Outback Snack

Brazil Football Feijoada Macaws and Holden Cars?

2012-02-08T21:39:00.000-08:00

Brazil and Australia have become good mates they have recently negotiated joint actions in the areas of trade; investments; agriculture; mining; energy; science and technology; education; sports and culture. There are also cooperation possibilities between Brazil's agricultural research agency Embrapa and CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization), as well as between CNPq (technological and scientific development council) and Australian Research Council.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in November 2011

Trade is sizable between the two nations. Two-way merchandise trade between Australia and Brazil was A$1.98 billion in 2007–08. Merchandise trade comprised exports of A$938 million to Brazil and imports of A$1,040 million from Brazil. Major exports to Brazil included coal, nickel ores and medicaments, as well as motor vehicles—the Holden Commodore has been sold by General Motors do Brasil as the Chevrolet Omega since 1999. Major imports from Brazil included aircraft, animal feed, pulp and waste paper, fruit juices and pig iron.

The Chevrolet Omega is an executive car sold by General Motors do Brasil for the Brazilian market. Replacing the Chevrolet Opala, which was a development of the Opel Rekord C, the original Chevrolet Omega was based on the Opel Omega A, and built locally between 1992 and 1998. After 1999, local production ceased, and GM imported badge engineered versions of the Holden Commodore from Australia.

Manufacturer Chevrolet (1992-1998)

Holden (1998-2008, 2010-present)

Production 1992–2008

2010–present

Predecessor Chevrolet Opala

Class Executive car

The second generation Omegas were only offered as a four-door sedan (the Commodore also had wagon and pickup variants), and identical Australian-made left-hand drive models were also exported as the Chevrolet Lumina.

Australia is becoming an appealing destination to learn English after the United States and England – with a much more temperate climate and a smaller Brazilian community. There has also been an influx of Brazilian students who have come to attend Australian universities. These students come independent of their families on study visas, and usually stay after completion of their studies.

Brazil was the most popular South American destination for Australian travellers, with more than 60,000 people flying between the two countries in 2007. As a result, in 2008, the Australian Government agreed to new aviation agreements which meant airlines in Brazil and Australia will have their entitlements doubled to 14 weekly passenger flights and seven freight services

Australian Slang

2012-02-07T15:45:00.000-08:00

About as useless as tits on a bull ......... about as useless as it gets

A kangaroo short in the top paddock ...... not very bright , simple

All piss and wind ..... a show of bravado

All the go ....... popular

A lot on your Plate ........you have a lot to do

Ants in your pants ..... restless

Arse about face ....... back to front

Arse over tit ........ fall over

As mad as a cut snake ..... very angry or crazy

Av a go ya mug ! ........... 1 . an expression of annoyed encouragement often shouted during a sporting match to urge a player to improved performance ... 2 . A challenge to fight

Away with the fairies ..... day dreaming

Awning over the toy shop ....male beer belly

Back of Beyond ....a long way from suburbia

Back of Burke ..... a long way away

Bald as a bandicoot ....... hairless

Banged up ..... unmarried and pregnant

Bangs like a dunny door in a cyclone .... (derogatory) very sexually active female

Bar flies ...... usually in country towns , old men who sit outside the pub (hotel) drinking from opening to closing

Bastard of a thing ...... exclaimation of frustration at an object or situation

Beating around/about the bush ........ not getting to the point on a subject

Bend the elbow ..... drink alcohol

Bend your ear ....... talk

Better then a poke in the eye with a blunt stick ...... something is okay but could be better

Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick ..... same as above

Between a rock and a hard place ........ in a difficult or seemingly no win situation

Bet your bottom dollar ...... very sure of an outcome

Beyond the Black stump ...... a long way from anything

Blown up like a poisoned pup ...... full of food

Big note yourself ............. to say you are better or more important than you are

Blue rinse set ...... elderly ( particularly ladies )

Bobby dazzler ....... it's excellent or striking

Bold as Ned Kelly .. Ned Kelly was an Australian bushranger , made famous for the metal suit of armor he made and wore during the Kelly gangs final illfated showdown with the law at Glenrowan in Victoria , November 11th 1880 . At the time of his hanging Ned was aged 25 , his last words were "Such is life "

Boots and all ...... everything , giving something all the effort you can muster

Built like a brick sh*t house .........something or someone is built very stongly

Bust your gut ...... work extra hard , try very hard to do something

Busy as a one legged bloke in a bum kicking contest ......... doing nothing

Busy body ..... someone who is overly interested in other peoples affairs

Buzz off ....... depart

Can't kill it with an axe ........ something which appears indestructable

Can't kill it with a stick ........ as above

Carry on like a pork chop ........... make a big fuss

Chew the fat ....... discussion

Chief cook and bottle washer ....... In charge

Christmas on a stick ...... think highly of self

Chuck a reggie ......... have a tandrum

Chuck a wobbly ....... have a tantrum

Clap trap ........ utter nonsense

Clapped out .......no longer any good

Coat hanger , the .......... The Sydney Harbour Bridge

Cock and bull story ...... A tale of lies from beginning to end

Cock arse about .......... Procrastinate or back to front

Cop the crow ...... get the worst end of the deal

Come a cropper ..... have an accident

Couldn't give a rats arse .. don't care , not interested in the slightest degree

Crook as a dog ...... feeling very ill

Cunning as a dunny rat ....... astute or sly

Dead set ...... really

Dogs are biting .... sore feet

Done like a dogs dinner ...... bested convincingly

Down the Gurgler ............ something has failed

Down the plug hole ............failure , loss

Dragging the chain ........ moving or working slowly

Dressed to the nines ...... dressed and groomed to your best

Drinking with the flies .... drinking alone

Driving the Porcelain bus ........... vomiting

Eat a horse, and chase the rider ......... very hungry

Emma Chisit ........ how much is it ?

Emu parade ...... to have a clean up

Even Blind freddy could see that ! ........what someone would say to you, if you are not understanding or have missed something obvious

Fair dinkum ....... seriously , genuine or Australian

Fair crack of the whip ..... requesting someone gives a fair go , an equal chance

Fair go mate ! ........ Someone is not doing or saying the right thing

Fair suck of the sav ........someone is not letting you do or say something

Fart arse around ........ not coming to the point or doing the job

Feeling butchers .... unwell

Flash as a rat with a gold tooth ........... dressed and groomed nicely

Flash in the pan ...... one off event , out of the blue

Flat out like a lizard drinking .......... doing something very fast or very busy

Fly by nighter ....... a person or business whos intention it is to trade and then disappear quickly (often involves illegal activities )

Fiddle fart around ....... not doing the job or coming to the point

Fit as a mallee bull ......... very well , very fit , very strong

Full ....... drunk

Full as a fairies phone book ....... no room left

Full as a goog ........ eaten too much

Full of it ........ speaking absolute rubbish

Full of yourself ...... placing too much emphasis of your own importance

Garbage guts .... someone who eats to excess

Gave someone the razz .... stirred them up

General dogs body ....... a rousabout , lacky , a person expected to do many jobs many of them meanial

Get a grip ........... stop being overly emotional

Get a grip on yourself ...... as above

Get a wriggle on ........ hurry up

Get your arse in gear .....hurry up

Get your act together ..... be sensible

Get your rocks off ........ enjoy yourself

Give someone curry ..........give someone a piece of your mind or a hard time verbally

Give it a bash ........ try something new

Give it a burl ......... try something new

Give it a whirl ...... attempt something new

Give something the once over ,.........examining something

Glad rags ............ best clothes

God's great garden .... Australia

Go have a butchers .... go to look at something

Go butchers hook ........ be very angry

Go for broke ....... last ditched effort , bet everything

Going like a blue-tail fly ............doing something very fast

Go like the clappers....... go very fast

Gone a gutser ..... fallen over

Gone walkabout ...... wandered off somewhere or lost

Good looking sort ........ admiring a woman

Good set of snarlers ...... prominant teeth

Gutter Snipe ......... dirty child

Gutsy effort ...... tried hard

Hair pin bend ....... a very tight corner in the road which doubles back forming a U shape

Happy as Larry ........ very content

Happy as a pig in sh*t ........ very content

Happy as a sandboy ............very happy

Happy clapper ......... born again christian

Happy little vegimite ....... contented , pleased

Has to run around in the shower to get wet .......... a way of describing someone who is very thin

Have a coldie ......... drink a beer

Have a cold one ..... drink a beer

Have a cuppa ................have cup of tea or coffee

Have a go ya mug ....... telling someone to try harder (often yelled out at sporting events)

Have a go ya mug ........ a challenge to fight

Have a quiet one ..... to have an alcoholic drink

Have kangaroos in the top paddock ..... crazy

Haven't got a Brass Razoo....... No money

Haven't got 2 cents to rub together .... broke , no money

Have someones guts for garters ..... very angry

Hoe the boots in ...... in a fight and kicking

Hope your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny down ..... a curse (immortalised in song ... who wrote that ? ... help please)

Hows Tricks ? ........... How are you ? How is everything ?

