Dec 16

Watch out for the waterfall!

Travels 3 Comments »

The Wannon Falls holds a special place in my heart. It sits, well, it falls, between Hamilton and Coleraine. The old township of Wannon is home to Mallangeenba, the Wannon District Scout Camp, a spot that I’ve spent many hours in over the years.

The falls themselves are pretty amazing, not world shattering amazing. Super impressive when in full flood, otherwise just a trickle dropping into the pool below.

In 1995 when I left Hamilton, I was presented with a wonderful photo of the falls in full flood.

It hangs in our dining room, the badge in the lower right of the frame is the District Scout badge for the Wannon District, a badge that I wore on all my Scout uniforms.

Image of a cloth scout badge, Wannon is written in capitcal letters and it is depicting the Wannon Falls and the Scout Emblem.

The badge shows the Falls in full flow, much like the photograph in the image. The Wannon District is no longer, in fact, I was the last District Commissioner, shortly after I left, the District amalgamated with the Surrey River District, based around Portland. The two became the Glenelg River District.

The little plaque under the photo, on the frame is inscribed with the words:

Presented to
Greg Storer
in appreciation for many
years of service to
Wannon District
Scout Association
~1995~

It was given to me at a farewell event held in the old church at Mallangeeba. Over the years, the timber frame got a bit warped, as a surprise, Michael had it repaired for me, and it now proudly hangs on our wall.

I stood at the viewing platform and viewed the falls for a couple of minutes, before heading upstream to the old swimming hole. It’s only a short walk. Along the way I have to pass over many bull ant nests, swarming with bull ants. The nests are as iconic as the falls. There are always plenty of bull ants scurrying around.

Many a child, and adult for that matter, have stirred up the ants using a stick, or even running through the nest. Standing still on the nest was never recommended, and if you did, it wouldn’t be long before you knew, with a few nips on your skin.

A sign with two planks of wood held in place by two posts. The top plank says Danger Falls Below, the bottom plank says No Swimming Beyond This Point

At the swimming hole is a sign declaring the dangers of the falls. In my younger days, I had visions of being swept away to a certain death if I disobeyed this sign. I imagined the classic movie scene of the hapless individual being sucked over the edge of the fall. The reality is, of course, that unless the river is flooded, you’d be pretty unlucky to be swept over the falls. Not that I’m suggesting that you should ignore the warning signs!

A few steps away is a concrete weir that stretches across the river. It’s a little lower in the middle and the water flows over it, and continues on its way to the dreaded drop. This was the favourite spot to paddle in the many little water holes that erosion has caused over the millennia.

Over the years, I have spent many hours here, sometimes I’d arrive on my bike, sometimes with a pack of Cub Scouts, family members or friends. Long summer evenings paddling in the water. Today’s departure is in my electric car, a short fifteen-minute drive back to Hamilton.

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Dec 06

Coffee and muse

General 2 Comments »
A streetscape of Hamilton's Gray Street as seen from inside a cafe

I once again push open the door that has been on these hinges since time immemorial, or so it seems. When I was a young man, this door led to the local office of the S.E.C. — the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. My brother David worked here, not seen often in the office. We paid our electricity account here, and in my young adult life, my friend Geoff could regularly be found wandering around the hallways, probably avoiding me should I wander past.

Now, it’s the Speckled Frog. I have stopped here to have some breakfast. I’m greeted as I enter, shown the menu and told to sit wherever I want.

I want to sit in the front window, with its view over Gray Street. The table is for four people, and I’m only one, but hey, I’m going to watch the people on the footpath, as they wander with a purpose. Maybe I’ll know someone. Potentially, someone will know me.

Hamilton seems the same, as I train my eyes up and down the main street. The shopfronts may have changed, with new shops and displays, but the facades remain the same as when I left here thirty years ago. They look a little older and tired with their flaking paint work and chipped concrete renders. The Millers department store still has their logo atop what is now a bargain store. The wrought iron “Importers” sign is still in place. There was a time when something imported was desirable. Nowadays, everything is imported and not so exotic. The bargain shop is full of “Made in China” stickers.

The parking bays are all full, a man walks in pushing a pram, to order some coffees, a little old lady with a little old man meander up the street. A young mother, dragging her daughter along, passes. People wander in and out of the shops.

I don’t see any familiar faces. It’s been 30 years since I lived here. The faces of the old people of my youth are no more, and the faces I grew up with have aged, and possibly moved away.

I order another coffee and watch the world go past.

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Nov 03

Nature Walks and Wildlife Encounters in Ocean Grove

General No Comments »
Swamp wallaby eating a mushroom

We arrived at the Ocean Grove Nature Conservation Reserve late in the afternoon. A lovely warm day.

The reserve is a huge bush block that is surrounded by a 2-metre-high fence. Good for keeping the feral animals out.

The walking track meanders around the woody forest, we can hear plenty of bird life, seeing them is a bit more elusive. We wandered past a dam and a little lake with some ducks swimming about.

