Welcome to Australia Blog

What’s a D&M?

This is a point of interest for anyone who likes to really get into a conversation.

Is Australia Backward and Racist?

Ex-Telstra boss Sol Trujillo, hit the headlines this week when he described his adopted home country (Australia) as “backward” and “racist”. He also went on to say that living here was “like stepping back in time”.

Swine Flu – is it out of control?

Not yet but it’s arrived in Brisbane! Australia wide there are 61 cases of Swine Flu confirmed and in the next few days more are expected.

We’ve been on stand-by with masks and daily news up-dates. Now Swine flu alerts have been sent home from schools, as cases are confirmed.

A P&O cruise ship has been quarantined off Willis Island, east of Cairns. The staff were isolated and tested.

Are locals anoyed? Yes – you bet! The ship knew that there were sick passengers on a docking cruise and still re-loaded with new passengers AND the same staff.

More Storms Hit Town.

We had the warning! Flash flooding to be expected and I kid you not, it didn’t stop raining. Wow, the sky just opened up and it poured all day and night for 48hrs.

We’re fine, just a little leak underneath the house but the very same suburbs that got hit last November in a big storm, had a rough time again. For some, they had just finished the clearing up and rebuilding only to experience more trees falling.

The Gold coast, The Gap and the inner city were flooded and battered by the wild winds. Yes people got stuck, stranded and rescued. Cars were abandoned and washed away.

Did people respond well? Some, some had no idea how bad until it hit and then it was too late… there were plenty of people who decided to try their 4wheel drives just to see if they could get through the floods!

Well, next comes Government hand outs (will it be enough?) and insurance claims (will they pay up?). The Dams are filling fast but we’re still on water restrictions non-the-less.

Bring it all with you.

When packing to visit a friend for their birthday on the weekend, I was amazed at the time it took us to leave the house….

“Bring it all with you for a get together” is not a new way to socialise because of the credit crunch – we’ve found that it is the most common way to socialise in Australia.

Whether the meeting point be at someones house, the park or a play ground, invitations typically include: Bring a plate (with food on it), drinks (Australians bring their beers in a little / personal esky), deck chairs or a rug…….and possibly even contribute to the entertainment.

The Land of the Big Car

Love them or hate them, there are plenty of 4-wheel-drive cars down-under, the question is: Are they here to stay?

Moving from the land of the small cars (France) to the land of the posh cars (Switzerland) then here, they do stand out.

We’ve noticed that the 4-wheel-drive is the Aussie Car, and that “what car do you drive?” isn’t just a passing question.

First up, 4-wheel-drives are big (not as big as the US styles), expensive and they are heavy on the Gas (which is going up in price). Australia has also admitted that there is an environment and that it does need to be protected, the greens are having a shout.

The Need for Wheels
4-wheel-drives are not necessarily an indicator of a 5-star lifestyle, but are a lifestyle option – If you’re into the ‘Great Outdoors’ scene, they are essential.

There are also some every day practical reasons of course for buying the Big Car. In Queensland, as in many parts of Australia, there’s plenty of long distance driving and what comes with that, is a real need for space, comfort and storage room.

Outside the greater Brisbane area, there are plenty of 4-wheel-drive only access tracks. These lead to national parks, beaches, mountains and outdoor recreation areas.

There are beautiful secluded beaches to visit, but only by sandy track….if you want to take the fishing and camping stuff, then you need wheels that can deal with all the stuff and sand.

City Cars Only….

Driving the 4-wheels in and around towns, especially around schools gets people into a stew. Some Moms will argue that with children come the 4-wheel drive buggies and a lot of stuff – others disagree. Parking spaces are small and parking the 4-wheelers is difficult.
Some people have also started a lobby here in Australia, in order to get 4-wheel-drives be banned around schools. This is because of the huge blind spot on these big cars, especially when reversing, and the impossibility to see a young child that would be right behind the car!

Will the big cars stay in demand? Are they going to be banned around schools? What do you think?