Howsit going ..............How are you ?

How ya goin ? ........... How are you ?

Hugging the toilet bowl ........vomiting

In like Flynn ..... jumped at an opportunity ( can have sexual overtones )

In the club ..... pregnant

In the lock up ..... in gaol ( jail )

It's a Broken packet of biscuits ......... looks good on the outside, but is a mess on the inside

Its a bit tricky ....... temperamental , difficult

It would kill a brown dog ....... very potent

Just down the road a bit ...... a distance from a couple of hundred metres to a couple of hundred kilometres

Keen as mustard .... very eager (Keen's is a brand name for mustard and curry powder)

Knee high to a grasshopper ..... a child , small of stature

Knocked off ...... finished work for the day

Knocked it off .....stole it

Knock one back ...... have a beer

Knock shop ..... brothel

Knuckle sandwich ...... a punch in the mouth

Like a fish on a hook ...... addicted to something , caught up in something (often illegal) , deeply involved , having someone exactly where you want them .

Like a fish out of water ....... awkward , uncomfortable , not fitting in

Like a rat up a drain pipe ........leave in a hurry

Like a shag on a rock ............ alone , out of place

Little Aussie battler ....... someone who works very hard , not earning a lot of money , shows integrity , honesty and compassion , would give to others even when there is little to give

Lower than a snakes belly .........despicable

Make a big song and dance ...... make a fuss

Missed the bus ...... to late for something

Molly Dooked ...... left handed

More arse than class ...... lucky

More arse than Jessie's bull ..... lucky

Mr Plod ..... policeman

Mutton dressed up as lamb ....... an older person trying to look very young

Need to go ...... need to go to the toilet

Nit pick .......... find fault in the smallest things

No flies on you ........ you can't be fooled

Not the full quid ....... of less than average intelligence

Not worth a Brass Razoo ........ Worthless

Not worth a pinch .......... worthless

Off the beaten track ..........on a road not used very much, a back road or track or in a remote part of Australia

Off like a brides nightie ............leave very quickly

Off like a bucket of prawns in the hot sun ..... leaving very quickly

Off like a shot ........ leave in a hurry

Old fart ........ someone a little older than yourself or an older person you do not like

Old geezer .... affectionate term for the elderly

One and a half axe handles across ...... precise measurement for the female buttocks

One armed bandit ............ poker machine

On ya ! ....... that's great , you've done well

Out the window ....... lost opportunity

Peeved ....... annoyed

Piece of piss ......... easy

Pigs ........... that's a lie

Pigs eye ..... no way , rubbish

Pissed as a nit ...... very drunk

Pissed as a parrot .........drunk

Pissed off ............very angry or annoyed

Pissing in the wind ... wasting your time , a pointless exercise

Plant someone ....... to bury a person (funeral)

Playing pocket billiards .............. male with in hand in his pocket adjusting genitals

Podgy dodger ........ cattle rustler ( thief)

Pull up Stumps ......... move house , changing address

Pull your head in !............mind your own business !

Pull the belt in ................stop spending money

Pull your socks up................try harder

Put the bite on someone ............ ask for money

Put the squeeze on someone ...... pressure them

Put up or shut up ............. back up what you are saying or keep your opinions to yourself

Put your money where your mouth is .... back up what you are saying with a bet

Quick as a flash ......... astute or fast

Rafferty's rules ........ no rules at all

Ridgey didge .......... true

Rip off .......cheat

Rip snorter ..... excellent , very funny

Sausage Short of the barbecue ........short of brains

See youse ( or yas)....... see you all later , Goodbye

She'll be apples ....... everything will be fine , no problem

Shoot through ..... leave

Shoot through like a Bondi tram .... leave in a hurry

Short arms long pockets ....... someone will not part with their money , a miser

Silly as a two bob watch ........crazy

Silly as a wheel ....... crazy

Skin flint ................. a miser

Slap dash ........ haphazard , performed below standard in a disinterested way

Slippery character ......... not to be trusted

Someone Kaks themselves ........ they are very frightened

Something got up your nose ..... annoyed or angry

Spit it out ........ come straightout and say it !

Smart arse ....... know it all person

Snag Short of a barbie............ not very smart

Snake in the grass ........ a sly person , a betrayer

Snow dropper ..... someone who steals clothes from a clothesline

Spitting chips ...... very angry

Squashed like a maggot ...... conquered

Stick in the mud .... a wowser , someone who is very staid

Stick it in the boot ...... place something in the boot (trunk) of a car

Sticky beak .... take a look or pry

Stir the possum ........ liven things up

Stone the crows !!.... exclaimation of frustration or disbelief

Sydney or the bush ...... All or nothing

Take a Leak ............. go to the toilet

Take a squizz .... have a look

Talking a mile a minute ....... talking too much or very fast

Talking on the porcelain telephone ...........vomiting into a toilet

The place is an arm pit .... it's terrible

The Pot calling the kettle black......... adverse statement made by someone in reply to a comment from a person who is in a similar or worse situation

The town bike ....... woman of loose morals

Tickled pink .......... very happy

Tough as old boot leather .......... need I say more ?

Trying one on ....... trying to get away with something

Trying to get into someones pants ............ making sexual advances

Tyre kickers ........ people who look with no intention of buying

Ugly as a box of Blowflies ..... that's about as ugly as it gets

Under the weather ...........unwell , ill

Up a Gum tree ........ in all sorts of trouble

Up and down like a whores draws ...... restless or fluctuating

Up the duff ....... pregnant

Up the spout .....pregnant

Vaccinated with a gramophone needle ....... someone who talks a lot

Well stacked ............ large breasted woman

White ants in the billy ....... crazy

Wouldn't shout in a shark attack ...........a person who will not take their turn buying a round of drinks

Yer bloods worth Bottling! .........someone has done something good for you.

You little Bottler ............delight, something has gone the way you want

You little ripper ....... very good , excellent

Zebra crossing ..... broad black and white lines painted on a road to mark a pedestrian crossing

Hendra virus battle continues

2012-01-22T14:19:00.000-08:00

A new study on African bats provides a vital clue for unravelling the mysteries in Australia's battle with the deadly Hendra virus.

The study focused on an isolated colony of straw-coloured fruit bats on islands off the west coast of central Africa. By capturing the bats and collecting blood samples, scientists discovered these animals have antibodies that can neutralise deadly viruses known in Australia and Asia.

The paper was published 12 January, in the journal PLoS ONE, and is a collaboration of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge, the Zoological Society of London and the CSIRO Australian Animal Health Laboratory.

Hendra virus in Australia and Nipah virus in Asia are carried by fruit bats and sporadically "spill over" into people with tragic consequences. The findings of the new study are significant as they yield valuable insights for our understanding of how these viruses persist in bat populations.

Cambridge PhD student Alison Peel explains, "Hendra and Nipah viruses cause fatal infections in humans, but we currently understand very little about how the viruses are transmitted from bats to other animals or people. To understand what the risk factors for these 'spill-overs' are, it is crucial to understand how viruses are maintained in bat populations. The ability to study these viruses within an isolated bat colony has given us new insight into these processes."

It was previously believed that these viruses were maintained in large interconnected populations of bats, so that if the virus dies out in one colony, it would be reintroduced when bats from different colonies interact. The new study indicates that a closely related virus is able to persist in a very small and isolated population of bats. This is the first time this has been documented in a natural wild population, casting doubt on current theories.

Peel added, "Although Hendra and Nipah viruses are relatively new to science, it appears that bats have lived and evolved with them over a very long time. We hope that by gaining a better understanding of this relationship, we may then be able to understand why it is only within the last 20 years that spill-over to humans has occurred."

Sonic for Aussies Only

2012-01-19T22:14:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog, JWT Sydney and SEGA have launched a multiplatform campaign based around an augmented reality app that can be used in conjunction with out-of-home, TV, magazines, online banners and websites. The campaign has launched exclusively in Australia and the Sonic Vision app is only available in the Australian iTunes store.

The 'Sonic Vision - Catch the Blue Blur' iPhone app allows fans to capture Sonic in the real world by locating augmented reality markers around the country using built-in maps and GPS.

