Back home in Outback Queensland

The Mitchell Agricultural Show is an annual event that brings together the entire community.

On this special day people gather together to renew friendships, share in the many and varied agricultural and hobby pursuits – and have fun.

After our five-month absence down south, the show is an opportunity for us to say, "Hello" to our many friends and acquaintances. It always amazes and delights us the number of people we know well enough to share a hug and conversation.

Most people contribute to the show's success by entering various categories. For instance: vegetable produce, cooking, arts and crafts, flower arrangements, photography, sheep and wool judging, poultry of all sizes and types, cattle judging and many horse events. Then there was the wood chop; the side show alley; winery, lavender and nut farm displays; Terry the Juggler and Pirate magician entertaining the crowd (see photos); fireworks and live music. And, of course, there was lots more.

The art section was my chance to participate by entering three of my water colour paintings. I was delighted and humbled to receive two first places and one second place.

We've been back in outback Queensland for one week, after a pleasant and uneventful trip of around 2,200 km from Phillip Island to Mitchell. We are now unpacked and well-settled.  Within days of our arrival a welcome home present appeared unexpectedly in our garden: a magnificent bird of paradise (Strelizia regina). It's a flower I simply must paint!

Another highlight of the first week was our first marimba lesson. We have a lot of catching up to do, but it was great fun and lovely to see all our marimba friends once more --  also

to welcome two new players.

Mutton birds; packing up; waiting for final pathology results

Tomorrow – 18 April – millions of adult mutton birds will leave the Bass Strait Islands and head north; a 30,000 km round trip, flying north along the western edge of the Pacific Ocean to Japan, across to Alaska and then back again; returning to the same burrow on the same island in the final week of September – to begin their breeding season, all over again.

Now (mid April) their sole chick will remain in its burrow, no doubt hungry and confused. Over the next few weeks body fat will be shed, flight feathers will grow and the young birds will learn to fly. At the end of the month the young birds will depart on their migration flight to the Bering Sea and Alaska, following countless generations of their ancestors. How they navigate remains a mystery; likewise their extraordinary resilience.

So it's also time for us to depart on our 'migration flight' to Mitchell in outback Queensland. Boxes and bags are partly packed and a departure date of around 24th April has been decided. However, both of us await pathology results from skin cancers removed in the past week, and until we get the all clear we can't make our final preparations. But I'm feeling optimistic!

This week we collected my newly framed watercolour paintings from Wonthaggi. I chose a simple silver frame.

 For all my friends passionate about horses, I'll include photos of horses on 'our' beach.

This time we're towing a trailer as we seem to have more 'stuff ' than usual – a glass topped kitchen table, three office chairs, lots of books, a whipper snipper, and some sort of carpentry saw, along with lots of Doug's tools.

Every time we leave there seems to be lots of washing to do, cupboards to clean out, and things to tidy up.
Meanwhile our German shepherds relax on their beds and wonder what all the fuss is about! Oh to be a dog.

PS
If we depart on 24th of April, as planned, I won't be doing a blog for a couple of weeks. My next one will be written from our winter home in Mitchell.  The weather has changed here on Phillip Island. There's a definite chill to the air and cold winds are becoming the norm. I'm longing for the warmth and stillness of outback Queensland -- and to seeing all our friends once more.

Pleasure in simple things: Phillip Island

In an increasingly materialistic world where money and possessions are foremost in many people's minds, it's refreshing to acknowledge that true contentment and happiness almost always have their origins in either simple things or the natural environment.

Today's blog contains a series of photos taken on one of our walks along the beach. My companions were Doug and our two German shepherds -- Major and Del.  Just the four of us in a magical place at sundown.

Add to that some pieces of driftwood (the bigger and heavier the better, as far as Major is concerned -- about 15 kg!) and you have the recipe for focus and fun.

The mellow light of the autumn evening helped intensify the rich colour of the cliffs, and also the pathway of light that streamed from the setting sun to the wet sand on the seashore.

Just two people, two dogs, a stick and a beach. A blissful moment in time.

PS 
On neighbouring French Island, a large bush fire created a dramatic plume of cloud that reflected the progress of sundown.

Wallaby goes for a swim

In our part of the world  – Phillip Island in southern Australia – stories about wallabies swimming in the sea are occasionally told. 

Although we frequently see wallaby print marks hopping along the beach, we've never witnessed one in the water – until yesterday evening.

The sun had just set behind the Mornington Peninsula, leaving a golden glow. We noticed a wallaby hop onto the beach, pause a while, then proceed out into the bay and into small waves – near a rocky headland.

The wallaby spent about 4 minutes in the water, letting waves completely cover it. Then the wallaby hopped out of the water, across the beach and into the protection of thick coastal vegetation.

Why, we wondered, did it choose to get wet and perhaps even swim?

Was it for pleasure?  Or perhaps flea or tick control, using salt water to deter these parasites?

I can't answer that question. All I can say is that it happened, and I attempted to capture the occasion on my camera. Unfortunately most photos were out of focus, but I can include one. 

PS
The sunset photos were taken from the beach and also from our home, on the same evening. One photo shows the sunset reflected in our front windows.

I had a checkup with my plastic surgeon yesterday, and all is going according to plan. Fortunately the pathology results were good so we're all set to leave for Mitchell on 15 April!

Survival of the fittest and skin cancer

However much we dislike the concept of the survival of the fittest, it is a reality. Charles Darwin  knew it: we know it.

On the seashore, this truth is shown time and time again. Marrum grasses struggle to colonise the sand closest to the shore. Some runners survive the salty spray, while others shrivel up and die. 

Recently, while exploring the seashore, I found a piece of pig face creeper that had broken free from its parent plant and established itself in a crack of rock, close to the pounding of waves. I discovered roots so it looks as if the plant will survive. 

On the other hand, a penguin found dead on the sand has become food for sea birds. A mangrove seedling, washed ashore, will try to establish itself. But mangroves never survive on this part of Phillip Island. The skeleton of a seal pup -- found on the sand -- reminds me of the breeding colony on the northern tip of the island.

In the photo you can recognise the flipper and the general shape of the seal pup.

Meanwhile I'm recovering from surgery on my eyelid (removal of a skin cancer), and also on my back. Unfortunately, the back lesion proved to be a melanoma. I'm going public over this in the hope that it will encourage other people to have their skin regularly checked by a Dr with expertise in the recognition of skin cancers. Also, that it will encourage people to protect their skin from sun damage.

It is now three days since surgery and my eye is still black, bruised and taped half shut – not a pretty sight!  Likewise my back is painful every time I move. However, I am a survivor and I will recover and be back to my normal activities of writing and and watercolour painting -- very soon.

Thank you to all my friends for your good wishes.