Tiwi Islands

Spearfishing at Buchanan island just off Bathurst Island

Just a  80 km flight from Darwin, Bathurst and Melville Islands (Tiwi Islands) are 8 000 sq km of dense rainforest and secluded waterfalls.
The Tiwi Islands lie to the north of Australia's Northern Territory, and are part of that jurisdiction.
Melville island is the second biggest island in Australia, after the state of Tasmania.

They are inhabited by the Tiwi people, as they have been since before European settlement in Australia.

The Tiwi are an Indigenous Australian people, culturally and linguistically distinct from those of Arnhem Land on the mainland just across the water. They number around 2500.  In 2006 the total population of the islands was 2129, of whom 91.3% were Aboriginal.
Most residents speak Tiwi as their first language and English as a second language.  Most of the population live in Nguiu on Bathurst Island, and Pirlangimpi (also known as Garden Point) and Milikapiti (also known as Snake Bay) on Melville Island. Nguiu has a population of nearly 1500, the other two centres around 450 each.
There are other smaller settlements, including Wurankuwu (Ranku) Community on western Bathurst Island.

Taracumbie Falls

Melville island, boasts swimming holes such as those at the base of Tomorapi, Bathurst Island and Taracumbie Falls and a nine -hole golf course. All touring is on Bathurst Island.

The creation of Indigenous Australian art is an important part of Tiwi Island culture and its economy. There are three Indigenous art centres on the islands.

Australian rules football is the most popular sport on the Tiwi Islands, and was introduced in 1941 by missionary John Pye. There has been a Tiwi Islands Football League competition since 1969.
The Tiwi Islands Football League Grand Final is held in March each year and attracts up to 3,000 spectators. The Tiwi Australian Football League has 900 participants out of a community of about 2600, the highest football participation rate in Australia (35%).

Tiwi Land

Getting there

Tours


Visiting the Islands - The main tour company is Tiwi Tours which run several different tours Ph: 1800 183 630. A tour is probably the best way to see the islands and you don't have to worry about permits. In order to visit the Tiwi islands you require a permit. Permits are granted to people who have been invited for business or private purposes. The Tiwi Land Council will then issue your permit. If you wish to visit the islands as a tourist you need to apply through Tiwi Tours or the Tiwi Art Network.

Discover the Melville and Bathurst Islands, (Tiwi Islands) on this enticing four day tropical sailing journey. All accommodation is aboard the luxury 15 metre sailing catamaran ‘Sundancer NT’. There’s plenty of room for everyone to relax, unwind and get ready for the next day’s adventure.

Beautiful Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after the state of Tasmania.

It sits only 13 kilometres (8 mi) offshore from Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is 150 km (93 mi) long and between 900 m (980 yd) and 57 km (35 mi) wide, its area covering 4,405 km2 (1,701 sq mi). Its coastline is 540 kilometres (340 mi) long and highest altitude is 307 m (1,010 ft).

An unofficial community of sealers and others was set up on Kangaroo Island from 1802 to the time of South Australia's official settlement in 1836. The sealers were rough men and several kidnapped Aboriginal women from Tasmania and mainland South Australia. The women were forced to do the work of sealers, amongst other activities. Three Aboriginal women tried to escape and swim back to the mainland; one is on record as having survived the journey. The first ship to arrive was the Duke of York commanded by Captain Robert Clark Morgan (1798–1864).

The biggest town on Kangaroo Island is Kingscote. Originally established at Reeves Point on 27 July 1836, it is South Australia's first official European settlement. It was later suggested that Kingscote could serve as the capital of South Australia, but the island's resources were insufficient to support such a large community, so the settlement of Adelaide was chosen.

According to the 2006 Census, the island has a population of 4,259
Kangaroo Island is famous for its honey and for being the oldest bee sanctuary in the world.
The economy is mostly agricultural (wine, honey, wool, meat and grain). Traditionally sheep grazing has been the key element in agriculture on the Island, however in recent times, more diverse crops, such as potatoes and canola have been introduced. Cattle farming has grown as well, with good quality beef cattle being grown in the higher rainfall areas. Tourism and fishing also play significant roles, with the island experiencing over 186,000 visitors per annum
Kangaroo island also has 28 wine growers.

