After the Bush Fires. Coonabarabran. NSW

Many properties were destroyed in the bush fires in January 2013 up on the Timor Rd, West of Coonabarabran in NSW. The Telescopes were saved and the photos I took were taken 6 months later.

Taken by the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Taken by the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Telescope, Warrumbungle Observatory, Coonabarabran, NSW

Anglo-Australian Astronomical Observatory is a 3.9 meter optical telescope the largest in Australia, situated at an altitude of a little over 1100 m. The dome is 36m high, - 118 feet.
The telescope is housed with a seven-story, circular, concrete building. It was designed to withstand the high winds prevailing at that location. The slit is narrow. The dome is required to move with the telescope to avoid obstruction.

Of course we decided to venture up the mountain to take a peek and some photos. A short distance from our destination we heard a noise in the 4wheel drive's back wheel, upon investigation it was discovered that an Allen key was lodged in the tyre. Everything was taken out of the back and tyre changed but being a Sunday no place was open in Coonabarabran to have the tyre repaired, so we drove some distance to the next town for repairs the next morning.

Art on the walk.

Taken through a window.

The mishap!

Gilgandera, NSW

Gilgandera is situated in the central west of NSW, Australia. The town has a population of about 2,700 people with more living in the district.

Gilgandra is known as the town of Windmills and Home of the Coo-ees. Until 1966 the town did not have a central water supply and most people in the town had a windmill. At one point the skyline of the township was dominated with approximately 360 Windmills.

The home of the Coo-ee refers to the march of 35 men from Gilgandra to Sydney in 1915 to volunteer for the war. By the time they reached Sydney their numbers had swelled to 263 making the 1915 Coo-ee March from Gilgandra to Sydney the first and most successful recruitment march of World War 1

A farming district, canola, wheat, and so on and of course sheep among other animals.

We always call into the Visitors Center to stop for a break from driving, walk around the grounds and have a chat to the staff at the center.

My other post on Gilgandera [ here ]

This plant is known by a common name of Black Boy.  These days it's not referred to it by that name, but I don't know the correct name.

The back of the Visitors Center which has barbecues, and a large area of grass with a river with not much water in it.

Tulips in Bloom at Table Cape. Tasmania, Australia.

A few photos I took at the Tulip farm at Table Cape, Tasmania, Australia. 2013. See previous post.

Tulips & a Frog!

Yesterday my father suggested I go to Table Cape today to see the Tulips in bloom on a farm, so I did. It took me over 1 hours to get there. A lovely drive along the North West of Tasmania by the sea with beautiful views of very green hills down to the sea, with sheep and cattle scattered in the paddocks.

The farm grows the Tulips for an International market, their main aim is to see how large they can get the bulbs. The paddock of Tulips is rather small at 8 hectares = 20 acres but a lot of Tulips.

I stopped the car at a lookout to view the sea and happened to look sideways and saw a frog hopping on the road, so at some distance from it I took the photo, and I amazed that it was similar colour as the bitumen.

Marmite's Return!

Oh it's been a very long time!
Marmite is what I used to have on my toast for breakfast every morning until the New Zealand earthquake in the city of Christchurch in early 2011. I posted [here] about not being able to purchase Marmite.
At last it's back on the Supermarket shelves just this week, so had my first taste since the previous supply ran out in January 2012. Yes, I remember because it was about the time I delivered my only grandson on the  side of the Motorway in Queensland :)

I know, too much butter underneath it.

Dads ok! Bendigo Sacred Heart Cathedral..continued.

My dads little operation went well and we anticipate him going home next week, I will stay with him till he's stronger, plus he will have help beside me.
Thanks to all who wished him well.

I have posted about Bendigo [here] in March this year - interior of the Cathedral. They were older photos, the ones below taken this year and are different. [Here] my post a few days ago.

Stained Glass at the rear of the Cathedral.

The glass and Organ Pipes.

One small area of the side of the Cathedral.

The Phone Call!

My blind 89 year old dad has been in a private hospital in the city where I live for just over a week.  He had a small operation early last week, and has been rather ill since, so another operation in the morning should fix the problem making him feel much improved and happier.
Tonight dad phoned me to 'thank me' for looking after him for these past 5 years (since my mum went to heaven)...So I think he wonders will he come through the operation, I reassured him he WILL. :)

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

A beautiful Catholic Cathedral in Bendigo which was built in 1897 and completed in 1977.  The large pipe organ was installed in 1905, the organ being built by Bishop & Son of London.
I couldn't get a decent photo of the outside due to the sun.
The Cathedral will seat 2,000 people according to the man sitting in the Church who commenced a conversation with me. From memory that same man was sitting in the same place when I last visited the Cathedral :)

The style of the Cathedral is early English Gothic.  A few photos of the outside of the Cathedral.