO2NP1wE/s1600-h/Uranium%20Dioxide%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Uranium Dioxide" border="0" alt="Uranium Dioxide" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TYFRtI4bttI/AAAAAAAAAJI/QWrj9Y8ODcY/Uranium%20Dioxide_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="124" height="122" /></a></p> <p>Australia is one of the world’s largest suppliers of uranium along with <a title="Kazakhstan Uranium" href="http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf89.html" target="_blank">Kazakhstan</a> and <a title="Canada Uranium" href="http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf49.html" target="_blank">Canada</a>. Although uranium is a common element in the Earth’s crust – it is typically 40 times more abundant than silver – there are only limited places in the world where its concentration makes it economically viable to <a title="Uranium Mining" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium_mining" target="_blank">mine</a>. Australia is believed to have the world’s largest deposits of uranium.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TYFRuOfX0lI/AAAAAAAAAJM/dxq2tNGZPJI/s1600-h/Uranium%20Mines%5B14%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Uranium Mines" border="0" alt="Uranium Mines" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TYFRvBaXWuI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/OR9elnyQQ4Y/Uranium%20Mines_thumb%5B12%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="170" height="147" /></a></p> <p>Australia currently operates three uranium mines: Olympic Dam and Beverly in South Australia and Ranger in the Northern Territory. There are several other notable deposits and potential mining sites scattered across the country.</p> <p>In 2010 Australia produced nearly 7000 tonnes of U<sub>3</sub>O<sub>8</sub> which was down significantly on previous years, with exports falling to A$700M in the year compared to over A$1B in previous years. </p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-90627646661758722892011-03-09T07:00:00.000+11:002011-03-09T07:00:03.661+11:00The Pinnacles<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TXY00ibHgTI/AAAAAAAAAI8/IjHTOTNdDzg/s1600-h/Pinnacles_pano_small%5B22%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Pinnacles_pano_small" border="0" alt="Pinnacles_pano_small" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TXY01VqYavI/AAAAAAAAAJA/hmbS4VFlSkQ/Pinnacles_pano_small_thumb%5B20%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="224" height="114" /></a></p> <p><a title="The Pinnacles" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pinnacles_(Western_Australia)" target="_blank">The Pinnacles</a> are an alien-like landscape located in Western Australia. Thousands of these limestone formations protrude from the ground in the <a title="Nambung National Park" href="http://www.naturebase.net/component/option,com_hotproperty/task,view/id,61/Itemid,755/" target="_blank">Nambung National Park</a>. Although the process of their formation is uncertain, it is believed the limestone material came from the sea shells of marine creatures in an earlier era. It is suspected that the pinnacles were exposed some 6,000 years ago and then covered again by shifting desert sands, only to be uncovered again a few hundred years ago.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-41095552921973636522011-02-16T10:00:00.000+11:002011-02-16T10:12:23.407+11:00Australia’s Longest River<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TVsISzZGR6I/AAAAAAAAAI0/3x2jonhnsXM/s1600-h/320px-MurrayBridgeMurrayRiver52.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="By Mattinbgn (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), via Wikimedia Commons" border="0" alt="320px-MurrayBridgeMurrayRiver" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TVsIVv-dwOI/AAAAAAAAAI4/NM2x8mzSAD4/320px-MurrayBridgeMurrayRiver_thumb5.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="126" /></a></p> <p>Today’s <a href="http://www.fiveoclockwave.com/search/label/Fun%20Fact%20Wednesday" target="_blank">Fun Fact Wednesday</a> explores Australia’s longest river – the Murray. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray_River" target="_blank">Murray River</a> is 2,375Km in length and is the world’s third longest navigable river after the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_River" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nile" target="_blank">Nile</a>. It flows from the Australian Alps in New South Wales, along the New South Wales-Victorian border to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Alexandrina_(South_Australia)" target="_blank">Lake Alexandrina</a> in South Australia, where it meets the ocean.</p> <p>It joins the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darling_River" target="_blank">Darling River</a> that flows from Southern Queensland to form the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murray-Darling_basin" target="_blank">Murray-Darling</a> system which is critical to the irrigation of much of Australia’s agriculture. The Murray River is responsible for irrigating 42% of over 1 million hectares of farm land.</p> <p>One of the best ways to explore the Murray is in a houseboat which can be hired from various locations along the river.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-62626228568393957062011-02-09T09:30:00.000+11:002011-02-09T09:30:00.918+11:00Aboriginal Place Names<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TVHDzwC_voI/AAAAAAAAAIs/vF2BKSp_CWw/s1600-h/Aboriginal%20Place%20Names%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="By User Thomasburrows on en.wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" border="0" alt="By User Thomasburrows on en.wikipedia [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TVHD0mrz-zI/AAAAAAAAAIw/5kghRSpgn4w/Aboriginal%20Place%20Names_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="132" /></a></p> <p>Did you know that the names of many places in Australia are of Aboriginal origin? European settlers would often adopt the names of locations and landmarks from Australia’s indigenous people. This also explains why several names – such as Woy Woy – are repeated, with the repetition creating a form or emphasis in the native language.