To catch Sonic, players can point their iPhone at a poster and a gold ring appears on screen. Sonic speeds past onscreen and players have to respond quickly to capture him. The markers also appear on websites, banners, in magazines and on TV.

SEGA is also distributing Augmented Reality Markers to bloggers and gaming websites encouraging them to be part of the campaign by voluntarily embedding the markers within their pages to attract Sonic Vision players.

Fans can also submit their points to a leaderboard and follow the progress of other players, win Sonic prizes and share their scores on Facebook.
"JWT has recognised the rising prominence of mobile amongst gamers and created an experience that is a fitting celebration of a gaming icon like Sonic the Hedgehog," said SEGA marketing manager Neroli Baird.

The campaign also coincides with the much anticipated release of Sonic Generations for Nintendo DS, PS3, Xbox 360 PC. Sonic Generations delivers the definitive gaming experience for Sonic fans new and old and is considered the ultimate celebration of 20 Years of Sonic gaming.

Australia Day Who are we?

2012-01-17T18:04:00.000-08:00

What does it mean to be Australian ? How do we as Australians see ourselves? How are we as a nation, culture and society, perceived by others?

Australia is a product of a unique blend of established traditions and new influences. The country’s original inhabitants, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, are the custodians of one of the world’s oldest continuing cultural traditions. They have been living in Australia for at least 40 000 years and possibly up to 60 000 years.

Australians like to think that we are a proud egalitarian nation, built on the backs of convicts, immigrants and farmers. We value hard work and mate ship and believe in a fair go. Sure, the tall poppy syndrome is alive and well, and we can cut somebody down very quickly, we have a habit of dumbing it down or veering towards mediocrity, in order to protect equality among all Australians.

There is a over-humility in people in Australia, where people can sometimes forget about making their own lives good, because we are trying so hard to make our community's life better.

We school our children with vocational training, and the Outcomes Based Education ethic, we create people who really do grow up, with the ability to think critically, and to approach life from the standpoint of generalists.
As adults the way we discuss national issues is really impressive. Comparing the discourse we have here, to what they have in the USA and other countries around the world, is like comparing day with night. Over there, every passionate discussion is formed in an artificial political way. Over here, in Australia, caring is a prime directive and we know how to discuss and understand the systems which are involved in the national issue which is the topic that day.

We invite immigrants to this country, from all around the world, no matter what political or religious persuasion, they are allowed to engage in prevailing social political conversations and can contribute to debates and decisions which face us. As much as we love this country, none of us would pretend that we have "perfection" we are all living in a continuous experiment, hopefully refining our society for the better as we go.

Everyone is expected to uphold the principles and shared values that support Australia’s way of life. These include:

respect for equal worth, dignity and freedom of the individual
freedom of speech and association
freedom of religion and a secular government
support for parliamentary democracy and the rule of law
equality under the law
equality of men and women
equality of opportunity
peacefulness
a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces tolerance, mutual respect, and compassion for those in need. Australia also holds firmly to the belief that no one should be disadvantaged on the basis of their country of birth, cultural heritage, language, gender or religious belief.

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY

France VS Australian Wine makers

2012-01-10T22:14:00.000-08:00

France has traditionally been the largest consumer of its own wines. However, wine consumption has been dropping in France for over 40 odd years. During the decade of the 1990s, per capita consumption dropped by nearly 20 percent.

Australia and France both make very good wine, but their respective wine making cultures are at opposite extremes. In Australia, wine makers must go to university and learn the science of wine making. After graduation, some are expected to make wine in a foreign country in order to further develop their abilities. Once acquiring a vast body of knowledge, they return to Australia and further contribute to the local knowledge pool. The wine maker's knowledge is then tested in a variety of national wine shows where blind tastings are used to assess quality and award prizes.

The recognized wine producing areas in France are regulated by the Institut National des Appellations d'Origine – INAO in acronym. Every appellation in France is defined by INAO, in regards to the individual regions particular wine "character". If a wine fails to meet the INAO's strict criteria it is declassified into a lower appellation or even into Vin de Pays or Vin de Table.

Map of the principal wine regions in France

Whereas Australian wine making culture emphasises science and allows the freedom to use it, French wine making culture revolves around inflexible classification systems that define wineries as inferior and superior. In 1855, Bordeaux wineries were ranked in classes titled First Growth, Second Growth, Third Growth, Fourth Growth and Fifth growth. In 150 years, only Mouton Rothschild has been able to change its rank. In 1973, it was promoted from Second to First growth.

The Appellation label is a classification system designed to protect established brands. The Appellation label was created in 1935 and has strict rules about permitted grape varieties, yields, alcohol content, cultivation, maturation practices, and labelling procedures. If a wine maker follows the rules of their respective Appellation, then they are allowed to use the Appellation label. If they don't follow the rules then they can't use the label.

By forcing all wine makers in a specific region to make wine in the same way, it becomes much easier for the region to become famous for a specific style. If the region is famous, then all the winemakers in the region also benefit. Furthermore, if each region is famous for a particular style, then different regions of France have no need to compete with each other. It is very much a group first philosophy that allows all individuals in the group to benefit from the group's success.

Although the Appellation system helps marketing, the side effect is that it reduces quality. The system is incredibly harsh on innovation, and leaves no scope for the winemaker to adapt techniques to deal with micro-climatic variances from year to year. Basically, the French wine maker is nothing more than a robot following inflexible rules. There is no need for them to be educated. There is no need to learn new theories. No need to experiment. No need to worry about competition. In fact, there isn't even a need for French winemakers to clean their vats. The lack of cleanliness is reflected in many French wines, which taste of an extremely dirty winery.

Due to obvious problems with the Appellation label, in 1979 the French created the less restrictive Vin De Pays label. Although the VDP label allows scope for wine making expertise, in the eyes of the French consumer, a Vin De Pay wine signals that the wine is of inferior quality. (Entrenched interests in the French industry work hard to maintain that perception.) Consequently, the Vin De Pay wine sells for a low price and so further reinforces negative perceptions about the label - to the delight of those who use the Appellation label.

Unlike Australia, France does not have a culture of national wine shows that allow new wineries to gain recognition. As a result, French wine bottles never display awards as do Australian wine bottles. Plain and simply, French wineries have no way of going up in status.

Australians appreciate the marketing benefits of the Appellation system and have worked to create regional promotions. They have not; however, agreed to follow a uniform set of rules or regulations and probably never would.

French wine originated in the 6th century BC, with the colonization of Southern Gaul and by Greek settlers.

Australian SAS Special Air Service Regiment

2012-01-05T15:45:00.000-08:00

The Special Air Service Regiment, officially abbreviated SASR but commonly known as the SAS, is a special forces unit of the Australian Army.

The Australian Special Air Service was established on 25 July 1957 as the 1st Special Air Service Company.

Only 16% of applicants will pass the SASR selection course.

Since their beginnings in 1964, the SASR has lost more men in training than in combat due to the nature of their training regime

SASR Squadrons rotated through Vietnam on one year long deployments until the last Squadron was withdrawn in October 1971. During its time in Vietnam the Regiment was extremely successful in the reconnaissance role. To their enemies, members of the regiment were known as the 'phantoms of the jungle' due to their field craft.

The Australian and New Zealand SAS killed at least 492 and as many as 598 and losing only two men killed in action and three fatalities from friendly fire.

Rugby League All Stars Festival 2012

2012-01-01T21:23:00.000-08:00

Rugby League Indigenous Allstars Game 2012 will be held at Skilled Park on February 4.

The All Stars Festival, celebrating the indigenous participation across Rugby League, will take place on Friday, February 3, at Burleigh Bears Junior Rugby League Oval.

The festival will be put up a day prior to the 2012 Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars match at Skilled Park on February 4, which is also a way of exhibiting more commitment to Indigenous Australia. It has been organised by NRL in collaboration with QRL, CRL, NSWRL and ARL Indigenous Council.

All Star Christopher Sandow Visits his home town of Cherbourg QLD

The All Stars Festival will feature the best of the Indigenous Club players who will display their skills in a clash between the Koori and Murri at Burleigh Bears’ Bob Singh Oval during the latter half of the day.

Also, former captain of the Indigenous team, Preston Campbell, whose brainchild is the indigenous All Stars, will present away 2012 Indigenous All Stars player including their Women’s team.

Santa tracker 2011

2011-12-22T00:28:00.000-08:00

In 1958, the governments of Canada and the United States created a bi-national air defense command for North America called the North American Aerospace Defense Command, also known as NORAD, which then took on the tradition of tracking Santa.

Since that time, NORAD men, women, family and friends have selflessly volunteered their time to personally respond to phone calls and emails from children all around the world. In addition, we now track Santa using the Internet. Millions of people who want to know Santa’s whereabouts now visit the NORAD Tracks Santa website.

