Archive for October, 2008
Could You Eat Kangaroo Meat?
Not an everyday meat, the beef steak or lamb chop are still the norm -But Kangaroo is often seen for sale at food stores and served in restaurants.
The current debate is that:
- Like many wildlife, Kangaroos are threatened by the changes in climate (rainfall &temperature shifts) and numbers will reduce (human population growth reduces their territory every year).
- Australia’s chief adviser on climate change has been noted to say that Australians should switch from eating lamb and beef to kangaroo because the marsupials give off much less methane than domestic livestock, making it better for the environment.
- The ‘Cute Skippy factor’? The reason many Aussies have traditionally been reluctant to tuck into kangaroo meat.
- Australians are uneasy about eating meat from the animal, which appears on the country’s coat of arms.
Official government figures show that over the past 20 years the number of kangaroos living wild in Australia has fluctuated between 15 and 50 million, depending on droughts and culls.
The Great Australian Road Train
Respect the road train! It’s big, fast and can’t / won’t stop!
They look challenging to drive. Loaded up and going the distance they are often transporting a live load: cattle, goats, sheep.
The dust kick back will hit your windscreen. Best to keep the biggest distance you can, as they can do a lot of damage to your car, and over-take fast on a flat stretch of road.
Queensland Storm Season Rolling In
It’s time to prepare for what could be the wildest summer storm season on record.
The advice given:
- Check drains and gutters & un-block
- Have a torch & candles ready in case of power cuts
- Don’t leave loose objects outdoors (they could fly)
- Trim trees and remove dead branches, tidy the garden
Low pressure systems, strong cyclonic activity = a fierce storm season.
Brisbane’s summer could be wet and cooler than usual- well above average rainfall and whilst the average maximum temperatures are expected to remain below 30 degrees the humidity levels are expected to rise.
Official predictions for the summer cyclone season are yet to be revealed.
Useful Resources:
The Bureau of Meteorology
Crocodile Madness
Crocodiles live in the North of Queensland (a little north of Rockhampton and upwards) and Northern Territory.
The rule of thumb, when travelling, is to check with the local tourist office or if going ‘bush’ and ‘off the beaten track’ to talk to the National Park rangers. Research and be sure and if in doubt don’t swim or go near the river banks. Danger areas are usually well sign posted.
The famous Australia Zoo (the late Steve Urwin & family, Zoo) is just north of Brisbane and a safe place to see and be informed about the giant creatures.
If you do want to get up close and personal then in Darwin (NT), the newest attraction is: Crocosaurus Cove.
“Come Swim with Northern Territory Saltwater Crocodiles” ~ Perfect for the serious adrenalin junkies. The ‘Cage of Death’ at Crocosaurus Cove is a purpose built acrylic cage which is lowered from an overhead monorail into any of the four separate croc enclosures where you can have a dive encounter with Croc Cove’s massive salt water crocodiles.
Getting Out There ~ Networking.
Ok, so you’ve landed, found somewhere to stay/sleep and now you’re itching to get stuck into all things local….Step 1 getting to know some people.
If like us you came ‘green’, that is to say, knew no-one local then the emphasis is on getting in touch with people you need to know and finding the people you want to know.
The need to know people may well consist of employment agencies, work/industry associations, expat groups, neighbours, local church, real estate agencies, playgroups…
The ‘want to know people’ are the future friendships and they take a while and often a widenet to catch.
My thoughts…..get out there, talk to people, do the things you enjoy and find others who like the same things and are welcoming. Be prepared to invite, do the running to begin with and keep building your network.
Immigration Balances the Local Brain Drain
Today Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been for increasing the quota of immigrants coming into Australia.
The 2008-09 Migration Program is set at 190,300 places, representing a 19.8 per cent increase on the 2007-08 program. The figure includes 56,500 places for family migrants sponsored by people already in Australia and 133,500 places for those with special skills.
Local concern is due to anticipated job losses in the coming year.
However, the figures have been justified on the ground that they respond to employer demands for more skilled workers, particularly in mining and resource intensive Western Australia and Queensland.
The numbers are expected to be adjusted according to needs and economic circumstances.
A Few Thoughts on Dirt Tracks
The road to Tambo, on the map looked like a road. 246km or so of road to cut across country, from Springsure…. It was however, tarmac for the first 10 minutes only and then rough surfaced with random cattle grids for the following 4hours!
Worth a treck though, just to see the wild Emus, stock men on horses, free ranging cattle, even wilder Kangaroos and incredible scenery. Everything you may picture the ‘true’ Outback Australia to be. The bush looks like bush. Red dirt and no town in sight.
We passed two trucks on that entire stretch of journey.
A full tank of gas, plenty of drinking water and some food are an essential on such a trip – whilst we are with RACQ, there wasn’t any mobile network – in the event of a problem we would have been stuck there for quite a while.
See more photos
Women in Business
If you’re thinking of moving down-under to start or continue as a woman in business this site is a good place to start you networking in Brisbane:
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