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.

Trip to Palmerston Campus

I was involved in an Introduction to Tertiary Teaching workshop at our Palmerston campus. Its an attractive campus, with the library having views of a lake.


The workshop is a chance for me to talk about my team's role at the university and meet new academic staff.

The "Preachers daughter"

In 1999 I purchased this painting

from a young art school graduate in Adelaide and I have been curious as to what ever happened to her and also I wanted to make sure I had the right name. I have just tracked down the artist after 7 years and discovered it was Hayley Arjona. She has won numerous awards and scholarships including the 1999 -2000 Australian Postgraduate Award, for Master of Fine Art, Victorian College of the Arts, 1999 The Corporation of the City of Adelaide Award, Helpmann Academy, South Australia; South Australian Youth Arts Board Artists in Studios Grant, Experimental Art Foundation, South Australia. Her work is held in many collections including The Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide SA She has had many solo exhibitions:
2006: Boom festival. Idanha a nova, Portugal
2006: Une Femme + Un Chien, mural at Cafe Le Chien, Seddon Vic. 2002: Harmoniums, Six24Seven, Melbourne. 2000: Love Me, PB Art Gallery, Swinburne University, Prahran campus, Vic; Hayley Arjona, Penthouse and Pavement, Carlton Vic. 1999: Gold Card 1, Experimental Art Foundation, Adelaide SA.

Sunset dining

I joined the Anderson family last night at the Darwin Sailing Club, with Malcolm's parents,Don and Joan,also enjoying the location and dining. We were in good company, there was a busload of South Australian tourists and I also spotted Ted Egan, the Territory Administrator.

A closer view to celebrate!

This is a cropped image, to celebrate my 700th uploaded photo to my Flickr album! My photos on this blog are linked to the Flickr website. Why not get your own album at www.flickr.com and while you are at it go and create your own blog at www.blogger.com

These dragonflies were from an earlier trip to Fogg Dam.

Something different...

I noticed the moon was bright on Friday night so tried my hand at this astronomical shot.

Shadow heart: a photo from the UK

My Funny Valentine
Originally uploaded by Styr C.

Just came across this excellent photo, not mine, from a 15 year old from Shropshire, UK. He has had lots of very positive feedback. He said he got the idea from these examples
Mosiac.

A new acquisition:"Everything Happens Today"

I purchased this image at Framed Gallery recently after Sharyn introduced me to Mary Mcleans work and had it framed. It's called "Everything Happens Today." It's by well known WA artist, now in her 70's PantJiti Mary Mclean, from Ninga Mia, Kalgoorlie. I love this print its really chaotic.
I managed to catch an ABC item on her work. You may need Broadband to see it!
Alternatively here is a link to the transcript Australia Wide Curators Choice story

The artist's description of what is going on:

"EVERYTHING HAPPENS TODAY
MARY McLEAN
Bird is catching a worm. The mother and little bird are eating flowers.
Bungarra is caught by a woman.
A man has speared an emu after his dog chased it
Emus are eating from the bush, one emu is sitting down on the tree.
There is a family- little ones, mother, father and birds also eating.
Father is trying to get the worm, he is chasing it He can't grab it. the worm has escaped into the log.
In the corner a mother is walking around with her little boy and baby which is lying down in the dish.
A mother dog and its puppy are eating on the side. Nearby there is a kitten and a beetle. A woman with long hair has had a fright from a snake. The snake is going into a log. It is a windy day and the woman's hair is being blown around.
Another mother and a little girl is walking around looking for food.
A kid playing in the grass with his dog has had a big fright from a snake.
This one was running along and nearly fell down from fright, he has already caught a bungarra.
Up the top mother has collected a dish of bush tucker.
In the shelter all the family are sitting down with a fire going.
They are going to have food. Also a bird has had a fright from the snake."

Motivational thoughts

I came across these words of Churchill earlier this year. I have discovered that there are cartoons and even a plastic figurine with a Jabiru (or Blacknecked Stork) with a frog jammed in its mouth (with the frog resisting its demise),available around the world.


The words "never, never, never give in" are actually from a speech that Winston Churchill gave at Harrow School in October of 1941.[click on link to see speech]
As I have yet to take a shot of a Jabiru with a struggling frog in its beak, this will have to do. It was taken at Yellow Waters and I have used Flickr Toys to create the motivational poster

Where in the world?

Having reloaded Google Earth I thought it was time to locate my unit on Earth again.
Darwin from space.


The university. The library is to the left of the large round water tower.

Where the family live in Adelaide!

Saturday evening at the Darwin Sailing Club

Saturday evening was a pleasant evening at the Darwin Sailing Club with Jayshree and Peter, as well as an American couple, the Rooneys.



The Rooney family, Beth and Joe and five children, are around the world sailors, on a 51 ft steel yacht "Leprechaun". They were telling us about their voyage so far. They are about two years into a 4 year around the world cruise. It was a good evening as Jayshree and Peter have also spent a lot of years in the Pacific and were sharing stories.