Because of its isolation from mainland Australia, foxes and rabbits are absent from and prohibited from entering the island.
Registration and microchipping of cats is mandatory.

The Kangaroo Island Kangaroo, Rosenberg's Sand Goanna, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Tammar Wallaby, Common Brushtail Possum, Short-beaked Echidna and New Zealand Fur Seal are native to the island, as well as six bat and frog species. The sole endemic (found nowhere else) vertebrate species is a small marsupial carnivore called the Kangaroo Island Dunnart.

Kangaroo Island Dunnart

The Koala, Common Ringtail Possum and Platypus have been introduced and still survive there.


How to Get There

By Air

Regional Express Airlines - The flight is a short 30 minutes from Adelaide Airport to Kangaroo Island Airport. The airport is located 13 km from Kingscote but Kangaroo Island has no public transport and no taxi services. Visitors are welcome to hire a car or arrange a tour with one of the island's tour providers in order to ensure you see as many of the Island's attractions as possible.

By Sea

Sealink - Operates from Cape Jervis on the mainland to Penneshaw. While you can drive yourself, coach connections are available between Adelaide and Cape Jervis and Penneshaw, American River and Kingscote. Ferry travelling time is a comfortable 40 minutes.

The Worlds largest Earthworm

The worlds largest earthworm, Megascolides australis, is one of Australia's 1,000 native earthworm species. These Giant earthworms average 100 cm long and 2 cm in diameter and can reach 3 m in length. They have a dark purple head and a blue-grey body.



They live in the subsoil of blue, grey or red clay soils along stream banks and some south or west facing hills of their remaining habitat which is in Gippsland in Victoria, Australia.

These worms live in deep burrow systems and require water in their environment to respire. These worms rarely leave their moist burrows. They have relatively long life spans for invertebrates and can take 5 years to reach maturity. They breed in the warmer months and produce large egg cocoons which are laid in their burrows. When these worms hatch in 12 months they are already 20 cm long.


They can sometimes be heard in their habitat making gurgling sounds as they move underground.

The worlds largest earthworm is now a protected species because of its decline in population.  It is so fragile that being dug up or handled by humans can kill it.

Located near the town of Bass is the Giant Earthworm Museum. This building allows tourists to crawl through a magnified replica of a worm burrow and a simulated worm's stomach. Displays and educational material on the Worlds largest earthworm and other natural history of Gippsland are featured.

Men at work Down Under lyrics

The song known as Down Under or Land Down Under, is a pop song recorded by Men at Work. The song went to #1 on American, British, and Australian charts in 1981.
It has become a popular and patriotic song in Australia.

The lyrics are about an Australian traveller circling the globe, proud of his nationality, and about his interactions with people he meets on his travels who are interested in his home country.

Traveling in a fried-out kombie

On a hippie trail, head full of zombie

I met a strange lady, she made me nervous

She took me in and gave me breakfast

And she said,

"Do you come from a land down under?

Where women glow and men plunder?

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?

You better run, you better take cover."

Buying bread from a man in Brussels

He was six foot four and full of muscles

I said, "Do you speak-a my language?"

He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich

And he said,

"I come from a land down under

Where beer does flow and men chunder

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?

You better run, you better take cover."

Lying in a den in Bombay

With a slack jaw, and not much to say

I said to the man, "Are you trying to tempt me

Because I come from the land of plenty?"

And he said,

"Oh! Do you come from a land down under? (oh yeah yeah)

Where women glow and men plunder?

Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder?

You better run, you better take cover."

 
 

Vegemite Aussie Icon

Vegemite is an Australian food, but over the years it has come to be known as an Australian icon.

Vegemite can be found in 90 percent of all Australian households, resulting in 22 million jars of Vegemite being produced each year,(2 years ago they produced their 1Billionth jar).

Vegemite is made from used brewers' yeast extract, a by-product of beer manufacturing, and various vegetable and spice additives. It is salty, slightly bitter, and umami or malty — similar to beef bouillon. The texture is smooth and sticky. It is not as intensely flavoured as British Marmite and it is less sweet than the New Zealand version of Marmite.