</p> <p>These are the translations of some well known places:</p> <ul> <li>Ballarat – Resting place;</li> <li>Bondi – Water breaking over rocks;</li> <li>Caboolture – Place of the carpet snake;</li> <li>Geelong – Tongue;</li> <li>Illawarra – A pleasant place;</li> <li>Indooroopilly _ Gully of running water;</li> <li>Mt Coot-tha – Dark honey;</li> <li>Parramatta – Place where the eels lie down;</li> <li>Pilbara – Mullet or Dry;</li> <li>Wagga Wagga – Place of many crows and;</li> <li>Woy Woy – Deep water.</li> </ul> <p>There are many others and many are simply Aboriginal names for a particular place in their own right.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-63225048294051921752011-02-02T10:00:00.000+11:002011-02-02T10:48:36.021+11:00Australian Tropical Cyclones<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TUibzsm0koI/AAAAAAAAAIk/wiWO1TZUXfc/s1600-h/Cyclones%5B55%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="By Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC" border="0" alt="Cyclones" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TUib0uWC_GI/AAAAAAAAAIo/D-5AArmlYnU/Cyclones_thumb%5B53%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="144" height="184" /></a></p> <p>As Tropical Cyclone <a title="Yasi" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDQ65002.shtml" target="_blank">Yasi</a> heads towards the Queensland coast, today’s <a title="Fun Fact Wednesday" href="http://www.fiveoclockwave.com/search/label/Fun%20Fact%20Wednesday" target="_blank">Fun Fact Wednesday</a> discusses the phenomena of cyclones in Australia.</p> <p>The Australian cyclone season runs from <a title="Australian Cyclone Facts" href="http://www.ema.gov.au/www/ema/schools.nsf/page/get_the_factscyclones" target="_blank">1st November to 30th April</a>. They are generated by warm ocean temperatures of 26.5<sup>o</sup>C or higher, resulting in water evaporation that forms clouds. The rotation of the Earth then causes these cyclone clouds to rotate.</p> <p>To be classified as a cyclone, wind speeds must exceed 63km/h. The severity of a cyclone is graded on a <a title="Tropical Cyclone Categories" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/about/tropical-cyclone-intensity.shtml" target="_blank">scale</a> from 1 to 5, with 5 being the most extreme with winds above 280km/h resulting in almost total destruction on land. TC Yasi has been classified as category 5.</p> <p>The names of cyclones are taken from a <a title="Cyclone Names" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/about/names.shtml" target="_blank">list</a> of 104 names used by the Australian <a title="Bureau of Meteorology" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/" target="_blank">Bureau of Meteorology</a>. Up until 1975, all of the names selected were female but now cyclones are given male and female names alternately. Cyclone names are reused unless the cyclonic event has a significant affect on Australia – such as <a title="TC Tracy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclone_Tracy" target="_blank">TC Tracy</a>. When a name is <a title="Retires Cyclone Names" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Retired_Australian_cyclones" target="_blank">retired</a> it is replaced by a name on a supplementary list. The <a title="Bureau of Meteorology" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/cyclone/about/names.shtml" target="_blank">Bureau  of Meteorology</a> accepts requests for new names to be added to the supplementary list in writing.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-76230027382914772272011-01-25T20:00:00.000+11:002011-01-26T10:29:20.047+11:002011 Australians of the Year<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TT9cxNrjr1I/AAAAAAAAAII/AW8I1KjnhOI/s1600-h/Simon%20McKeon%5B51%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Simon McKeon" border="0" alt="Simon McKeon" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TT9cxiIY82I/AAAAAAAAAIM/xoLd14-0FjM/Simon%20McKeon_thumb%5B49%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="143" height="194" /></a></p> <p>This evening the Australian Prime Minister <a title="Hon Julia Gillard MP" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Gillard" target="_blank">Hon Julia Gillard MP</a> announced <a title="Simon McKeon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_McKeon" target="_blank">Simon McKeon</a> as the 2011 Australian of the Year. The 55 year Victorian has come to prominence due to his philanthropic efforts in supporting charities both nationally and internationally. Following a successful career as an investment banker, Mr McKeon has worked to support charities including <a title="MS Research Australia" href="http://www.msra.org.au/" target="_blank">MS Research Australia</a>, <a title="World Vision International" href="http://www.wvi.org/wvi/wviweb.nsf" target="_blank">World Vision International</a> and <a title="Red Dust Role Models" href="http://www.reddust.org.au/" target="_blank">Red Dust Role Models</a>.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TT9cyK7S0qI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/-ciriQeCnSQ/s1600-h/Jessica%20Watson%5B40%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Jessica Watson" border="0" alt="Jessica Watson" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TT9cynMG_XI/AAAAAAAAAIU/2ggPgMFCu1M/Jessica%20Watson_thumb%5B38%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="143" height="189" /> </a></p> <p>In the same ceremony the Prime Minister announced <a title="Jessica Watson" href="http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/" target="_blank">Jessica Watson</a> as the Young Australian of the Year. The 17 year old from Queensland won the hearts of the nation when she successfully circumnavigated the globe, unassisted, in her yacht <a title="Ella’s Pink Lady" href="http://www.jessicawatson.com.au/pink-lady" target="_blank">Ella’s Pink Lady</a> in 2010.