Michael had stopped to take a photo, as he often does, I often just walk on past, this time, however, I came up short as a wallaby was busy munching on the grass just in front of us. I hadn’t seen it until the last minute.

This little swamp wallaby was only metres away from us. Nearly close enough to pat. She was busy nibbling away at some grass.

Then her head dived under a rotting branch on the ground, and with her front paws she pulled away the leaf litter, and sat back on her haunches eating something that she was gripping between her front paws.

I thought it looked like a mushroom, but we needed to check, and zoomed in using Michael’s camera. Sure enough, this Swamp Wallaby had snuffled out a treat, found it under a rotting log, pulled away all the leaf litter and found herself a nice pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres. After finishing that one, she sniffed around and found another.

It appears that it’s a thing for swamp wallabies. I’d never seen a wallaby eat a mushroom before.

After the nibbles, the wallaby bounded off into the scrub, and we continued on our walk.

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Nov 02

The Importance of Listening: Lessons from Recent Court Rulings

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No Racism

One of life’s many lessons for me has been to listen to people when they want to tell me something about their experience.

It’s a tough lesson to learn. I have so many preconceived ideas about people and events. It’s sometimes difficult to put those ideas into abeyance and listen.

When I reflect on the recent decision by the Federal Court that found Senator Pauline Hanson guilty of racial discrimination, it occurred to me that Hanson failed to listen.

Despite attempts to mediate a satisfactory settlement, Hanson decided to take it to court, and lost.

Listen to people, learn, and change the way you behave towards them.

The world will be a better place.

Image by Marcos G Vilas Boas from Pixabay

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Nov 01

Why Pigeons Deserve Your Love Despite Their Reputation

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Wonga Pigeon

There’s one bird that gets a rough deal in Australia. The pigeon. The flying rats of the sky. Able to leave its mark on everything.

Did you know that the dodo is, or was, a pigeon? Why is it that the superb ones have disappeared?

We have 29 species in Australia. Only four of these are introduced, and they’re the ones we hate the most, I’m sure.

Strange birds, it’s like their legs are connected to their necks. Every time they take a step, their heads bob in time. Like some sort of clockwork beast.

Bronzewing Pigeons
Crested Pigeons

Some pigeons that are uniquely Australian include the Top Knot Pigeon, the Bronzewing, the Crested Pigeon and my favourite, the Wonga Pigeon.

Wonga Pigeons wander around the forest floor going womp womp, womp womp. When you get two in the same area, it’s a full on stereo experience. I do wonder why they’re not extinct, they’re rather incessant wompers and should have been hunted out of existence centuries ago.

The one we all know, is the feral pigeon, or the Rock Dove.

That’s right, to make the feral pigeons respectable, we call them doves. They’re all pigeons. When Noah released a dove, it was a pigeon, no doubt it didn’t return because it had found something to shit on. When the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles, it was a pigeon, come to drop white streaks on all of us.

So, hate on the feral, thank the British for them, but love the others!

Images by Michael Barnett.

Oct 31

Is the Qantas Upgrade Controversy Distracting Aussie Politics?

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Apparently, the most pressing issue in Australia is whether the Prime Minister got a free upgrade on a Qantas flight by asking for one.

The world has gone crazy. There are serious issues on the agenda, such as the religious discrimination bill, or ensuring that abortion rights are protected at a federal level, or planning to phase out coal-powered power plants.

Instead, the Leader of the Opposition chooses to focus on an insignificant issue instead of ensuring that the PM is focused on real issues.

We want our politicians to be accountable. If we could have an opposition that does that, instead of cheap point scoring.

Image by Anne from Pixabay

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Oct 30

Stargazing Adventures: Comets and Celestial Events

Travels 1 Comment »
The Southern sky at night

I love a good comet. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS has been in the news lately as it zooms its way around the sun, putting on a wonderful display.

It was visible to the naked eye in Australia in the pre-dawn light. Quite spectacular, according to those who spied it. I didn’t.

As it orbits the sun, it then appeared in the evening sky, just after sunset. I thought I would have an ideal chance to see it from Ocean Grove. Alas, I didn’t.

Every chance I had to look westward, it was cloudy.

Lex has come to visit us, and we love to star gaze. It was a clear night as we ventured down to the beach, but alas, the comet was no longer visible to the naked eye. I do have a very nice pair of binoculars; however, I’m unable to hold them steady in the crosswind to get a stable view.

The good thing about the night sky, is there are other things to wonder at. A rare planet to spot is Mercury. It’s so close to the sun that it can be difficult to find in its glare. However, tonight, there it was, just above the red sky of the setting sun. Further upwards was the bright light of Venus, quite spectacular to see.

Then looking southward is the Southern Cross and the Large Magellanic Cloud. The LMC looks like a star that has been smudged on the sky.

It always amazes me that I can see a whole other galaxy with the naked eye.

Screen capture of Stellarium App showing the LMC

To help me find objects in the sky, I use Stellarium Mobile, the software is open source and has applications for mobile, Windows, Apple, and Linux.