What are Australia Aboriginal Languages

2011-12-13T16:05:00.000-08:00

At the time of European settlement in Australia in the 1700s, Indigenous people across the continent spoke an estimated 250 languages. Some of these are still spoken today, but most have become extinct or are in danger of disappearing.

However, in the past 30 years, Australian governments, educators and researchers have been developing programs and strategies to maintain and preserve Australia’s Indigenous linguistic heritage and to support those who continue to speak Indigenous languages or those who wish to revive Indigenous languages.

Many words from Indigenous languages, especially the names of places and animals, have passed into general Australian English usage and form an important part of contemporary Australian identity. The name of Australia’s capital city, Canberra, comes from an Indigenous word meaning ‘meeting place’.

David R Horton is the creator of the Interactive Indigenous Language Map for the ABC.

Click on the Map Below

Outback Australia Amazing Time lapse Video

2011-12-07T19:26:00.000-08:00

More than 100,000 amazing images of the Outback taken over a year have been turned into a stunning time-lapse video.

Credit: Dayman Steptoe
Copyright AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY and www.remotephotography.com.au

Vive La France Mate!

2011-12-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

Over 45,000 Australians lost their lives on French soil in the First and Second World Wars, more than in any other country in the world.
The legacy of Australian involvement on French soil plays an important role in our bilateral relationship with France.

The Aussies named one of the main streets in the town of Peronne, Roo de Kanga, a deviation of Kangaroo, it is still named that today in their honour

France and Australia have a close relationship founded on historical contacts, shared values of democracy and human rights, substantial commercial links, and a keen interest in each other's culture.

Dialogue and practical cooperation between France and Australia has been strengthening on many fronts in recent years, including on key global security issues such as arms control and disarmament, non-proliferation and counter-terrorism. The Pacific region, where both countries have direct interests, continues to be an important focus of bilateral engagement. Commercial links are substantial and France is an increasingly important source of direct investment and technology, including in the defence sector, for Australia. Cooperation in the surveillance of valuable fisheries resources is also an area of ongoing bilateral activity.

Members of French Navy Ship La Fayette, onboard HMAS Sydney.

In 2008, it was announced that France and Australia would strengthen their defence cooperation further in the Pacific region.
The Australian Embassy in Paris administers the Australia–France Foundation, which promotes cultural exchanges between the two countries and publishes a quarterly newsletter 'L'Australie en France' promoting Australian activities in France. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Cultural Awards Scheme has also promoted cultural relations between Australia and France.

French Tourists enjoy a traditional Australian Xmas Day at the beach

Tourist links between the two countries are significant, with over 400,000 Australians visiting France each year. Approx 102,000 visitor visas were granted to French nationals to visit Australia in 2009 – 10, making France the 10th largest source of visitor visa grants, and 1,867 student visas were granted. A working holiday-maker agreement signed between the two countries in November 2003 makes it easier for young French and Australian people to spend time in each other's countries. In 2009–10, about 7000 Australian working holiday visas were granted to French nationals, making France the 7th largest source of working holiday visitors, and 483 were granted to Australians.

Queensland and Queenslanders

2011-11-30T18:28:00.000-08:00

People from the southern states of Australia sometimes refer to Queensland as "The Deep North", in allusion to the Deep South of the United States and the socio-political stereotype associated with it. This was notably the case during the 1970s and early 1980s, when Joh Bjelke-Petersen was Premier, and again in the 1990s, when Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party from Queensland became a significant force in Australian politics.

The rivalry between the states of New South Wales and Queensland goes back over 100 years, stemming from the attitude that New South Wales was the "Mother Colony" while Queensland was viewed as a poorer cousin.

A Deep North Stereotype

This rivalry has been played out through sport over the years. In Queensland there has been a general ill-feeling over the number of sports people leaving their home state for New South Wales, particularly rugby league football players who left to play for the richer Sydney clubs. These players would then play against Queensland in interstate matches. In 1980, as a solution to this problem, the Rugby League State of Origin was created to allow Queensland players to play for their original state. This sporting contest played three times a year now exemplifies this rivalry, dominating the media and public attention in those two states during the series.

A Queenslander is born of the festering hatred, resentment, jealousy and perceived injustice, done to them by New South Wales Rugby League (blues), through out history, only those who have been crushed beneath a tyrannical oppressor's heel, can truly know this feeling.

Ah mate here we go a bloody ‘gain

The Blues are whinging and they’re crying

It makes you flaming sick ya know

But it’s a trick we just ain’t buying.

They reckon they have rookies

Who will never make the grade

We know they never had a chance

No matter who they bloody played.

The time draws near, they start to shake

That self doubt will rise again

It will grow on their subconscious

And play havoc with their brain.

Take note how people that you work with

Start avoiding all your crew

Then you realise what is happening

Their skin is turning slimy blue.

Mate this is State Of Origin

It’s a feeling you can’t hide

That tingling through your body

That unbending Queensland pride.

Your guts begin a churning

The sweat pours from your brow.

There is no sitting on the fence

It’s time to take that Queensland vow.

And the Blues they just don’t get it

They can’t understand that pride

How we can love this state so much

Just how we feel deep down inside.

The battle lines are slowly drawn

You know just what I mean

You are either with us or against us

There is bugger all in between.

So bring it on you Roaches

Feel the hatred and the fear

The battle ground will run with blood

Then you will hear our victory cheer.

“QUEENSLANDER”

Bondi Beach Celebrity v Backpacker

2011-11-13T17:49:00.000-08:00

Year after year, thousands of backpackers, travellers, visitors, even locals converge on the golden sands of Bondi Beach to spend Christmas Day at one of Sydney’s iconic beaches. Decked out in bold red Santa hats and proudly wearing Christmas decorations around bikinis, girl elves in short red skirts and men in Santa costumes are common sightings.

Beachgoers park their decorated Christmas trees next to their beach towels, pose for photographs in the front of the surf, even take on to surfboards in their best Christmas beachwear.

Bondi Beach, what better place to find yourself during 100-plus-degree temperatures in Australia, than along Sydney’s iconic beach.
Bondi beach is also a haven for backpackers, with lots of hostels and bed and breakfast accommodation.

Bondi Beach is one of Australia's most famous beaches and among the world's most well-known beaches. The beach is roughly a kilometre long and is patrolled by TV celebrity lifeguards.
Bondi Rescue is an Australian factual television program which is broadcast on Channel Ten. The program follows the day to day life of the lifeguards at work patrolling Bondi Beach.
Bondi Rescue is also broadcast in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Hong Kong and worldwide on National Geographic Adventure.

Bondi beach is the closest beach to the Sydney city centre (8kms), this south facing beach can attract more than 40,000 visitors on a typical summer weekend.

Offering topless sunbathing, swimming and great surfing for boards and bodies, the beach is popular with Australians as well as international tourists.

One of many celebrities who visit our fair shores, Snoop Dogg enjoys a leisurely stroll along Bondi Beach

Bondi Beach lifeguards perform around 2,500 rescues over the summer period, dealing with lost children, shark scares, sexual deviants, and thieves on the beach in addition to watching the water. Every once in a while celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Russell Crowe, Richard Branson, Hugh Grant, Zac Efron, Rowan Atkinson, David Hasslehoff, and the Indian Cricket Team also make appearances on their shores.

In 2007, the Guinness World Record for the largest swimsuit photo shoot was set at Bondi Beach, with 1,010 women wearing bikinis taking part.

Bondi Beach is patrolled 365 days a year

DON'T FORGET - Always swim between the flags

What is the Australian Constitution

2011-11-09T16:37:00.000-08:00

What is the Australian Constitution? it's been around for more than 100 years, but have you ever taken the time to actually read the Australian Constitution?

Worlds Deadliest Snakes Fierce Snake

2011-11-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

The Fierce snakes venom is at least 200 - 400 times more toxic than a common cobra. Just a single bite from this snake contains enough venom to kill 100 human adults or 150,000 mice.

The Fierce Snake also known as the Inland Taipan and Small Scaled Snake, is native to Australia and is regarded as one of the most venomous land snake in the world based on LD50 values in mice.

Its venom consists mostly of neurotoxins, which is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells, the common effect being paralysis, which sets in very rapidly.

The Fierce Snake is native to the arid regions of central Australia. Its range extends from the southeast part of the Northern Territory into west Queensland. The snake can also be found north of Lake Eyre and to the west of the split of the Murray River, Darling River, and Murrumbidgee River.

The Fierce Snake consumes mostly rodents, small mammals and birds. It kills with a single accurate bite, then retreats while waiting for the prey to die before returning to safely consume its meal.