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TT9czF4Ue7I/AAAAAAAAAIY/AwJ2B-6mdns/s1600-h/Ron%20McCallum%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Ron McCallum" border="0" alt="Ron McCallum" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TT9cz12fyuI/AAAAAAAAAIc/H_9-PUP3mJA/Ron%20McCallum_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="143" height="189" /></a></p> <p>The Senior Australian of the Year is <a title="Professor Ron McCallum AO" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_McCallum" target="_blank">Professor Ron McCallum AO</a> of Artarmon, NSW. Having served as Professor and Dean of Law at the <a title="University of Sydney" href="http://sydney.edu.au/law/about/staff/RonMcCallum/" target="_blank">University of Sydney</a>, Prof McCallum has been recognised as a fervent campaigner for equal rights. He is also totally blind and is a deputy chair of <a title="Vision Australia" href="http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/" target="_blank">Vision Australia</a>.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-64299541859070526242011-01-19T12:00:00.000+11:002011-01-19T13:07:07.535+11:00Australian research shows sharks are colour blind.<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TTZGspPcQhI/AAAAAAAAAIA/tPZ_urRvpwk/s1600-h/Fish_BW%5B52%5D.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fish_BW" border="0" alt="Fish_BW" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TTZGtvdQ07I/AAAAAAAAAIE/_bTrUMOhNHg/Fish_BW_thumb%5B50%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="194" height="146" /></a></p> <p>Researchers at the <a title="University of Queensland" href="http://www.uq.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of Queensland</a> and <a title="University of Western Australia" href="http://www.uwa.edu.au/" target="_blank">University of Western Australia</a> have <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2011/s3116088.htm" target="_blank">conducted tests</a> that conclude sharks are colour blind.</p> <p><a title="Professor Nathan Hart" href="http://www.uq.edu.au/uqresearchers/researcher/hartns.html" target="_blank">Professor Nathan Hart</a> believes that wearing brightly coloured swimming costumes that are high contrast against the background, are likely to be more visible to sharks. This could be valuable knowledge in an attempt to reduce <a title="shark attacks" href="http://www.fiveoclockwave.com/2010/10/australian-shark-attacks.html" target="_blank">shark attacks</a>.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-11326196683301603022011-01-12T11:00:00.000+11:002011-01-12T11:00:00.792+11:00Brisbane Floods<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TSzt089HA9I/AAAAAAAAAHw/PDF1qkao4Jk/s1600-h/brisbane-floods%5B52%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Source: The Courier-Mail" border="0" alt="Brisbane 1974 Floods" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TSzt1m9iJVI/AAAAAAAAAH0/wL2EdUOnK-A/brisbane-floods_thumb%5B50%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="146" /></a></p> <p>In January 1974, the city of Brisbane in the State of Queensland was <a title="Brisbane 1974 Flood" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/lam/climate/levelthree/c20thc/flood7.htm" target="_blank">flooded</a> due to a combination of sustained rain over several months, high tides and heavy rain caused by <a title="Tropical Cyclone Wanda" href="http://www.australiasevereweather.com/tropical_cyclones/1973_1974/jtwc/tropical_cyclone_wanda.htm" target="_blank">Tropical Cyclone Wanda</a>. The floods peaked at 6.6 metres on 29 January and nearly 7,000 homes were destroyed.</p> <p>Today, the population of Brisbane is battling flooding once again with a flood peak expected at 2:30PM today. Please consider donating to the <a title="Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal" href="http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html" target="_blank">Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal</a> to help those whose lives have been devastated by this natural disaster. </p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TSzt2Ei6yhI/AAAAAAAAAH4/26CAWidht6M/s1600-h/brisbane-floods-homes%5B52%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Credit: Family of Jack O'Dea" border="0" alt="brisbane-floods-homes" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TSzt2s2VUWI/AAAAAAAAAH8/u_fVnqURzXA/brisbane-floods-homes_thumb%5B50%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="131" /></a></p> <p>Did you know that the common architectural style of homes in Queensland, known as the <a title="Queenslander" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queenslander_(architecture)" target="_blank">Queenslander</a>, was designed to help keep homes cool in summer and to offer some protection from flooding? The design involves building the house on large stumps with the main living areas being a full storey off the ground. Quite useful as this picture from the 1974 floods demonstrates.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-52186272731543579422011-01-05T07:00:00.000+11:002011-01-05T07:00:01.174+11:00Australia’s 1st Cricket Test Match<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TSKyPUHKzUI/AAAAAAAAAHo/BGGoEAf0sOw/s1600-h/Cricket%5B52%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="a century awaits by mugley, on Flickr" border="0" alt="Australian Cricket" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TSKyP9Ra-VI/AAAAAAAAAHs/yoWzShyMfio/Cricket_thumb%5B50%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="194" height="131" /></a></p> <p>Did you know that Australia’s first cricket test match was played in Melbourne in March 1877 against England?</p> <p>Australia managed to win by 45 runs with a score of 349 to England’s 304.</p> <p>The highest score was achieved by Charles Bannerman – who opened for Australia - with 165 runs in the 1st Innings. This was also his career best.</p> <p>Those were the days.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-67472854640535013212010-12-29T07:00:00.000+11:002010-12-29T07:00:02.415+11:00Australian Locust Plague<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TRk2xv9lzAI/AAAAAAAAAHg/2MHslZ8l-Os/s1600-h/Locusts%5B96%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Locusts" border="0" alt="Locusts" align="left" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TRk2yBqh7YI/AAAAAAAAAHk/oy8DXiH2nRU/Locusts_thumb%5B92%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="158" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Australian farmers have a lot to contend with. There is drought for years on end, inevitably followed by unseasonal rain and flooding. They also have a variety of pests to deal with including rabbits, wild goats and pigs and foxes. But did you know that locusts too are a major threat to Australian agriculture?