A shy neighbour

I met this possum and a friend one night just outside my front door.

Ken and Sue at the World War 2 Oil Storage Museum

This was well worth the visit with lots of interesting photos from Darwin in WW2

I jumped a mile and so did the frog

Having seen possums, geckos, gigantic cockroaches etc, I jumped and so did the frog when I went to put papers in the recycle bin in the dark

Barramundi , Prawns and chips

My favourite meal from Kim's at the Stokes Hill Wharf

The best fish and chips in Darwin

This was taken at the Stokes Hill Wharf precint, with a nice meal of barra and chips

Too much Christmas cheer?

This was taken at the end of a very nice Christmas meal with my colleagues at the "The Jetty", at Stokes Hill Wharf, Darwin.

A research interest, Stanislaus Ostoja Kotkowski

My son Dave and I share a common interest in researching the life and work of this gentleman, better known as Stan Ostoja. He lived in Australia from the early 1950's worked in textiles, stained glass, set design for theatre, opera. He was a Churchill Fellow , experimenting with lasers and electronic music. He was a photographer etc, etc. The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory has at least one of his works, "Red Centre" This photo is from the collection of the National Archives of Australia as well as our own Ostoja archive


See Wikepedia entry created by Dave at >Ostoja

Another view of the Gates at the Chinese Gardens

This view shows the lions guarding the Chinese Garden Gates at Cahrles Darwin University

Gates of the Chinese Gardens

The gates are very traditional, the garden is filled with "garden rooms" to see and enjoy.

A visit to the Chinese garden

After having arrived in Darwin over two months ago, I have only just visited the Chinese Gardens on campus. What a delightful place to walk through. There is a touching statue in the garden in memory of a young teacher who died trying to request some young pupils in her province in China.
There are other sculptures and its a rather contemplative spot to spend lunchtime.

HMAS Melbourne in Darwin

I saw this ship in late September at Stokes Wharf. I was taken by the colour of the sea and sky. This was at Stoke's Wharf, just out of the Darwin CBD. Its a great place for a cheap meal of fish and chips, especially barramundi!

Our cat "Molly"

A favourite closeup of Molly, who still lives in Adelaide. A very vocal Oriental cat, but much loved.

My Favourite Book

This has been around for a few years, but I can still pick it up and laugh, very well written.

A local identity

This lizard I found near the rear of the library. Is it a Gilbert's Dragon (Lophognathus gilberti) or perhaps is it a Ta-Ta Lizard (or Lophognathus temporalis) ?


For a little more information from a German site:

Where I work

This is a photo looking at the library building at the Casuarina campus of the Charles Darwin University where I work in the Northern Territory, Australia

Why Javaman?

Since 1985 I have been researching the sailing ship "Java" which brought my ancestors to the colony of South Australia , landing on February 6th 1839. The ship was fairly unique as its said to have been the last of the East Indiamen. It was broken up in Genoa in 1939. Thanks to Roger Sando, my book on the ship published in 1990 is now available on the Internet. [see http://www.geocities.com/java1839/]

Where I live

I am living in a leafy green suburb, Fannie Bay (named after an Italian opera singer in the 19th century). It's close to the beach and midway between the CBD of Darwin and the Charles Darwin University where I work. Here is the view from my front door.
I have a gecko that lives in the kitchen!

Places to go

I am going to miss going to Mindil Beach. This is the craft market held at Mindil beach near my home at Fannie Bay. During the dry its on every Thursday night and also Sunday evening.

A goanna I saw the other day.

Take a look at his creature I saw at the Palmerston campus on Tuesday night!

Whats this all about?

My son Dave said to me why not create a blog to make available my thoughts and photos whilst working in the Northern Territory as a way of staying in touch so here it goes! If only I can work out how to add digital photos. I have just found out so maybe later tonight!