Here’s a screenshot of the sky from the Stellarium app. You’ll notice three green satellites in view. They’re the Starlink satellites courtesy of Elon Musk. There are so many of these zipping around the night sky.

Lex managed to snap a photo of the LMC oh their phone.

You can find the LMC in Lex’s image by lining up Canopus, the bright star to the right of centre.

I love the photo, not only the stars, but the waves crashing on the shore and the lovely shade of blue of the night sky.

The Southern sky at night

Image by Lex

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Oct 26

The Joy of Picking Nectarines: Childhood Memories

family, General 1 Comment »
Ripe fruit on a nectarine tree

We had a two nectarine trees in our garden when I was growing up. As the fruit was beginning to develop, I would eagerly await the first sign of redness and snaffle it straight from the tree and eat it. My timing was inevitably off, and it would be a hard green all the way through. So I would lob the once bitten fruit into the big circle garden.

It wasn’t that big, but when you’re 8 years old, the world seems impossibly big. It was the big circle garden because it had a path of broken asphalt that ran all the way around it. Mum could walk around the big circle garden in ten steps. To me, it seemed an impenetrable jungle of plants. Lobbing a green nectarine into the vast expanse of the untamed landscape seemed a sure way to avoid detection of my transgression of wasting food.

My mother would find these green, bitten fruits in the middle of this garden that she had taken two steps into to pull up a few weeds. Raising the fruit on high, she would demand to know who had only taken one bite and discarded the fruit.

The benefit of being one of eleven means the possibility of being discovered was remote. Luckily, Mum didn’t have moulds of our bites to match.

Forward 60 years, I sat in the doctor’s office, and he handed me 4 sheets of A4 paper, lists printed on both sides. Mostly the lists consisted of foods I was no longer allowed to eat if I wanted to regain a sensible use of my bowels.

Nectarines were on the list.

I love nectarines, I like them crunchy, not green because I don’t have a big circle garden anymore, not soft and squishy. Nectarines need a blush of red, firm and crunchy.

Nectarine season is almost here, I’ll just have to rely on my memory now.

Image by Urszula from Pixabay

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Oct 25

Tinnitus and the Sound of Waves: My Story

General No Comments »
Rolling waves

I love being by the surf. The roar of the ocean is a noise that brings me much delight. The bigger the wave crashes, the happier I am.

I always have waves crashing in my head. Tinnitus does that to you. Well, maybe not you, but certainly for me. You’d think I’d be welcoming of the crashing noise that travels with me everywhere. If only that was the case. Get up in the morning, the waves are rolling in, one after the other, about half a meter high. Jump on the bike to ride to work, the seas abate as I listen to some podcasts. Every so often there’s a little lapping noise in the quiet spots.

As I start my delivery round on my motorbike, I put a helmet on my head. The cuffing of my ears reminds me of lifting a shell to hear the rolling waves.

You get the picture, or the sound, as the case may be.

The best place to quieten the fuzzy noise in my head is by the sea. Not in it, the feel of sand moving between my toes scares the bejesus out of me.

So while it may cancel out, all I really do is move the sound from inside to outside.

Gives my brain a few minutes to think about something else, like the importance of putting the glass under the tap before running the water so as not to waste any.

Image by Tiffany from Pixabay

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Oct 24

The Power of Disrespect: Reactions to Thorpe and de Bruyn

General No Comments »
Don't like gay marriage? Don't get one

We must confront our own biases and strive to be better allies to our First Nations people.
-Talking To My Country, Stan Grant

Senator Lydia Thorpe strode into a function for King Charles and yelled at him. People are outraged that she dared to be so disrespectful.

Joe de Bruyn gave a speech at the Australian Catholic University and 90% of the attendees walked out. People are outraged that the attendees could be so disrespectful.

Thorpe is a First Nations person, elected to the Australian Parliament. From the start, she has made it clear that she sees the Australian political institutions as questionable for a First Nations person.

I’m not sure about yelling at the King. Makes me a little uncomfortable, I guess. After all, he is King. (How do you become king then?) That’s from my perspective, a white Australian whose family has only been here for a few generations.

To understand her, we need to look at this from her side. Sovereignty was never ceded. The rules of Australia have been imposed upon her and her community.

Every so often, the best way to make a point is to be really noisy because being quiet and polite doesn’t work. When Thorpe wrote to the King, he didn’t respond. That’s a tad rude.

And to Joe de Bruyn, a conservative catholic, former union boss who was given a platform at the Australian Catholic University graduation ceremony. He used his moment to cover some typical catholic thoughts on abortion, IVF, and marriage equality. He wasn’t in favour.

The University let him say what he said, fully aware of the contents of his speech. They cite free speech. The audience responded by walking out.

How rude, cry the right-wingers. How rude that the students couldn’t show any respect and up and leave.

de Bruyn should be able to express his view, for sure, as abhorrent as it might be. Doesn’t mean the audience has to listen, and on this occasion, showed their disapproval by walking out. Perfect response.

Respect isn’t a one-way street. When you’re the one with the power, you need to respect the people you’ve gathered.

Image by Michael Barnett

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