</p> <p>The <a title="Australian Locust Plague Commission" href="http://www.daff.gov.au/animal-plant-health/locusts" target="_blank">Australian Locust Plague Commission</a> is tasked with monitoring locust swarms – especially of the <a title="Australian Plague Locust" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_plague_locust" target="_blank">Australian Plague Locust</a> (pictured) - and <a title="forecasting their impact" href="http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1868852/bulletin-december2010.pdf" target="_blank">forecasting their impact</a> on Australian farmers. This year it is expected that there will be locust hatchings in late December and given this summer’s wet conditions, adults could be ready to swarm in late January 2011.</p> <p>Although insecticide is the traditional method of control, Jason Fowler of Broome in Western Australia has taken to frying the critters and <a title="Yummy Plague Locusts" href="http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2010/12/15/3094155.htm" target="_blank">serving them up as a delicacy</a>. Meanwhile, farmers in Victoria have found that their Christmas turkeys like nothing better than to <a title="munch on plague locusts" href="http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201012/s3099357.htm" target="_blank">munch on plague locusts</a>.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-3702076356242216692010-12-28T11:00:00.000+11:002010-12-28T11:18:27.127+11:00Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Fleet Decimated<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TRksz-nG7PI/AAAAAAAAAHY/ehXP9VWcTt4/s1600-h/SydneyHobart2%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo by: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi" border="0" alt="Rolex Sydney Hobart Jazz" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TRks0t2TvsI/AAAAAAAAAHc/6bZLV1k7amY/SydneyHobart2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p>This morning sees the yacht fleet in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race decimated with 16 boats retiring. The race is living up to its reputation as one of the world’s most challenging for sailors, as the crews battled stormy seas and winds of up to 50 knots last night.</p> <p>Wild Oats XI is currently the leader for line honours being 156 nautical miles from the finish. Investec LOYAL, Lahana and Secret Men’s Business 3.5 are all challenging the race leader with Investec LOYAL only 20 nautical miles behind.</p> <p>It is expected the winner will cross the finish line in Hobart early tomorrow morning.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-79846144623775297302010-12-26T09:00:00.001+11:002010-12-26T09:00:56.088+11:00Crews Prepare for 2010 Rolex Sydney Hobart<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TRZpbkmW2_I/AAAAAAAAAHM/wt2uDxK7VfE/s1600-h/SydneyHobart%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo by: Rolex / Carlo Borlenghi" border="0" alt="SydneyHobart" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TRZpcMIhoZI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/9I6v78HvjE0/SydneyHobart_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244" /></a></p> <p>Boxing Day in Australia has become synonymous with the <a title="Rolex Sydney Hobart" href="http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/" target="_blank">Rolex Sydney Hobart</a> yacht race. This year 87 crews have prepared to tackle the 628 nautical mile course.</p> <p>The race has gained a reputation as being one of world’s most treacherous yacht races after 6 sailors lost their lives in stormy seas during the 1998 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Meteorologists have warned crews to prepare for fierce winds and rough seas during this year’s race with a 20-30 knot southerly expected off Wollongong tonight. In these conditions skippers will aim to just make it across the finish line rather than break any race records.</p> <p>The race starts in Sydney at 13:00 today. You can follow the progress of the yachts using the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s <a title="Yacht Tracker" href="http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/yacht_tracker.asp?key=522" target="_blank">Yacht Tracker</a> web site.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-40485993377774499092010-12-22T11:00:00.000+11:002010-12-22T11:00:00.328+11:00Santa’s Visitor Application<p>We apologise for the late notice but this has just come through from the <a title="Department of Immigration and Citizenship" href="http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/" target="_blank">Department of Immigration and Citizenship</a>. This year they are issuing Santa a restricted working visa from midnight to 4:00AM on 25-December-2010.</p> <p><a href="http://tww.id.au/c/christmas_application.pdf" target="_blank"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px auto 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: block; float: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="http://tww.id.au/c/christmas-form.html" border="0" alt="Santa_Visit" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TRE9d9t28fI/AAAAAAAAAHE/L2vsanuCwj8/Santa_Visit%5B1%5D.png?imgmax=800" width="207" height="305" /></a></p> <p>To assist Santa during his visit to Australia, please complete the attached form and e-mail to <a title="santa.claus@northpole.com" href="http://www.northpole.com" target="_blank">santa.claus@northpole.com</a> before midnight on Christmas Eve.</p> <p>We would like to thank you for your assistance and we wish everyone the best for the festive season and a very happy new year.