Brisbane Floods

The past week has seen an outpouring of aid and donation for the Brisbane flood victims. As the water recede, there is time to reflect on the lead up to the national catastrophe. The flood was not within anyone's anticipation. But post-mortem usually finds the least expected. A small matter could have made a world of difference.

Topmost on Australians's minds is coming to terms with the disaster and recovery. However, this does not rule out opportunists from seizing on allegations to make claims for their losses sometime in the future.

Quote : "

Engineer Michael O'Brien told The Australian the river flood and the devastation of thousands of homes was inevitable after a decision to release relatively low volumes of water from the Wivenhoe Dam on Friday, January 7, and over the ensuing weekend.

Scrutiny of official water-release and dam volume data shows the flood would have been moderate at worst in Brisbane had there been larger releases in the days before the deluge.

Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek said people deserved to know all of the circumstances around the flooding.

"But today is not the day for that and now is not the time for it to be beginning," he told reporters."It's definitely too raw to be going into a blame game. "

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/brisbane-river-flooding-avoidable-20110117-19tha.html

Balmain - hip and cool suburb in Sydney

Waterfront views in exchange for space. Restored terrace houses in Balmain are charming despite the limited living, storage and parking areas.

The streets are lined with speciality stores and outstanding restaurants which cater to the fastidous taste and standards of yuppie residents here.

For more scenery pictures, please refer to : http://australianature.blogspot.com/2010/01/sunset-at-elkington-park-balmain.html

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Historical Lighthouse and Wildlife on Montague Island, NSW

Montague Island was once a fertile hunting ground for the Aboriginal people. It is now classified as a nature reserve with restricted access and commitment to preserve the environment and wildlife.

It was drizzling but the trip was not cancelled as the dark clouds were clearing when it was time to leave the wharf. On record, for every three tours booked, only one materialised, which means that two out of three were cancelled due to poor weather conditions. Count ourselves fortunate to be able to land on Montague Island!

After a rough ride across the choppy seas, we were sure glad to disembark smoothly. The water was clear and welcoming but too cold to entice the majority to go snorkelling.

The lighthouse on Montague Island was first advocated in 1873 encountered many trials and tribulations due to inexperience and tardiness of contractors and masons and harsh conditions of transporting building materials from the mainland. The only material available on the island was granite which had to be transported uphill for construction.

A downpour came without much warning as we were climbing the steep slope towards the peak where the lighthouse sits.

The lighthouse keepers' quarters as it was (shown above). The head lighthouse keeper's house has modern decor and full facilities to accommodate visitors who want to stay overnight at the lighthouse.

After a few cups of hot tea, the able-bodied took a climb up the lighthouse for a bird's eye view of the surrounding.

Then we were on our way again, still half drenched. Walking around the island, we saw yet another beautiful aspect of the lighthouse.

If you think this looked precarious, I assure you that the seas were actually much calmer on our way back.

For information and pictures of the wildlife on Montague island, please check out my Nature blog :

http://australianature.blogspot.com/2009/04/fur-seals-on-montague-island-off.html

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Killer Trees - environmental protection versus safety

This was one of the many incidents of falling branches from towering and brittle eucalyptus tress. This branch on the ground measuring 7.8 metres in length was by far the largest and heaviest encountered in recent times. The tree stood only 3.4 metres from the house foundation had always been a worry. As the path is a thoroughfare for entry by the side gate, the falling branch missed me and a child, and possibly passers by, by hours. It was indeed a close shave. A week later, another branch fell. Though smaller and less threatening, it was a cause for great concern. It is the natural characteristic of gum trees to shed leaves and brittle branches especially in summer and autumn.

After battling red tape and strict preservation regulations, we finally got permission to remove the tree. It is forbidden to cut down or even prune any eucalyptus tree without very good reasons as these are native protected species. Approval from the council is mandatory upon application with payment for the evaluation which has been increased to $80 for the first 3 trees.
Much as we love nature and love to protect the environmental and ecological balance, the bottomline is whether human lives could be safeguarded? Whenever it was windy or stormy, we feared for our lives and avoid getting too near to huge and unstable trees.

Escape from the heat - up the mountain or down to the beach

We're at the peak of hot and enervating summer. Folks who want to escape the heat could choose to go up to the mountains or down to the beaches.

Is the dream job at Great Barrier Reef for real?

Check this out : Too good to be true? Wow $150,ooo in 6 months!

http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/Office/Story/A1Story20090111-113776.html

Tourism Queensland is offering an extremely lucky individual a chance to get what they say is the best job in the world - to be their Island Caretaker.

Essentially, you will be getting paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef. Sailing, kayaking, snorkelling, diving, and bushwalking, are just some of the activities that you can do on the island.

All you would need to do would be to post a weekly blog, photo diaries, and create video updates to tell the world about the unique experiences available on the islands of the Great Barrier Reef.

You can even bring a friend or relative to stay with you in your own spacious holiday home complete with plunge pools and stunning island views, fully equipped with modern facilities and exquisite furnishings. Naturally, a state-of-the-art entertainment system as well as complete access to the Internet is available.
You'll also get to explore the different tropical islands along the Great Barrier Reef while staying at luxury resorts.

How to apply

Create and upload a 60-second or less video in English explaining why you're the best person for the job and demonstrating your knowledge of the islands of the Great Barrier Reef. You will also need to complete a short application form and upload the video to www.islandreefjob.com.
Ms Lim Mui Khim, Regional Director of Tourism Queensland (Southeast Asia), said, "All applicants will need to submit an application, and if they're shortlisted, they will go through interviews and the employee will be selected based on merit. It is not a competition based on luck or popularity. Being the caretaker of the beautiful Islands of the Great Barrier Reef is truly a dream job. The attractive salary package is the icing on the cake."

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age (as of January 1, 2009) and must be available for a 4-day interview from May 3 to 7, 2009, if selected as one of the final candidates. The employee's six-month contract period will be from July 1, 2009 to January 1, 2010. Applications close on February 22, 2009.

So what's the catch? According to the local Australian papers, candidates need "excellent interpersonal communication skills", "an adventurous attitude" and a "willingness to try new things". They also require at least one year's "relevant experience", fluent English and "good swimming skills".

As lure of the Great Barrier Reef beckons, potential candidates may want to do some reality check. Go ahead and try your luck but take it easy and don't place too much hopes on getting that dream job. Bear in mind that there are many hunks and babes among Aussies and foreigners on visiting visa who are good swimmers, divers and make good advertising models.

http://australianature.blogspot.com/2009/01/great-barrier-reef.html

Having worked and interacted with Aussies, I believe this is clearly a publicity stunt to promote tourism in sunny Queensland. The economic downturn has hit the tourism industry which is highly dependent on visitors mainly from Asia Pacific region, Americas and Europe has been badly hit since last year. Even the arrogant and abrasive customs in the major cities have bowed down to the crunch of falling arrivals, according to feedback of travellers in recent months.

One might also want to note that there has been a rise in the number of shark appearances and attacks on the eastern shores of Australia, Pacific Ocean.