Deadly Snakes in Australia

2011-11-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

Red Bellied Black Snake

On average two to three Australians die annually from snake bite, with eastern browns accounting for about half of those deaths.

Queenslanders have been warned of high numbers of deadly eastern brown snakes this summer of 2011-2012, after a woman died from a snake bite in the state's southwest town of Warwick this month.
The woman had been working in her garden at Wheatvale near Warwick on Wednesday night when she was bitten several times by the snake.

King Brown

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare statistics show 1750 Australians were hospitalised for snake bites in 2002-05 but only two to three die annually from snakes.

Brown Snake

George Cann (1897–1965) entertained crowds when he worked at a snake pit called ‘The Loop’ in La Perouse from 1920 until the 1960s. He was a legendary collector of snakes from areas around Sydney and, it is said, could catch up to 40 snakes in a day. In his yard, he created large pits that were used to house his snake collection. He was the curator of reptiles at the Taronga Park Zoo for 20 years, and died of a stroke in 1965.

Brisbanes Best Pub Night Club

2011-11-08T19:36:00.000-08:00

Irish Murphy's Pub, is known for its awesome live entertainment, and is perfectly placed right in the middle of Brisbane CBD near the Brisbane Casino. It has regular live music, fantastic food, friendly staff and casual atmosphere, Irish Murphy's is one of the best Pub/nightclub in the city by far.

Irish Murphy's has music during the day and at night, with live bands and DJ sets. They have great specials, promotions and giveaways on offer all week.

It has a large menu, ample seating and cheap priced drinks (compared to other establishments), Irish Murphy's will guarantee you and your friends a great night out.

Crocodile Attacks in Australia

2011-11-01T18:55:00.000-07:00

A backpacker in Australia got the fright of his life when a massive crocodile he was "teasing" suddenly exploded from the water and nearly sank its teeth into him.

The 16 foot-long Australian saltwater crocodile came within an arm’s length of inflicting serious damage to the tourist, if not killing him. Novon Mashiah, 27, an Israeli backpacker, spotted the big crocodile during a fishing trip in the Northern Territory.
Determined to have a picture taken of himself with the crocodile, he posed while leaning out of the back of his fishing boat, pointing towards the predator.
"I began playing with it for a photo,'' Mr Mashiah said. "I was pointing at it when it suddenly jumped up at me - I didn't realise that crocs were so aggressive.''
The "saltie" – which experts believe probably approached the boat in search of a free feed of fish – propelled itself out of the water with terrifying speed. After narrowly missing its prey, it smashed into the side of the small metal boat before plunging back into the water.

Saltwater Crocodile Attacks!
During the Japanese retreat in the Battle of Ramree Island on February 19, 1945, saltwater crocodile attacks may have been responsible for the deaths of 400 Japanese soldiers. British soldiers encircled the swampland through which the Japanese were retreating, resigning the Japanese to a night in the mangroves which was home to thousands of saltwater crocodiles. The Ramree saltwater crocodile attacks are listed under the heading "The Greatest Disaster Suffered from Animals" in The Guinness Book of Records.

February 2009: A five year old boy is taken by a large Australian crocodile in the Daintree River (far north Queensland), in front of his brother.

March 2009: An eleven year old girl is taken by a large saltwater crocodile while swimming at Black Jungle Billabong near Darwin, in front of her friends. (The Black Jungle Reserve is accessible strictly by permit only. This is not a public swimming area or in any way monitored.) Her remains are found later on the river bank.

In April 2009 Twenty-year-old local man taken by a crocodile while swimming with his brother at night in the Daly River about 150km south of Darwin, Australia.

Most recently a Feb 2011 a boy 14, has been missing since he was attacked while playing in a creek, 400km east of Darwin. His three brothers saw a saltwater crocodile attack him.

Crocodile attacks is likely to revive calls to allow safari crocodile hunting, observers said. Killing saltwater crocodiles has been strictly restricted since 1971 when the animals were near extinction. But with more than 80,000 saltwater crocodiles now in the Northern Territory, many political groups have called for the ban to be lifted.

Crocodile attacks on average, kill one person a year in Australia, in comparison three people a year die from bee stings, and thousands from smoking and car accidents so as long as you take some sensible precautions there is no need to worry a crocodile attack may ruin your Australian holiday.

Crocodile attacks occur between late September and January when crocodiles are hungry after the dry season and are preparing to breed, and most victims had been under the influence of alcohol, and swimming at times and in places that most sensible people would avoid.

Recent heavy rains in the north of Australia, has flooded water courses and brought the saltwater crocodiles into inland areas not normally known to have them.

Big foot and Yowies

2011-11-01T18:25:00.000-07:00

Old Bungaree a Gunedah aboriginal said at one time there were tribes of them, and they were the original inhabitants of the country-he said they were the old race of blacks, and the blacks used to fight and the blacks always beat them but the yahoo always made away being faster runners.

A supposedly tailless, five-foot tall ape photographed in Venezuela by François de Loys, a Swiss geologist, sometime around 1920. The picture caused an uproar in the scientific community, because only monkeys, not apes, are believed to inhabit the Americas. If genuine, the finding of such an ape would have thrown into confusion the accepted theory of primate evolution.

Yowies is the term for an unidentified hominid reputed to lurk in the Australian wilderness. It is an Australian crypt id similar to the Himalayan Yeti and the North American Bigfoot

Yowies origin (also "Yowie-Whowie" and yahoo) may lie in a mythological character in native Australian Aboriginal folklore. This creature's characteristics and legend are sometimes interchangeable with those of the bunyip. According to some writers, reports of yowie-type creatures are common in the legends and stories of Australian Aboriginal tribes, particularly those of the eastern states of Australia.

Yowies according to the Aborigines, the sounds emitted by these 'hairy people' varies from grunts to howling. They wandered the remoter forest regions of the eastern mountains ranges, often in small family groups, sometimes in pairs or singularly, sleeping in caves, rock overhangs or in open forest depending upon weather conditions.

Yowies were known to make fire, manufacture crude stone and wooden tools and killing animals for food, as well as feeding upon nuts, roots and berries. They were to be territorial by nature, regarding any place in which they were temporarily in occupation of as if their own, chasing out any rival groups of their own kind, and also any Aborigines who chanced to wander into their territory.

Yowies were first sighted by a white man was released in the local Newspapers in a small country town we now know as Sydney. During the 1800's numerous reports followed through out NSW and also the rest of the country. The 1800's were a buzz with sightings of the creature around the country. Newspapers and magazines began writing about people's encounters as they were reported. In most of these reports, the creature was always described as "an ape" or "ape-like man." The same descriptions given today.
One such beast, was reported in a Sydney newspaper, to have been caught and taken back to England
and sold to a Yorkshire circus for 2000 pound

For 25 years, Rex Gilroy has trekked some of Australia's most rugged country in his search for the Yowie, or Great Hairy man.

Yowies research has shown, there are at least two known kinds of Yowie in Australia. There are the large Yowies that is normally between 6-10ft and the smaller, yet fully-grown variety that is roughly 4-5ft.

Darwin to Asia

2011-11-01T18:01:00.000-07:00

Darwin is the only Australian city featured in recently-released Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2012. According to Lonely Planet, Darwin offers a “pumping nocturnal scene, magical markets and restaurants, and world-class wilderness areas just down the road, today Darwin is the triumph of Australia’s Top End”.

The Larrakia people also known as the saltwater people and are the Aboriginal traditional owners of Darwin

The Aboriginal people of the Larrakia language group are the first inhabitants of the greater Darwin area. They had trading routes with Southeast Asia, and imported goods from as far afield as South and Western Australia. Established songlines penetrated throughout the country, allowing stories and histories to be told and retold along the routes.

Darwin is closer to the capitals of five other countries than to the capital of Australia.

Canberra (Australia) 3,137 kilometres (1,949 mi)
Dili (East Timor) is 656 km (408 mi)
Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) is 1,818 km (1,130 mi)
Jakarta (Indonesia) is 2,700 km (1,678 mi)
Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) is 2,607 km (1,620 mi)
Melekeok (Palau) is 2,247 km (1,396 mi) from Darwin.

Singapore is only slightly farther away at 3,350 km (2,082 mi), as is Manila (Philippines) at 3,206 km (1,992 mi), and Honiara (Solomon Islands) at 3,198 km (1,987 mi). Ambon, Indonesia, is only 881 km (547 mi) away from Darwin.

Darwin is perfectly positioned to give a competitive edge to any business or industry that relies on fast, efficient transport. Trade with Asia is of growing importance to Australia, and accounts for almost 50 per cent of Australia's merchandise shipments. Already, several large Australian companies have established operations in Darwin.