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-26143476156901616682010-12-22T10:00:00.000+11:002010-12-22T10:53:10.978+11:00Australian Roads<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TRE4Qjub-bI/AAAAAAAAAG0/rapHRPi8F6Y/s1600-h/Road%5B62%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="http://www.flickr.com/photos/icathing/3256802693/sizes/s/in/photostream/" border="0" alt="Road" align="right" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TRE4RK044KI/AAAAAAAAAG4/X9Ky7TljMfE/Road_thumb%5B60%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="124" height="184" /></a></p> <p>Did you know that Australia’s road network is the 9th largest in the world? Today’s fact for <a href="http://www.fiveoclockwave.com/search/label/Fun%20Fact%20Wednesday">Fun Fact Wednesday</a> is that Australia’s roads span 940,000 Km<sup>1</sup>. Less than half of this distance is paved roadway.</p> <p>Sadly, in 2009 there were 1,490 fatalities on Australian roads. 250 road deaths occurred between 1-Dec-2009 and 31-Jan-2010.</p> <p>During the holiday season please drive safely and if you are travelling long distances, remember to <a title="Stop. Revive. Survive." href="http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/fatigue/stoprevivesurvive.html" target="_blank">Stop. Revive. Survive.</a></p> <p>1. Source: <a title="CIA World Fact Book" href="https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/as.html" target="_blank">CIA World Fact Book</a></p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-45359278869423069712010-12-15T08:00:00.000+11:002010-12-15T08:00:00.600+11:00Australia’s Tallest Building<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TQfSS4_kNdI/AAAAAAAAAGs/YZxwNqiSLpQ/s1600-h/Q1_Gold_Coast%5B70%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Rocky88 at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], from Wikimedia Commons" border="0" alt="Q1_Gold_Coast" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TQfSTdXcz2I/AAAAAAAAAGw/JKOt3dnDGy8/Q1_Gold_Coast_thumb%5B67%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="134" height="177" /></a></p> <p>Today, Fun Fact Wednesday is about Australia’s tallest building which is <a title="Q1" href="http://www.q1.com.au/home.html" target="_blank">Q1</a> located on Queensland’s <a title="Gold Coast" href="http://www.goldcoast.com.au/" target="_blank">Gold Coast</a>. The structure is 323 metres (1,060 feet) high and is currently the world’s tallest residential building.</p> <p>Completed in November 2005, it has 78 floors and is topped by a 98 metre spire that weighs 87 tonnes. There are 1,331 steps from the top to the bottom so it is recommended you take the elevator which can cover the distance in 42.7 seconds.</p> <p>The top most floors host an observation deck and bar known as <a title="QDeck" href="http://www.qdeck.com.au" target="_blank">QDeck</a> which is a popular Gold Coast holiday attraction. It is open to the public and provides views from Brisbane to Byron Bay, which are some 80 Km away.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-88612077107892563382010-12-08T12:00:00.000+11:002010-12-08T12:41:29.911+11:00Australian Snake Bites<p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TP7iRj6NkcI/AAAAAAAAAGc/w7qbrarrj-M/s1600-h/Taipan%5B23%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Taipan" border="0" alt="Taipan" align="right" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TP7iSI1hN-I/AAAAAAAAAGg/2cYG3EHYm_Q/Taipan_thumb%5B21%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="144" height="131" /></a>Amongst Australia’s incredibly diverse and unique wildlife are some of the world’s most venomous and dangerous snakes. Today’s <a title="Fun Fact Wednesday" href="http://www.fiveoclockwave.com/search/label/Fun%20Fact%20Wednesday" target="_blank">Fun Fact Wednesday</a> is about snake bites in Australia.</p> <p>It is estimated that several thousand people are bitten by snakes in Australia each year. There are approximately 300 cases requiring treatment with antivenom and around 2-3 bites which are fatal<sup>1</sup>.</p> <p>The most venomous snake is the <a title="Fierce Snake" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inland_Taipan" target="_blank">Fierce Snake</a> (or Inland Taipan) but the deadliest snake is the <a title="Eastern Brown" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_brown_snake" target="_blank">Eastern Brown</a> which is responsible for the largest number of deaths.</p> <p>In reality, the risk of snake bite is actually very low and if someone is unfortunate enough to be bitten, the recommended treatment is as follows:</p> <ol> <li>Seek medical assistance;</li> <li>Calm and reassure the patient;</li> <li>Apply a <a title="Apply Pressure Bandage" href="http://www.avru.org/files/imported/firstaid/factsheet_pib.pdf" target="_blank">pressure bandage</a> to the wound.</li> </ol> <p>1. Source: <a title="Australian Venom Research Unit" href="http://www.avru.org/compendium/biogs/A000084b.htm" target="_blank">Australian Venom Research Unit</a></p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-14901387343746752922010-12-07T11:00:00.000+11:002010-12-08T13:17:40.247+11:00Farewell Mr Squiggle<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TP7n6H1RoeI/AAAAAAAAAGk/icZyTGrgTcw/s1600-h/Mr%20Squiggle%5B44%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Photo credit: Hilary Talbot (spiritsdancing.com)" border="0" alt="Mr Squiggle" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TP7n6wF_FDI/AAAAAAAAAGo/YUmrnNgtTMY/Mr%20Squiggle_thumb%5B42%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="144" height="191" /></a></p> <p>On Monday, Australian cartoonist <a title="Norman Hetherington OAM" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Hetherington" target="_blank">Norman Hetherington OAM</a>, passed away. He is best know as the creator of the Australian children’s television character <a title="Mr Squiggle" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Squiggle" target="_blank">Mr Squiggle</a>.</p> <p>Mr Squiggle first aired on the <a title="ABC" href="http://www.abc.net.au/" target="_blank">ABC</a> in 1959. He lived on the moon and would fly in his rocket each episode to visit Miss Gina, Miss Pat or Miss Jane and other friends including Blackboard, Snail and Steam Shovel. Using his pencil nose, Mr Squiggle would create an upside down picture from squiggles sent in from children around the country. In reality he was a marionette puppet operated by Norman Hetherington from above.