Vegemite was invented in 1922 by food technologist Dr. Cyril P. Callister when, following the disruption of British Marmite imports after World War I, his employer, the Australian company Fred Walker & Co., gave him the task of developing a spread from the used yeast being dumped by breweries. Callister had been hired by the chairman Fred Walker. Vegemite was registered as a trademark in Australia that same year. The registration was later transferred to Kraft, a US multinational, which has maintained an interest in Vegemite since 1925.

The best way of eating Vegemite is on toasted bread with one layer of butter or margarine before spreading a thin layer of Vegemite. A Vegemite sandwich may consist of two slices of buttered bread, Vegemite, cheese and lettuce, but other ingredients such as avocado and tomato can be added as well.

Move over global mega brands Coca-Cola, Nike and Starbucks, when it comes to worldwide online users searching brand names and commenting on brand appeal, Vegemite tops the lot.

VEGEMITE SONG

We're happy little Vegemites

As bright as bright can be.

We all enjoy our Vegemite

For breakfast, lunch, and tea.

Our mummies say we're growing stronger

Every single week,

Because we love our Vegemite

We all adore our Vegemite

It puts a rose in every cheek.

Bathurst 2023 driver winners

The most successful driver at Bathurst is Peter Brock, whose nine victories (1972, 1975, 1978–80, 1982–84 and 1987) earned him the nickname King of the Mountain. Pictured here in 1980 celebrating victory with Jim Richards



For the first time in 15 years additional manufacturers are set to make their mark as they return to Mount Panorama. Experience a new era of Australian motorsport as Nissan and Erebus Motorsport join Ford and Holden to battle it out at the ultimate endurance race, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

The Bathurst 1000 (currently called the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000) is a 1,000-kilometre (620 mi) touring car race held annually at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia. The race was traditionally run on the first Sunday in October but is now held on the second Sunday.

V8 SUPERCAR star Craig Lowndes says finally winning the Bathurst 1000 alongside fellow great Mark Skaife is the realisation of a dream.

The race traces its lineage to the 1960 Armstrong 500. Since then 52 races have taken place under the combined history of two events at two venues in two states. It is known among fans and broadcasters as "The Great Race", and is widely regarded as the pinnacle of Australian motorsport. Since 2000, the race has been run exclusively for V8 Supercars and is now a round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

Every year the crowds gather to cheer on their heroes, and another driver becomes “king of the mountain” for a day

Mount Panorama Circuit

The race starts and finishes at different points in front of the pits. The first turn, Hell Corner, is a left-hander which has claimed a few scalps at the start (due to 'crush') and after safety car intervention. Mountain Straight, a 255 km/h (158 mph) gentle climb, leads into Griffin's Bend. Reid Park follows, a complex corner where many drivers spin after not shortshifting in the apex. The course continues down to Sulman Park and McPhillamy. Drivers cannot see the descending road but at 220 km/h (140 mph) enter Skyline and the Dipper, one of the best corners in Australian Motorsport. Cars then negotiate Forrest Elbow, the slowest part of the track, before powering down Conrod Straight, which at plus 300 km/h (190 mph) is the fastest section of the track. The Chase is a long sweeping type chicane where cars are on the limiter and at the same time braking to exit at 130 km/h (81 mph). Murrays is the 17th and final turn, on to the start/finish straight.

Multiple race winnersWins Driver

9 Wins  Peter Brock

7- Jim Richards

6-  Larry Perkins

    Mark Skaife

5-  Craig Lowndes

4-   Bob Jane

      Harry Firth

      Allan Moffat

       Greg Murphy
 

Jamie Whincup
 

3-  Dick Johnson
 

Garth Tander
 

2-   John Goss

     Allan Grice

    John Bowe

      Russell Ingall

         Steven Richards

       Tony Longhurst

Rick Kelly

   

Learn Australia Language

Crikey i reckon its carked it mate!

Goodness i think it has died my friend!

Australian English is made up of slang and has many words that some consider unique to the language.The origins of these words are not clear and are often disputed.