The region, like the rest of the Top End, has a tropical climate, with a wet and a dry season. It receives heavy rainfall during the Wet, and is well known for its spectacular lightning.

Camel rides on Cable Beach

Darwin is one of the fastest growing capital cities in Australia, it has a population of approx 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities.

Families and friends gather with their chairs, blankets and eskies at the Mindil Markets.

Australia Russia Австралия России

2011-11-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

Celebration of maslenitsa in Mebourne Australia

Maslenitsa Russian Ма́сленица, Ukrainian Ма́сляниця, Belarusian Ма́сьленіца, also known as Butter Week, Pancake week or Cheesefare Week, is a Russian religious and folk holiday. Maslenitsa has a dual ancestry: pagan and Christian. In Slavic mythology, Maslenitsa is a sun festival, celebrating the imminent end of the winter.

Russian arts festivals and events are popular in Australia. The 150th anniversary of Pushkin's death was commemorated with poetry festivals in 1987 and a range of Russian cultural and social organisations are active in the major cities of Melbourne and Sydney. The Russian Connection provides an independent and comprehensive guide to cultural events and occasions with a Russian flavour in Australia. The organisation promotes Russian cultural activities such as art exhibitions, ballet, classical music, concerts, festivals, children's events, movies, musicals, lectures, opera, and theatre. The Russian Connection is continually expanding with the recent addition of a catalogue of new Russian literature and Russian language movies available from various public libraries.

The Myer shopping chain, still a dominant power in the Australian retail sector, was founded by early Russian speaking Jewish immigrant Sidney Myer in Melbourne, his first store set up as the 'Myer Emporium'. He supported new Russian emigres to Melbourne for as long as he lived.

The 2006 Census revealed Australia had a Russian-born population of 15,354. Most Russian-born residents live in Melbourne (5,407) or Sydney (5,367). A significant portion of Russian-born residents are women (62%), and most (69%) had arrived in Australia no earlier than 1990. Also at the 2006 Census 67,055 Australian residents declared that they had Russian ancestry, either alone or in combination with one other ancestry.

Whereas previously the majority of Russian immigrants were Jews, in recent years Jewish emigration has been less evident. Notable Russian emigrates include boxer Kostya Tszyu Костя Цзю and pole vault champion Tatiana Grigorieva Татьяна Григорьева, who won a silver medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Kostya Tszyu Костя Цзю holds both Russian and Australian citizenship and is a four-time world Junior Welterweight champion, including a period of time as the Undisputed Junior Welterweight Champion.

Sydney's Bondi Beach is a popular area for Russian migrants, with several restaurants and specialist shops catering to their needs. The Australian Russian community is served nationally by Russian language radio broadcasting team at SBS Special Broadcasting Service Government radio station which broadcasts in 58 community languages.

According to Russian Federal State Statistics Service there are about 1200 Russians who left Russia for Australia from 2000 to 2008. Roughly 170 Russians leave Russia for Australia every year, Australian industries and business owners, are hoping that more will arrive, bringing their much needed skills with them.

Australia and Russia are both members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. The Australian Minister for Trade stated in October 2008 that Australia supports Russia's application to join the World Trade Organization.

Australia–Russia relations date back to 1807, when the Russian warship Neva arrived in Sydney as part of its circumnavigation of the globe. Consular relations between Australia and the Russian Empire were established in 1857. Diplomatic relations between Australia and the Soviet Union were established in 1942, and the first Australian embassy opened in 1943.

Peter the Great was familiar with New Holland through his connections with the Dutch, and the Empire in the 18th century tried several times, unsuccessfully, to reach the Australian continent.

Contacts between Russia and Australia date back to 1803, when Secretary of State for the Colonies Lord Hobart wrote to Governor of New South Wales Philip Gidley King in relation to the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe by Adam Johann von Krusenstern and Yuri Lisyansky. As the Russian and British empires were allies in the war against Napoleon, the Russian warship Neva, with Captain Ludwig von Hagemeister at the helm, was able to sail into Port Jackson on 16 June 1807. Hagemeister and the ship's officers were extended the utmost courtesy by Governor William Bligh, with the Governor inviting the Russians to Government House for dinner and a ball. This was the beginning of personal contacts between Russians and Australians, and Russian ships would continue to visit Australian shores, particularly as a stop on their way to supplying the Empire's North American colonies.

Australia Week in Moscow

Most recently in 2008, Australian-Russian bilateral trade exceeded more than US$1 billion for the first time. Russia imported US$1.029 billion worth of goods and services from Australia in 2008, while its exports to Australia were valued at US$82 million, bringing the total to US$1,111 billion. According to the Russian Federal Customs Service, trade with Australia accounted for 0.2% of all Russian foreign trade in 2008.

In September 2007 President Vladimir Putin became the first encumbent Russian leader to visit Australia for the APEC summit in Sydney. On 7 September 2007, head of Rosatom Sergey Kiriyenko and Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer, in the presence of Prime Minister John Howard and President Putin, signed the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes.

Australian Musters and Cowboys

2011-10-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

Musters in Australia, usually involve cattle, sheep or horses, but may also include goats, camels, buffalo or other animals. Mustering may be conducted for a variety of reasons including routine livestock health checks and treatments, branding, shearing, lamb marking, sale, feeding and transport or droving to another location. Mustering is a long, difficult and sometimes dangerous job, especially on the vast Australian cattle stations of the Top End, 'The Falls' (gorge) country of the Great Dividing Range and the ranches of the western United States. The group of animals gathered in a muster is referred to as a "mob" in Australia and a "herd" in North America.
Aussies muster their livestock, with various vehicles, horses or with aircraft.

Cowboys in Australia are called stockmen or jackaroos. Women are called jillaroos.
Australian Aboriginal cowboys played a large part in the life of Top End cattle stations. These men and women are splendid stockmen and are an integral part of the musters. Mustering in the Top End is conducted during the dry season from April to September when additional stockmen will be employed for the purpose. Initially, mustering here involved having stock camps where about three to seven ringers under a head stockman or overseer rode out with the horses to the area to be mustered.

The musterers started early each day by bringing up the hobbled horses, saddling up and then spending a long day mustering, branding, castrating and drafting the cattle. These long days were hard on man and beast with each having to contend with the heat, dust and flies. The men endured camping on the ground and had a monotonous diet of meals that were cooked on an open fire, usually by an unskilled cook.

Australian cowboys chase aggressive, rogue bulls or buffalo in the Top End of Australia, and they are captured using specially converted 4WD ‘bull catcher’ vehicles to bring them down prior to their transportation. This work can be very dangerous and requires great skill and agility on the part of the stockmen involved. Sometimes professional bull catchers, who were paid per beast captured, were used for this work.

A 'bang-tail muster’ is conducted to accurately account for cattle on large properties by cutting the tail brush before their release. Thus those with long tails have not previously been counted.

Musters usually involve cattle, sheep or horses, but may also include goats, camels, buffalo or other animals. Mustering may be conducted for a variety of reasons including routine livestock health checks and treatments, branding, shearing, lamb marking, sale, feeding and transport or droving to another location. Mustering is a long, difficult and sometimes dangerous job, especially on the vast Australian cattle stations of the Top End, 'The Falls' (gorge) country of the Great Dividing Range and the ranches of the western United States. The group of animals gathered in a muster is referred to as a "mob" in Australia and a "herd" in North America.

If you want to be a Australian cowboy, you'll be working very long days from sunrise to sunset, often seven days a week, and the work will be hot and dusty.

Working at a cattle station

Cattle station work is officially the most dangerous job in Australia, with the most injuries and deaths per year.
You need to pull your weight, and there is no room for petty gripes or for whingers.
You will be working hard from sunrise to sunset, often seven days a week, and the work will be really hot and dusty.
No vegetarians, as food consists of minimal fruit and Veg, your diet will be meat, meat and rationed water.

Cattle stations are remote and isolated. Think hard about whether this really sounds like you, because the last thing they need during mustering is a worker who wants leave after two days, it will not happen.

Redbacks feel the pain

2011-10-26T17:42:00.000-07:00

Redbacks are considered one of the most dangerous spiders in Australia.The Redback spider has a neurotoxic venom which is toxic to humans with bites causing severe pain. There is an antivenom for Redback bites which is commercially available.

Throughout Australian history, only 14 deaths from redbacks have been recorded. However thousands of people are bitten each year across Australia, bites generally occur as a result of a person placing a hand or other body part too close to the web, such as when reaching into dark holes or wall cavities. Bites can also occur if a spider has hidden in clothes or shoes.