</p> <p>The ABC is running a <a title="Norman Hetherington Tribute" href="http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/685765" target="_blank">tribute</a> to Norman Hetherington over the next week that you can watch on <a title="iView" href="http://www.abc.net.au/iview/" target="_blank">iView</a>.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-79636377023927114992010-12-03T16:00:00.000+11:002010-12-03T16:10:33.721+11:00Last Flight of Australia’s F-111s<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TPh7xQDJNUI/AAAAAAAAAGU/NuN5Sh9GyyE/s1600-h/F-111%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="By US Air Force [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons" border="0" alt="F-111" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TPh7yN3vCwI/AAAAAAAAAGY/3jpzIasfJNc/F-111_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="132" height="122" /></a></p> <p>After 37 years of service, the <a title="Royal Australian Air Force" href="http://www.airforce.gov.au/" target="_blank">Royal Australian Air Force</a> is retiring its fleet of <a title="F-111" href="http://www.airforce.gov.au/aircraft/f111.aspx" target="_blank">F-111</a> aircraft today. This long-range, supersonic, strike fighter is operated by No.1 Squadron and No.6 Squadron out of the <a title="Amberley RAAF Base" href="http://www.airforce.gov.au/bases/amberley.aspx" target="_blank">Amberley RAAF Base</a> in Queensland.</p> <p>Although being replaced by the <a title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_F/A-18E/F_Super_Hornet" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_F/A-18E/F_Super_Hornet" rel="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_F/A-18E/F_Super_Hornet" target="_blank">F/A-18 Super Hornet</a> from <a title="McDonnell Douglas" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas" target="_blank">McDonnell Douglas</a> and the <a title="F-35 Joint Strike Fighter" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II" target="_blank">F-35 Joint Strike Fighter</a> from <a title="Lockheed Martin" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin" target="_blank">Lockheed Martin</a>, their retirement has been shadowed by controversy. Many believe that the upgraded <a title="F-111" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-111" target="_blank">F-111</a> is still best suited to Australia’s defence needs, despite the age of its design.</p> <p>The final flights of the aircraft are low-level flyovers of Brisbane and the Gold Coast today.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-91883898482027668352010-12-02T15:00:00.000+11:002010-12-09T14:57:57.961+11:00Oprah’s Australian Itinerary<p><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Oprah_Winfrey.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="By vargas2040, Cropped by OsamaK [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons" border="0" alt="By vargas2040, Cropped by OsamaK [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons" align="left" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TPcVA_0WKGI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/Yq7krL4Mh9c/128px-Oprah_Winfrey%5B30%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="100" height="193" /></a></p> <p>In her farewell season, the US queen of chat – <a title="Oprah Winfrey" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey">Oprah Winfrey</a> – is heading to Australia and she’s bringing 300 fans with her. The details of the visit are a closely guarded secret other than that two shows will be taped at the <a title="Sydney “Oprah” House" href="http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/about/2010_event_media_release_oprah_winfrey_show.aspx">Sydney “Oprah” House</a> on Tuesday, 14-December-2010.</p> <p>With Australia being such a large place it is hard to guess which parts of this amazing country Oprah will showcase to the world. After a bit of research, here is our speculation on Oprah’s itinerary for her upcoming Australian visit.</p> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="400"><tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="41"><font size="2">Tue</font></td> <td valign="top" width="58"><font size="2">7-Dec</font></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><font size="2">Fans arrive in Sydney to explore the city and visit Taronga Zoo.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="41"><font size="2">Wed</font></td> <td valign="top" width="58"><font size="2">8-Dec</font></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><font size="2">Oprah arrives in Cairns and heads to Hamilton Is. to explore the <font size="2">Whitsunday Islands.</font> </font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="41"><font size="2">Thu</font></td> <td valign="top" width="58"><font size="2">9-Dec</font></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><font size="2">Fly to Alice Springs and travel to Uluru.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="41"><font size="2">Fri</font></td> <td valign="top" width="58"><font size="2">10-Dec</font></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><font size="2">Explore Uluru. Fly from Alice Springs to Melbourne.</font><font size="2"></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="41"><font size="2">Sat</font></td> <td valign="top" width="58"><font size="2">11-Dec</font></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><font size="2">Shopping in Melbourne. Visit <font size="2">Great Ocean Road & Wilsons Promontory.</font> </font><font size="2"></font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="41"><font size="2">Sun</font></td> <td valign="top" width="58"><font size="2">12-Dec</font></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><font size="2">Fly to Adelaide. Visit wine making regions.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="41"><font size="2">Mon</font></td> <td valign="top" width="58"><font size="2">13-Dec</font></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><font size="2">Fly to Byron Bay then on to Sydney.