Category Archives: Australia

Australia Day 2015

Posted on by
2

This morning we stood on the foreshore of Dunsborough in Geographe Bay to celebrate Australia Day. Josh Whiteland told us the history of the Bay and how his ancestors fished in the bay and the importance of the forest and the ocean to the Wardandi people of the area. He played didgeridoo and the earthy rhythm of this instrument resonates through your body as you stand listening and looking out over the beautiful ocean with a clear bright blue sky over us.

A new Australian Claudio Tallarico told of his love of the freedom Australia has given him. Lisa Knight lead us in singing our anthem Advance Australia Fair. Local citizens were acknowledged for the commitment to our community.

For me I feel privileged to be an Australian every day and am forever grateful to my parents for choosing Australia as their new home prior to my birth. Australia for them was freedom, peace, privacy, space, opportunity, safety, beauty and a new beginning.

For me Australia is my homeland, where my heart is, a place of great natural beauty and vast open spaces. An ancient land and unique and delicate environment to be cared for and protected. A place of generous souls and welcoming communities. A place of freedom, peace, and opportunity. Our little corner of Australia has the beauty of the ocean, the sunrise and moonrise over the Bay, the sunset over the ocean in the west, pristine beaches, amazing forests and flora, unique fauna and the biggest blue skies summer, autumn, spring and some of winter! Proud and thankful to be Australian.

australian-flag-medium

Home – the place to come back to

Aside

On the eve of our trip a lovely walk along the foreshore to Curtis Bay, through the bush up to the Country Club along the fairways. Soaking up home before we leave. Constant noise of the gentle waves on the beach. The seaweed brought in by recent swells, the smell of the salt water, quiet streets as the town heads into winter, eucalypt leaves plucked to use as a bookmark on our travels. A quiet pensive moment sitting on the rocks at Curtis Bay watching the ocean perform its never ending dance. The bush, the beautiful bush of Meelup Park, the kangaroos quietly picking at green shoots on the bare fairways of the golf club – heads up for a casual look at us as we walk past. The kids having their tennis lesson at the courts, coach calling out ‘next week we’re doing a backhand slice’. Grab some change from home to pop into the bar for a quick drink with the locals. Talk of travels been and travels to come. So many head off at this time – to the warmer north, to Europe, hiding from winter rains and enjoying the freedom of being able to explore the world. Back home to empty the fridge, sort the final technology bits, make final phone calls to family and friends. Stay tuned we fly tomorrow.

Webs of life

Posted on by
Reply

web of life

Autumn, May the first showers, the morning mists, cooling temperatures, winter approaching. Day after day the spiders repair and rebuild their webs. When fog is thick in front of you, the air is still and heavy look at the wonder of the dew drops on their delicate webs. The bush becomes a fairy land of spider threads until the clouds lift, the sun shines again and once again they are invisible.

Communication

Image

1

Communication

A drive around the backroads always reveals some treasures. See my Water and Land page for more mailboxes. Usually standing crooked, all shapes and sizes, recycled and rough. A collection sometimes gathered at a junction in the roads showing a point at which the mailman does not go past. The still vital link despite technology, and the excitement of the walk or drive to ‘check the mailbox’.

Twilight delight

Posted on by
1

IMG_1885

Dunsborough autumn evening. Tonight after a hard day in the winery it was time for a walk to the waterfront and a quiet glass of rosé . The dappled clouds in the west created a blazing red sunset whilst the pink and mauve colours and the calm waters in Geographe Bay created this beautiful twilight. Swimmers still enjoying the water, a dolphin cruising past outside the shark net, late boats returning from their fishing trips, children chasing crabs in the rocks below. A pretty special place to end the day.