Bites from Redback spiders are generally characterised by extreme pain and severe swelling. The bite may be painful from the start, but sometimes only feels like a pinprick or mild burning sensation. Within an hour victims generally develop more severe local pain with local swelling and sometimes goosebumps. Pain, swelling and redness spread proximally from the site. Systemic envenoming is heralded by swollen or tender regional lymph nodes; associated features include malaise, nausea, vomiting, abdominal or chest pain, generalised sweating, headache, fever, hypertension and tremor.
Rare complications include seizure, coma, pulmonary edema, respiratory failure or localised skin infection. Severe pain can persist for over 24 hours after being bitten

Redbacks usually prey on insects but they can capture larger animals that become entangled in the web including king crickets, trapdoor spiders, and small lizards. Commonly prey stealing occurs where larger females take food items stored in other spiders' webs. Most commonly, ants stray into the web. Redback spiders are known for deadly poison and lightning speed.

There was a red-back on the toilet seat

When I was there last night,

I didn't see him in the dark,

But boy! I felt his bite!

I jumped high up into the air,

And when I hit the ground,

That crafty red-back spider

Wasn't nowhere to be found.

There was a red-back on the toilet seat

When I was there last night,

I didn't see him in the dark,

But boy! I felt his bite!

And now I'm ere in hospital,

A sad and sorry plight,

And I curse the red-back spider

On the toilet seat last night.

Rushed in to the missus,

Told her just where I'd been bit,

She grabbed the cut-throat razor blade,

And I nearly took a fit.

I said "Just forget what's on your mind,

And call a doctor please,

'Cause I've got a feeling that your cure

Is worse than the disease."

There was a red-back on the toilet seat

When I was there last night,

I didn't see him in the dark,

But boy! I felt his bite!

And now I'm ere in hospital,

A sad and sorry plight,

And I curse the red-back spider

On the toilet seat last night.

I can't lay down, I can't sit up,

And I don't know what to do,

And all the nurses think it's funny,

But that's not my point of view.

I tell you it's embarrassing,

(And that's to say the least)

That I'm too sick to eat a bite,

While that spider had a feast!

There was a red-back on the toilet seat

When I was there last night,

I didn't see him in the dark,

But boy! I felt his bite!

And now I'm ere in hospital,

A sad and sorry plight,

And I curse the red-back spider

On the toilet seat last night.

And when I get back home again,

I tell you what I'll do,

I'll make that red-back suffer

For the pain I'm going through.

I've had so many needles

That I'm looking like a sieve,

And I promise you that spider

Hasn't very long to live!

There was a red-back on the toilet seat

When I was there last night,

I didn't see him in the dark,

But boy! I felt his bite!

And now I'm ere in hospital,

A sad and sorry plight,

And I curse the red-back spider

On the toilet seat last night.

Bart Cummings Aussie Legend

2011-10-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

Bart Cummings Aussie Legend
Australians are known around the world as mad racing enthusiasts, hosting thousands of different races each year.

In Australian racing, there will never be another trainer like Bart Cummings. The “Cups King” has more wins to his name than any other trainer in the history of Australian racing.

Bart is a absolute legend in Australian sport, with a training feat to date of 12 Melbourne Cup winners and 5 quinellas.
In the 1965-1966 season Bart Cummings received his first Trainer’s Premiership after winning seven Cups, setting a training record in the Australian racing history. He quinellaed the Melbourne and Adelaide Cups and won the Caulfield, Sandown, Sydney, Brisbane and Queen’s Cups.

Barts first Melbourne cup winner in 1965 was Light Fingers ridden by Roy Higgins

Here is a list of just some of his achievements.

1958-59
2 Stakes races won.
SAJC SA Derby Stormy Passage

1959-60
4 Stakes races won.
VATC Underwood Stakes Trellios
VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes Trellios

1960-61
4 Stakes races won.

1961-62
1 Stakes races won.

1962-63
3 Stakes races won.
AJC Chipping Norton Stakes The Dip

1963-64
5 Stakes races won.
VATC 1000 Guineas Anna Rose

1964-65
12 Stakes races won.
SAJC SA Derby Ziema
VRC Oaks Light Fingers
AJC Oaks Light Fingers

1965-66
17 Stakes races won.
VRC Melbourne Cup Light Fingers
VATC Merson Cooper Stks Storm Queen
VRC Sires Produce Stks Storm Queen
STC Golden Slipper Stks Storm Queen
AJC Champagne Stks Storm Queen

1966-67
24 Stakes races won.
SAJC SA Derby Peculator
VATC Caulfield Guineas Storm Queen
VATC Toorak Hcp Galilee
VATC Caulfield Cup Galilee
VRC Melbourne Cup Galilee
VRC George Adams Hcp Storm Queen
VRC Lightning Stakes Storm Queen
AJC Sydney Cup Galilee
SAJC Adelaide Cup Fulmen
QTC Brisbane Cup Fulmen

1967-68
16 Stakes races won.
SAJC SA Oaks My Lady Fair
VRC Melbourne Cup Red Handed
VRC Australian Cup Arctic Coast
AJC Oaks Lowland

1968-69
15 Stakes races won.
VATC Invitation Stakes Joking
VATC Underwood Stakes Lowland
AJC Sydney Cup Lowland
AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Lowland

1969-70
15 Stakes races won.
SAJC SA Derby Paradigm
VATC Caulfield Cup Big Philou
VATC Oakleigh Plate Arello
AJC Oaks Gay Poss
SAJC Adelaide Cup Tavel

1970-71
16 Stakes races won.
VATC Caulfield Stakes Gay Poss
VRC Lks Mackinnon Stakes Voleur
VRC Oaks Sanderae
VATC Futurity Stakes Silver Spade
SAJC Adelaide Cup Laelia

1971-72
10 Stakes races won.
VRC Newmarket H'cap Crown
VRC Sires' Produce Stakes Century

1972-73
20 Stakes races won.
MVRC Freeway (Manikato) Stakes Century
SAJC SA Derby Dayana
VRC Victorian Derby Dayana
WATC WA Derby Dayana
WATC Australian Derby Dayana
WATC Perth Cup Dayana
VRC Newmarket H'cap Century
VRC Australian Cup Gladman
STC Golden Slipper Stakes Tontonan
AJC Sires' Produce Stakes Tontonan
SAJC Goodwood H'cap Wise Virgin

1973-74
33 Stakes races won.
MVRC WS Cox Plate Taj Rossi
VRC Craven 'A' Stakes Century
VRC Victorian Derby Taj Rossi
VRC George Adams H'cap Taj Rossi
WATC WA Derby Asgard
WATC Karrakatta Plate Vain Prince
WATC Australian Derby Leica Lover
VRC Lightning Stakes Century
VATC Oakleigh Plate Tontonan
VRC Sires' Produce Stakes Skyjack
AJC Australasian Champion Stakes Asgard
AJC Doncaster H'cap Tontonan
AJC The Galaxy Starglow
AJC Oaks Leilani
AJC All-Aged Stakes Tontonan

1974-75
45 Stakes races won.
AJC Flight Stakes Cap d'Antibes
VATC Caulfield Guineas Kenmark
VATC Toorak H'cap Leilani
VATC Caulfield Cup Leilani
VRC Lks Mackinnon Stakes Leilani `
VRC Melbourne Cup Think Big
VRC Oaks Leica Show
VRC George Adams H'cap Skyjack
WATC WA Derby Bottled Sunshine
MVRC William Reid Stakes Leica Show
VATC CF Orr Stakes Leilani
VRC Lightning Stakes Cap d'Antibes
VATC Futurity Stakes Martindale
VATC Blue Diamond Stakes Lord Dudley
VRC Newmarket H'cap Cap d'Antibes
VRC Sires' Produce Stakes Lord Dudley
VRC Australian Cup Leilani
SAJC Goodwood H'cap Kenmark
QTC Queensland Derby Bottled Sunshine
QTC Brisbane Cup Herminia

1975-76
31 Stakes races won.
MVRC Freeway (Manikato) Stakes Lord Dudley
VATC Marlboro (Vic Health) Cup Cap d'Antibes
SAJC SA Derby Prince Of All
VRC Melbourne Cup Think Big
MVRC William Reid Stakes Lord Dudley
VRC Australian Cup Lord Dudley
STC Golden Slipper Stakes Vivarchi
AJC Champagne Stakes Vivarchi