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="41"><font size="2">Tue</font></td> <td valign="top" width="58"><font size="2">14-Dec</font></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><font size="2">Taping of the 2nd & 3rd shows at Oprah House.</font></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="41"><font size="2">Wed</font></td> <td valign="top" width="58"><font size="2">15-Dec</font></td> <td valign="top" width="300"><font size="2">Explore Hunter Valley, Blue Mountains.</font></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <iframe height="350" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=104796468245897498915.000496528cf9dd671fc1b&ll=-27.371767,135.263672&spn=26.908343,37.353516&z=4&output=embed" frameborder="0" width="425" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <br /><small>View <a style="text-align: left; color: #0000ff" href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=104796468245897498915.000496528cf9dd671fc1b&ll=-27.371767,135.263672&spn=26.908343,37.353516&z=4&source=embed">Oprah's Itinerary</a> in a larger map</small> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-58807414399163058882010-12-01T11:00:00.000+11:002010-12-01T11:00:03.254+11:00Australia’s Biggest Wave<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TPWLeokf0NI/AAAAAAAAAGI/EJDuH3ZPhic/s1600-h/Wave%5B88%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Wave" border="0" alt="Wave" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TPWLfdTBRwI/AAAAAAAAAGM/vzCVRJuSJkw/Wave_thumb%5B86%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="164" height="111" /></a></p> <p>Australia’s <a title="biggest wave" href="http://www.smh.com.au/environment/australian-monster-wave-heralds-huge-surf-for-sydney-20100917-15f23.html" target="_blank">biggest wave</a> was measured off the coast of Tasmania on 16 September 2010 at <strong>18.4 metres</strong>. Not one for you avid surfers to tackle. This was a measure of the absolute wave height from trough to crest. As records of wave heights in Australia only go back 10 years or so, historically there have probably been larger wave events.</p> <p>The information for today’s <a title="Fun Fact Wednesday" href="http://www.fiveoclockwave.com/search/label/Fun%20Fact%20Wednesday" target="_blank">Fun Fact Wednesday</a> was sourced from the <a title="Bureau of Meteorology" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/" target="_blank">Bureau of Meteorology</a> who provide regular <a title="Bass Strait Wave Forecasts" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/waves.shtml" target="_blank">forecasts</a> of wave heights for <a title="Bass Strait" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_Strait" target="_blank">Bass Strait</a>. Their reports typically refer to <a title="Significant Wave Height" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Significant_wave_height" target="_blank">Significant Wave Height</a> which is an average wave height as opposed to the absolute height of any particular one wave.</p> <p>The Queensland Government also performs <a title="Queensland Wave Monitoring" href="http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/environmental_management/coast_and_oceans/waves_and_storm_tides/wave_monitoring/" target="_blank">monitoring</a> of wave heights for several locations off the coast, from Cairns to Tweed River.</p> <p>Happy surfing!!</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-38977451133602506992010-11-24T05:00:00.000+11:002010-11-24T05:00:03.343+11:00Australia’s Hottest Day<p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TOoMSJvRW_I/AAAAAAAAAGA/JFwbuoZteCw/s1600-h/Sun%5B58%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Sun" border="0" alt="Sun" align="left" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TOoMS0C8dWI/AAAAAAAAAGE/92c0JzIa9io/Sun_thumb%5B55%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="124" height="80" /></a></p> <p>Australia has a reputation for being a warm and sunny country but when does warm become – as Australian’s like to say – <em>“stinkin’ bloody hot”</em>? Today’s Fun Fact Wednesday looks at the hottest daily temperature recorded in Australia.</p> <p>According to <a title="Daily Temperature Extremes" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/extremes/annual_extremes.cgi?climtab=tmax_high&area=aus&year=2010" target="_blank">records</a> kept by the Australian <a title="Bureau of Meteorology" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/index.shtml" target="_blank">Bureau of Meteorology</a>, Australia’s hottest day was on 2 January 1960 at <a title="Oodnadatta" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oodnadatta,_South_Australia" target="_blank">Oodnadatta</a> Airport when the temperature reached 50.7 degrees Celsius. This year’s temperatures have been milder with the hottest day so far occurring on 1 January 2010 at <a title="Onslow" href="http://www.about-australia.com/western-australia/australias-north-west/destinations/onslow/" target="_blank">Onslow</a> in Western Australia where the maximum temperature hit 49.2 degrees Celsius.</p> <p>If you are out in the Australian sun remember the <a title="UV Index" href="http://www.fiveoclockwave.com/2010/10/uv-index.html" target="_blank">UV Index</a> can be hazardous so don’t forget to <a title="“slip, slop, slap”" href="http://www.cancer.org.au/cancersmartlifestyle/SunSmart/Campaignsandevents/SlipSlopSlapSeekSlide.htm" target="_blank">“slip, slop, slap”</a>.