Doorman at the library

Most mornings and evenings these fellows are guarding the backdoor of the library.

A trip to Karawa

We had the opportunity to have a nice meal at the CDU training restaurant "Karawa" last night at our Palmerston campus. My colleague Malcolm's wife. Kay was being tutored by son Jesse in napkin folding having just been shown by a friendly waitress.

Ps The buffalo steak I had was great!

End of the Dry

I took this shot yesterday, the Dry is about to end, the buildup is beginning, so its becoming more humid and there has even been the odd rainstorm.

Professional meeting

The ALIA TopEnd group had the opportunity to visit the ABC studios in Darwin and meet the Archive and library staff.



We later adjourned to the Darwin Trailer Boat Club (along side the Darwin Sailing Club) to have drinks to mark the retirement of Ann Alderslade from the Department of Health Libraries.

David Suzuki book talk at Charles Darwin University

David Suzuki gave a packed and enthralled audience a good insight into his life. Born in Canada as a 3rd generation son of Japanese/Canadian parents he learnt early about injustice and nature and has spent his life as a passionate communicator.
My family had attended his talk when he was in Adelaide recently so it was good to have the opportunity to hear him in Darwin.
"Described by Tim Flannery as ‘the greatest environmentalist of our age’, David Suzuki has dedicated his life to inspiring and equipping people to recognise and preserve the fragile balance of the world they inhabit."


He signed many copies of his book before and after his talk.
He spoke about the influences in his life and clearly is a proud parent who had great supportive parents himself.

Sunset Jazz on the lawns at Sky Casino Darwin

Most of my team at the library and their families and friends enjoyed James Morrison and his Sextet at the Casino tonight.



It was very well attended, perfect weather and great time to chill out. My new team member Andrew Finegan was there , having arrived in Darwin just after midnight from Melbourne.




Kayes Isabelle and Malcolms];s Georgia were having fun meeting.








One instrument that James played was the Midi enabled Morrison digital trumpet.This photo is from his website:

Saturday morning at Parap Market

This is a popular Saturday morning market in a trendy shopping centre car park, with many stall holders also having stalls at Mindil during the dry.
This is Bobby the Indonesian sate maker.


Kens Crepes is also very popular.

Most people were in the shade it appears!

These buskers are also regulars.

Redhead in Black

My friend Ken, now living in Devonport, is doing well with his photography, this macro photograph won him a camera in an Australian photo magazine competition this year. Well done mate. The title is Redhead in Black, a clue to what it is!!!!

JAVA a contact with a relative of Captain Duthie

In 1986 I began to research the sailing ship JAVA, which brought my ancestors to South Australia on February 6th 1840.
This is a photograph taken in Gibraltar around the 1920's-1930's

I published a book about it and each year I still get enquiries about it. Last night I received a call from Edmee Cudmore, whose ancestor was Alexander Duthie, the ship's master. Here is a scan of an orginal ticket that I saw during my research, with a receipt on the back for the Conigrave family.


I had early blogged on this topic In December of 2005

Another ABC weather segment photo

Months after submitting this photo to the local ABC, it finally went to air last week. I have slighly cheated by adding their usual information to my own copy as I forgot that it was to be transmitted and looked up over dinner one night to hear my name and see this storm cloud lit by the setting sun! (See my images from December 2005 for my Cullen Bay shot)

Its nice that I have now had two images go to air!

An interesting coincidence Gouldian Finches everywhere!

Having just posted a photograph of a Gouldian Finch to my album and then linked it to this blog, I noticed that Gwen Sprague, who is a medical librarian living in Kansas City and who links to my Flickr album had this photo of a Gouldian Finch,

and another of an incredible indoor aviary on her album site

I asked her what the circumstances. Here is her reply:
"I work in a hospital with a long term care center attached. This is in a lounge area where residents, staff and visitors can sit and relax. Not only can they watch these beautiful finches and doves, to the left is a courtyard with many birdfeeders to attract the wild population for viewing as well.
So cool that you can see the glorious Gouldians in the wild!"
Maybe an idea for the Northern Territory?

An afternoon at the Territory Wildlife Park

I met with Malcolm and his family, including his parents, Don and Joan,and we drove out to the Territory Wildlife Park, about 50 km out of Darwin. It was a warm day, about 35, but it was still a good afternoon. After a shared lunch we visited the Aquarium, and the walk in aviary and then the Raptor Display.

Malcolm parents, whilst not young are well travelled, having just spent two weeks in Indonesia.



This was a small crocodile with a turtle underneath it.

This crocodile however is much bigger, perhaps around two metres


I hope to see some of these Gouldian Finches in the wild, but its a couple of hours drive on the Arnhem Highway to Bird Billabong area early in the morning.

These Pied (Torresian) Imperial Pigeons are large birds.

This is a Great Bower Bird

Here is a Drongo, if I ever saw one. Its a Spangled Drongo.





We missed most of the Raptor display, but were able to get up close to this Barn Owl.







The powerful White-Bellied Sea Eagle, "Terence" was very vocal.
The Crested Hawk or (Pacific Baza) (Aviceda subcristata) is a rarer bird

Malcolm has settled into Territory life well!

His parents appear to enjoying their Top End holiday.