1976-77
27 Stakes races won.
AJC Epsom H'cap La Neige
AJC Flight Stakes Apollua
SAJC SA Derby Vacuum
VRC Craven 'A' Stakes Maybe Mahal
VRC Lks Mackinnon Stakes Gold And Black
VRC George Adams H'cap Maybe Mahal
VRC Lightning Stakes Maybe Mahal
VRC Sires' Produce Stakes Bold Zest
VRC Australian Cup Ngawyni
AJC Doncaster H'cap Just Ideal
AJC Queen Eliz Stakes Ngawyni
SAJC Goodwood H'cap Romantic Dream
BTC Doomben '10,000' Maybe Mahal

1977-78
32 Stakes races won.
STC Canterbury Guineas Belmura Lad
AJC Flight Stakes Sun Sally
AJC Derby Belmura Lad
SAJC SA Derby Stormy Rex
VATC Caulfield Cup Ming Dynasty
VRC Victorian Derby Stormy Rex
VRC Melbourne Cup Gold And Black
WATC WA Derby Stormy Rex
WATC Marlboro '50,000' Stormy Rex
VRC Lightning Stakes Maybe Mahal
VRC Newmarket H'cap Maybe Mahal
VRC Australian Cup Ming Dynasty
AJC Doncaster H'cap Maybe Mahal
AJC The Galaxy Luskin Star
AJC Oaks Invade
AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ming Dynasty

1978-79
18 Stakes races won.
AJC Metropolitan H'cap Ming Dynasty
VATC Caulfield Stakes Lloyd Boy
VRC Newmarket Hcp Better Beyond
STC Golden Slipper Stakes Century Miss

1979-80
13 Stakes races won.
VRC Melbourne Cup Hyperno
WATC WA Derby Lloyd's Gold
VRC Australian Cup Ming Dynasty
STC Rosemount Classic Stage Hit

1980-81
15 Stakes races won.
VATC Caulfield Stakes Hyperno
VATC Caulfield Cup Ming Dynasty
VRC Mackinnon Stakes Belmura Lad
VRC Newmarket H'cap Elounda Bay
VRC Australian Cup Hyperno
STC Rawson Stakes Hyperno
STC Rosemount Classic Cordon Rose

1981-82
22 Stakes races won.
AJC Spring Champion Stakes Best Western
AJC Metropolitan H'cap Belmura Lad
VRC Lks Mackinnon Stakes Belmura Lad
STC Rosemount Classic Sheraco
STC Storm Queen Stakes Sheraco
AJC Oaks Sheraco

1982-83
16 Stakes races won.
VRC Pure-Pac Stakes Foregone Conclusion
SAJC Australasian Oaks Royal Regatta
STC Tancred Stakes Trissaro

1983-84 18 Stakes races won.
VATC Underwood Stakes Trissaro
AJC Epsom H'cap Cool River
VRC Victorian Derby Bounty Hawk
VRC Oaks Taj Eclipse
WATC Western Mail Classic Bounty Hawk
WATC Australian Derby Bounty Hawk
AJC Derby Prolific
AJC Sydney Cup Trissaro
SAJC Goodwood H'cap Leica Planet

1984-85
9 Stakes races won.
VATC Underwood Stakes Bounty Hawk
VRC Lks Mackinnon Stakes Bounty Hawk
VRC Australian Cup Noble Peer
STC George Ryder Stakes Hula Drum

1985-86
6 Stakes races won.
VRC Lightning Stakes Hula Chief
AJC Doncaster H'cap Hula Chief
SAJC Adelaide Cup Mr Lomondy

1986-87
16 Stakes races won.
VRC Gadsden Stakes Taj Quillo
STC George Ryder Stakes Campaign King
AJC All-Aged Stakes Campaign King
AJC Champagne Stakes Sky Chase
SAJC SA Derby Sharks Fin
QTC Queensland Oaks Round The World
BTC Doomben '10,000' Broad Reach

1987-88
28 Stakes races won.
AJC George Main Stakes Campaign King
AJC Spring Champion Stales Beau Zam
VRC Victorian Derby Omnicorp
STC Rawson Stakes Beau Zam
STC Rosehill Guineas Sky Chase
STC George Ryder Stakes Campaign King
STC Tancred-International Stakes Beau Zam
AJC Derby Beau Zam
AJC Champagne Stakes Full And By
BTC Doomben '10,000' Campaign King
QTC Stradbroke H'cap Campaign King

1988-89
23 Stakes races won.
VATC Caulfield Stakes Sky Chase
SAJC Australasian Oaks Stapleton Lass
STC Rawson Stakes Beau Zam
STC Orlando Classic Red Express
AJC Sires' Produce Stakes Reganza
QTC Sires' Produce Stakes Zamoff
QTC Stradbroke H'cap Robian Steel

1989-90
20 Stakes races won.
AJC Spring Champion Stales Stylish Century
VACT 1000 Guineas Tristanagh
VRC Oaks Tristanagh
VRC Newmarket H'cap Gold Trump
STC Canterbury Guineas Interstellar
STC Rosehill Guineas Solar Circle

1990-91
15 Stakes races won.
VATC Show Day Cup Submariner
AJC George Main Stakes Shaftesbury Avenue
VRC Melbourne Cup Kingston Rule
VRC Oaks Weekend Delight
VRC Honda Stakes Shaftesbury Avenue
VRC Lightning Stakes Shaftesbury Avenue
VRC Newmarket H'cap Shaftesbury Avenue
AJC All-Aged Stakes Shaftesbury Avenue
SAJC SA Derby Shiva's Revenge

1991-92
24 Stakes races won.
VATC Caulfield Stakes Shaftesbury Avenue
VATC 1000 Guineas Richfield Lady
VATC Caulfield Cup Let's Elope
VRC Lks Mackinnon Stakes Let's Elope
VRC Melbourne Cup Let's Elope
VRC Oaks Richfield Lady
WATC WA Oaks India's Dream
VATC CF Orr Stakes Let's Elope
VRC Australian Cup Let's Elope
VATC Blue Diamond Stakes Riva Diva

1992-93
12 Stakes races won.
VRC Gadsden Stakes Unspoken Word
SAJC Australasian Oaks Our Tristalight
SAJC SA Oaks Our Tristalight
QTC Stradbroke H'cap Never Undercharge

1993-94
15 Stakes races won.
MVRC Manikato Stakes Never Undercharge
SAJC Australasian Oaks Tristalove

1994-95
9 Stakes races won.
AJC Flight Stakes Danarani
AJC Derby Ivory's Irish

1995-96
10 Stakes races won.
VRC Australian Cup Saintly

1996-97
21 Stakes races won.
AJC Flight Stakes Dashing Eagle
VATC Caulfield Guineas Alfa
VATC 1000 Guineas Dashing Eagle
MVRC WS Cox Plate Saintly
VRC Melbourne Cup Saintly
VATC CF Orr Stakes Saintly
STC Storm Queen Stakes Danendri
AJC Oaks Danendri
QTC Stradbroke H'cap Dane Ripper

1997-98
9 Stakes races won.
MVRC WS Cox Plate Dane Ripper
VRC Chrysler Stakes Catalan Opening
VRC Australian Cup Dane Ripper
AJC Doncaster Handicap Catalan Opening

1998-99
9 Stakes races won.
MVRC Manikato Stakes Dane Ripper

1999-2000
13 Stakes races won.
AJC Epsom Handicap Allez Suez
VRC Mackinnon Stakes Rogan Josh
VRC Melbourne Cup Rogan Josh

2000-2001
2 Stakes races won.

2001-2002
5 Stakes races won.
VATC 1000 Guineas Magical Miss
VRC Oaks Magical Miss

2002-2003
1 Stakes races won.

2003-2004
2 Stakes races won.

2004-2005
5 Stakes races won.

2005-2006
15 Stakes races won.
MRC Caulfield Guineas God's Own

2006-2007
11 Stakes races won.
MRC Caulfield Guineas Wonderful World
TC Queensland Derby Empires Choice

2007-2008
8 Stakes races won.
VRC Mackinnon Stakes Sirmione
VRC Australian Cup Sirmione

2008-2009
4 Stakes races won.
VRC Melbourne Cup Viewed
VRC Classic Swick
AJC Derby Roman Emperor
QTC Winter Stakes Russeting

2009-2010
15 Stakes races won.
VRC Toorak Handicap Allez Wonder
MRC Caulfield Cup Viewed
MVRC Cox Plate So You Think
VRC Oaks Faint Perfume
Crown Australian Guineas Rock Classic
STC Vinery Stud Stakes Faint Perfume
Queensland Derby Dariana

2010-2011
10 Stakes races won.
Underwood Stakes So You Think
Yalumba Stakes So You Think
MVRC Cox Plate So You Think
VRC MacKinnon Stakes So You Think

To be continued........