</p> <iframe height="300" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Oodnadatta,+South+Australia&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=43.719032,70.400391&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Oodnadatta+South+Australia&ll=-27.605671,135.439453&spn=11.668041,13.183594&z=5&iwloc=A&output=embed" frameborder="0" width="300" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <br /><small><a style="text-align: left; color: #0000ff" href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Oodnadatta,+South+Australia&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=43.719032,70.400391&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Oodnadatta+South+Australia&ll=-27.605671,135.439453&spn=11.668041,13.183594&z=5&iwloc=A">View Larger Map</a></small> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-81257997938379489772010-11-17T06:00:00.000+11:002010-11-17T06:00:03.686+11:00The World’s Longest Fence<p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TOJ_FqUu5JI/AAAAAAAAAF4/Yb5jvjRl6g0/s1600-h/Fence%5B3%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="Fence" border="0" alt="Fence" align="right" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TOJ_HDagppI/AAAAAAAAAF8/sJgAOiIX7IQ/Fence_thumb%5B1%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="124" height="84" /></a></p> <p>Today’s Fun Fact Wednesday is about Australia’s <a title="Dingo Fence" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dingo_Fence" target="_blank">Dingo Fence</a> – the world’s longest fence - stretching 5,614km. Its construction commenced in the 1880s and the fence runs from South East Queensland to west of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyre_peninsula">Eyre Peninsula</a> in South Australia.</p> <p>The purpose of the fence is to stop <a title="dingoes" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dingo" target="_blank">dingoes</a> from harming the herds of sheep in fertile areas of south eastern Australia. It is 1.8m high and extends 30cm below ground.</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-8935241797330213272010-11-15T14:00:00.000+11:002010-11-15T14:00:01.546+11:00Qantas 90th Anniversary<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TOChXdKL8eI/AAAAAAAAAFo/7ITGy2owPjE/s1600-h/qantas%5B172%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="qantas" border="0" alt="qantas" align="left" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TOChYHI_NLI/AAAAAAAAAFs/4jzlm3tq1l8/qantas_thumb%5B168%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="124" height="184" /></a></p> <p>90 years ago on the 16 November 1920, Australia’s national airline <a title="QANTAS" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Qantas" target="_blank">QANTAS</a> was formed by Lieutenant Wilmot Hudson Fysh and Lieutenant Paul McGinness. Both had fought at <a title="Gallipoli" href="http://www.anzacsite.gov.au/" target="_blank">Gallipoli</a> before transferring to the Australian Flying Corps. On their return to Australia, they were commissioned to build airstrips for the <a title="Great Air Race" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_to_Australia_flight" target="_blank">Great Air Race</a>. This is when they realised the benefits air travel could offer to cover Australia’s vast distances.</p> <p>QANTAS originally stood for the Queensland And Northern Territory Air Service and commenced operations in <a title="Longreach" href="http://www.longreach.qld.gov.au/services/visitors_info_centre.shtml" target="_blank">Longreach</a>, Queensland in 1921. Initially Qantas offered joy rides and an air taxi service, but shortly after commenced regular passenger flights from Charleville to Cloncurry.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TOChYm3DeXI/AAAAAAAAAFw/J5FfXCMNlzg/s1600-h/qantas%20booking%5B2%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="qantas booking" border="0" alt="qantas booking" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TOChZIScEtI/AAAAAAAAAF0/rUs-LyJppgc/qantas%20booking_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" height="82" /></a></p> <p>Although Qantas has a reputation for being one of the world’s safest airlines, it did lose aircraft flown on behalf of the military in WWII. Its first international flight was from Darwin to Singapore in 1935 and its first jet aircraft was a <a title="Boeing 707-138" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_707" target="_blank">Boeing 707-138</a> which it put into operation in 1959. In 90 years Qantas has expanded the reach of Australian aviation, now travelling to 18 domestic destinations and 21 international destinations. It also runs flightseeing flights to the Antarctic. </p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8610712277000466513.post-18731298857958241972010-11-10T04:00:00.000+11:002010-11-10T04:00:05.565+11:00Australian Water Use<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TNjdbmDWsdI/AAAAAAAAAFg/kGAYUSneZvY/s1600-h/water_usage%5B102%5D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="water_usage" border="0" alt="water_usage" align="right" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_tXzrxzOD_Rs/TNjdcENAuCI/AAAAAAAAAFk/6R2EENA-kLg/water_usage_thumb%5B100%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="144" height="109" /></a></p> <p>Australia is a dry country with its sweeping deserts and rugged outback - receiving on average, only <a title="Annual Rainfall" href="http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/rain.shtml" target="_blank">500mm</a> of rainfall annually. </p> <p>Today’s <a title="Fun Fact Wednesday" href="http://www.fiveoclockwave.com/search/label/Fun%20Fact%20Wednesday" target="_blank">Fun Fact Wednesday</a> will look at how water is consumed in Australia.</p> <p>Every five years the <a title="Australian Bureau of Statistics" href="http://www.abs.gov.au/" target="_blank">Australian Bureau of Statistics</a> prepares Australia’s <a title="Water Accounts" href="http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4610.0Main+Features12004-05?OpenDocument" target="_blank">Water Accounts</a> which detail our uses of water and its consumption.</p> <p>The last accounts, prepared in 2004-05 showed some interesting facts:</p> <ol> <li>Australia’s total water use equalled 80,000 gigalitres<sup>1</sup>; </li> <li>Of the total water used, over 75% was returned to the environment with 18,767 gigalitres being consumed; </li> <li>Major consumers of this 18,767 gigalitres were Agriculture (65%) and Households (11%); </li> <li>This household water consumption equates to 285 litres per person per day. <a title="US household water consumption" href="http://www.drinktap.org/consumerdnn/LinkClick.aspx?link=85&tabid=85&mid=593" target="_blank">US household water consumption</a> by comparison equates to 262 litres per person per day.</li> </ol> <p>1. 1 gigalitre = 500 Olympic swimming pools</p> Aussie Storieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05031645318990945446noreply@blogger.com0