Bennett's Wallaby

Freycinet National Park, Tasmania. Yes, it allowed me to get this close. This is not on zoom, or cropped.

Macropus rufogriseus - known as the red-necked wallaby on mainland Australia. It is one of Tasmania's most commonly seen native animals and is abundant throughout the state. They can be distinguished by their black nose and paws, and white stripe on the upper lip.

According to Wikipedia, "there is a small colony of Red-necked Wallabies on the island of Inchconnachan in Loch Lomond in Scotland. This was founded in 1975 with two pairs taken from Whipsnade Zoo, and had risen to 26 individuals by 1993. There were at one time small colonies in England, in the Peak District and in Ashdown Forest. These are now believed to be locally extinct, though unconfirmed sightings are still reported from time to time."

What is the difference between a wallaby and a kangaroo? Size is pretty much it - it's a name goven to macropods which are smaller than kangaroos but haven't been given another name.

Tamar River at Rosevears

The Community Shed, Deloraine

Yesterday we met Brian, a former dairy farmer, and new "Sheddie" - a member of the Deloraine Community Shed. Although just learning his way around the tools, he was an enthusiatic ambassador for the Shed.

Community Sheds (often called Men's Sheds) are a newish phenomenon, helping to connect older and younger people in the community as part of Mens Health programs. Many are especially set up for men, who are less likely to have connections and interaction with each other than women, and for whom social networking often comes less easily.

The Deloraine Community Shed was established in 2004 as part of a Health and Wellbeing Project. Blokes who know their way around a chisel are available to give help to fellow "Sheddies". There's an experienced wood working instructor to help you realise your projects. The Deloraine Shed is a Community Shed welcoming all comers. There have been women's cabinet making courses, for example, and bike maintenance for teenagers.

The Shed was open for people to have a look around during the Tasmanian Crafts Fair, held over the past four days in Deloraine. Craftspeople from all over the state were exhibiting their wares in 13 venues throughout the town, including community and church halls, the bowling club and in private galleries.

The cubby house which you can see part of at the back is a just-completed communal project made for a local boy with leukaemia.

More about the Deloraine Community project, including the Shed.

Men's Sheds

Wineglass Bay

One of the most famous tourism images from Tasmania is the view over Wineglass Bay from the lookout in Freycinet National Park, on the island's east coast (map below). Below is a classic tourism image. Above is what it looked like in the misty rain on our visit yesterday.

Thanks to the girl in the second photo who took our photo.

(PS I am no stranger to fog, being famous in my family for not having seen The Grand Canyon, the Great Wall of China, and Venice on my first visit through fog. And taking overseas visitors to the Blue Mountains in torrential rain and fog! It's a wonder anyone wants to go on holiday with me!)

Tasmania - seafood and wine

Dinner at Coles Bay, featuring seafood pasta and a delightful pinot noir, as well as a rain-washed view.

Something you don't see very often in Sydney

Sydney has had water restrictions for some years, due to drought. The government has announced that some restrictions will remain permanently. It is illegal at the moment to have fixed sprinklers watering gardens and lawns, unless you have a source of bore water, which houses in this are of Sydney (Ramsgate, Monterey, Sans Souci) do. They display a sign outside saying so.

I'm off today for a (well-deserved) break for a week in Tasmania. I hope to be able to keep posting, maybe some exotica from The Apple Isle.

Blue Boxes II

More boxes stacked on top of each other. Not containing apples, these harbour the species Homo sapiens which allegedly means "wise man" or "knowing man". Sometimes I really wonder about that :-)