Signs – 2

 

warnings everywhere

climate change reality

how will you respond?

In Australia our current federal government since being elected 14 months ago has taken Australia from leading the world on climate change action, ( previous government actions) to basically taking us to the back of the international pack. Why? The current Prime Minister and other decision making ministers ridicule the science behind climate change or deny it or simply ignore it.  Meanwhile coal is proclaimed as the saviour of the world.

This sign has been displayed by the pastor of our local Uniting Church. Given most of our federal government ministers are loudly proclaimed christians, ( the Prime Minister was once a trainee Jesuit priest) I was wondering if I should provide them with some non-scientific evidence they may understand?

Outline for fun

 

simple messages

a menu of options

choose one to enter

Nothing like a bit of bureaucratic overkill to prepare visitors arriving at this popular beach in South Western Victoria, Australia. Located near the western end of the Great Ocean Road  this beach sign would create potential apprehension for many international tourists alighting from their cars to stretch their legs on the beach. If you feel inclined let me know what you think visitors are allowed to do or would feel safe doing??? What would you choose here?

 

Going home

 

 

a moment of silence

amongst commuter madness

winter is coming

This image is taken at about 5.10 pm in the middle of the commuter rush hour on Richmond station in Melbourne. This is the third busiest station in Melbourne with thousands of commuters swapping trains in their desire to get home from work in the afternoon peak rush time. As I waited for my next train on a near empty platform having just missed one I suddenly noticed that across other platforms there were almost no people and no trains. Luckily my little digital camera was nearby to catch this shot. Notice the setting sun in the background and this was 5.10 pm, winter was happening in Melbourne.

near miss

enjoying freedom

wallaby watching nearby

a close encounter

Charlie loves to get up to Bendigo where we escape from Melbourne’s pace . This track is in the protected area that was once a thriving Goldfield in the 1860’s. Within 200 metres of this track is evidence of shafts, water channels and mullock heaps. We often come across prospectors with detectors hoping for a find. On this particular day last Spring Charlie was off lead taking her time to connect with nature, usually checking out scents. Little did she know that a short distance away was a Black Wallaby in the shadows peering intently at her. The wallaby took off just as I grabbed Charlie’s collar thankfully not dropping the camera. Luck all round that day. We are not anxious to find out what Charlie’s hunting skills are however Afghan Hounds have a genetic imprint to chase down running animals and ……………………………….

 

 

endless ocean

distant traffic noise

water meeting sand

tide changes time passes

Evening memories of Moorea in French Polynesia.

 

 

 

Early Spring

Camelia blooming

sign of departing winter

warmer days are near

There are Camelias scattered around our garden. Eagerly I watch for the first buds to tell when Spring is around the corner.

flameless fire

Hanging in the sky

volcanic dust-setting sun

a fiery vision

Many evenings especially in Spring and Autumn we take a short drive to Ricketts Point or the Black Rock cliffs on Port Phillip Bay . Usually we walk the dog, breathe the fresh air, often photograph birds and gaze out across the bay looking for a sunset if the time is right. The range of colours and effects depending on the season is countless. Sometimes the sky and water merge into one.

Playtime

a young dog lives

for the moment – life is now

lets play chase again

Charlie was about 12 months old at this time. She loved nothing better than running laps of the house at top speed. At one spot on the lap this involved squeezing through a gap between a tree and wall that was centimetres wider than her without slowing. Seven years later and she still runs these laps when excited or needing exercise. Afghan Hounds at top speed are an amazing sight. They can pivot , do 90% turns and corner without slowing. And the fur goes in all directions.

peckish

adapting smartly

a balancing act for free

but where is the food?

A visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne is always highlighted with a meal at one of the cafes. Down by the lake water birds have become very used to people especially those who defy the signs and feed them. At our last visit for lunch we were pressed by this flightless swamp hen to finish our meal and be gone so it could feed itself. Imagine the concern on this poor birds face when it found an empty plate.

Currawong craving

Adapting and cunning

refugee from the mountains

Stayed on for the food

During the late 1990’s as the Eastern Australian drought took hold the first Pied Currawongs became permanent in our bayside suburb of Melbourne. During summer breaks we had admired their mournful cries as the sun set in the valleys of the Australian Alps. At home however we saw another side and very quickly noticed what cunning hunters of small birds, nests, fledglings and eggs these currawongs were. Fifteen years later and the politics of birdlife has changed in our street. When Currawongs call or fly in there is a mixture of silence and chaos from smaller birds depending on the time of year. Looking back now perhaps this is a small indicator of climate change at a micro level.