Australian Language can be very funny and colourful, below are just a handful of words that Aussies use.

Ankle biter /Young child

Barbie /Barbecue

Billabong /Waterhole

Bluey /Someone with red hair;

Bruce /A man

Bunghole /Mouth

Chinnwag /A good chat

Chooks /Chicken

Cockie /Farmer

Coldie/ A cold beer

Crook /Sick or not functioning

Cruddy /Low quality

Digger /Australian soldier

Dijeridu /Aboriginal musical wind instrument

Dipstick /Fool

Drongo /An idiot

Dunny /The toilet

Evo /Evening

Face fungus/A man's beard

Fair dinkum /Someone or something really genuine

Footy /Rugby League or Aussie Rules 

G'day /Hi or Hello

Get Stuffed/ Go away!

Good on ya mate /Well done there, mate

Grog /Alcohol

Hard Yakka/ hard work

Holy-dooly /An expression of surprise

Iffy /Something questionable

Jackaroo, Jillaroo /Trainee male or female cattle station hand

Jarmies /Pyjamas

Kafuffle /Argument

Liquid amber/ Beer

Mate /Friend

Narkie /Short-tempered

Never Never /Mythical place in the outback

Nong /Idiot

No worries, mate /Don't worry about it

Ocker /Aussie who likes beer, sport and women

Oldies /Parents

Oz /Australia

Pommy, Pom /English person

Prang /Vehicle crash

Prezzies /Gifts

Quack /Doctor

Ripper! /Great!

Rip snorter! /Something really great

Saltie /Saltwater crocodile

Sandgroper /Someone from Western Australia

Sangas /Sandwiches

Sheila /Young woman

Smoko/Morning Tea

Snags /Sausages

Stralian /Australian

Stubby /Small bottle of beer

Tinnie /Can of cold beer

Toey /Very nervous person or in need of  a partner

Top-ender /Someone from Northern Territory

True Blue /Really

Australian Tucker/ Food

Underdaks /Underpants

Uni /University

Veggies /Vegetables

Waterhole /Pub or hotel 

Woomera /Stick used by Aborigines to throw spears

Wowser /Old-fashioned, prudish

Yabbie /Freshwater Australian crayfish

Yam /Fictional story

Zonked /Really tired

ZZZs /Get some sleep

These are just a handful of Australian language or slang words, if you no more please leave them in the comment box below.

ANZAC Day rememberance

 

 

The 11th Bn on the Pyramids in Egypt prior to the landing at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli . Not many of the soldiers in this picture survived the 8 month campaign.

Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, and is commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries. Anzac Day is also observed in the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga.

Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. The acronym ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, whose soldiers were known as Anzacs. Anzac Day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand. This is a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same remembrance day, but making reference to both countries in its name.

In Australia and New Zealand, Anzac Day commemoration features solemn "Dawn Services", a tradition started in Albany, Western Australia on 25 April 1923 and now held at war memorials around both countries, accompanied by thoughts of those lost at war to the ceremonial sounds of The Last Post on the bugle. The fourth stanza of Laurence Binyon's poem For the Fallen (known as the "Ode of Remembrance") is often recited.

At the Australian War Memorial, following events such as the Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services, families often place artificial red poppies beside the names of relatives on the Memorial's Roll of Honour. In Australia, sprigs of rosemary are often worn on lapels and in New Zealand poppies have taken on this role.

In more recent times the families and young people have been encouraged to take part in dawn services, and services in Australian capital cities have seen some of the largest turnouts ever. Reflecting this change, the ceremonies have become more elaborate, incorporating hymns, readings, pipers and rifle volleys. Others, though, have retained the simple format of the dawn stand-to, familiar to so many soldiers.

Two-up has also been legalised on ANZAC Day, when it is played in Returned Servicemen's Leagues (RSL) clubs and hotels. Two-up was played extensively by Australia's soldiers during world war 1

Ode of Remembrance

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.

Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

Aussie Lifesavers Surf Lifesaving

Surf lifesavers originated in Australia in 1906 in response to drownings at local beaches in Sydney. Such groups became necessary following the relaxing of laws prohibiting daylight bathing on Australian beaches. Volunteer groups of men were trained in life saving methods and patrolled the beaches as lifesavers looking after public safety.
The original surf life saving club is a matter of contention between the Bronte and Bondi beach clubs in Sydney.

Since this time, volunteer lifesavers have saved more than 550,000 lives.
Surf lifesavers spend more than a million hours a year patrolling our beaches, pools and coastlines. Together they rescue around 11,000 people, provide emergency care to 35,000 and give safety advice to more than 600,000 others. And that’s every year.

It is estimated that 83 per cent of Australian's lived within 50 kms of the coastline and its beaches.

Lifesavers are volunteers that typically patrol in groups under a patrol captain for a given period of time on weekend and public holidays under a roster system.
In order to be a surf lifesaver a person must hold a Bronze Medallion or a Surf Rescue Certificate and pass an annual proficiency test.

For Kids

Nippers is a junior program that introduces children aged 5 to 13 to surf lifesaving. It is a fun outdoors activity that grows a child’s confidence, teaches valuable life skills and knowledge. Every surf life saving club around Australia offers a nippers program, all with various styles and sizes.

Stay Alive!
The red and yellow of our Aussie surf lifesavers has been etched into the hearts and minds of all Australians. We watch over you.

Next time you are at the beach, watch out for them. Find the red and yellow flags and always swim between them -
 remember if surf lifesavers can't see you they can't save you.

Australian Camels

Camel Hunting

Forget adrenaline sports – a new initiative to relieve frustrated Aboriginal youths in the interiors of Australia, has them camel hunting .

Substance abuse and alcoholism are rampant among teenagers in remote Aboriginal settlements like Kintore, in central Australia, where there are hardly any (legal) recreational opportunities to speak of. This has worried substance abuse task force experts enough to initiate camel hunting expeditions for these youngsters to channel their energy.

The camels themselves are not native Australian. Brought over from India in the 19th century for load carrying purposes, they have grown in number to become a nuisance.
They threaten fragile desert ecosystems, and destroy property.

The community of Docker River in the Northern Territory  was under siege by 6,000 marauding wild camels, before being culled.

Camel hunting expeditions consist of teenagers accompanied by one of Kintore’s three police officers. Once an animal has been shot, it is butchered and the meat is taken back into the settlement to be shared with the elders of the community.

Camel Hunting can provide a lot of food for the community, and help save the outback Eco-system.

View Camel Recipes http://outbackcooking.blogspot.com/2009/05/camel-recipes.html
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Quoll native cat

British explorer Captain Cook collected quolls along the east coast of Australia in 1770, and recorded "quoll" as their local Aboriginal name. Quolls were often seen in later years by early settlers, who called them "native cat", "native polecat" and "spotted marten", names based on familiar European animals.

Quolls or native cats (genus Dasyurus) are carnivorous marsupials, native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Adults are between 25 and 75 centimetres (30 in) long, with hairy tails about 20 to 35 centimetres (14 in) long. Females have six to eight nipples and develop a pouch—which opens towards the tail—only during the breeding season, when they are rearing young. Quolls live both in forests and in open valley land. Though primarily ground-dwelling, they have developed secondary arboreal characteristics. They do not have prehensile tails, but do have ridges on the pads of their feet,to walk the rough ground. Their molars and canines are strongly developed.

Cane toads have driven the northern quoll to extinction in many parts of northern Australia and they are threatening to invade Western Australia's Kimberley regions, one of the quoll's last strongholds.

But a University of Sydney project revealed in 2010 is teaching them to avoid eating the invasive amphibians.



Before releasing the quolls into the wild, Professor Rick Shine, Stephanie O'Donnell and Dr Jonathan Webb fed each marsupial a small dead cane toad.

The toads were not large enough to kill the quolls, but they were laced with a chemical that made the quolls feel nauseous.

Dr Webb said the quolls quickly learned to avoid eating toads.

The tribe Dasyurini to which quolls belong also includes the Tasmanian devil, antechinuses, the Kowari, and mulgaras, which makes him a relative of Taz the Tasmanian Devil.