Australians love to laugh at themselves and to build BIG tourist attractions. So when Nyngan in Central West NSW wanted to attract tourists, the answer was simple. Create a big attraction. The town chose a bogan.
Bogan is a common slang word in Australia that means ” an uncouth or unsophisticated person regarded as being of low social status. People from Nyngan have been called bogans for years as the town is on the Bogan River. However, as it happened the river was not named after the people of the area but by Australia’s Indigenous people and for them bogan means “birthplace of a king.”
I loved the BIG BOGAN. He is a blend of two cultures. He stands like a king at the river and is dressed like an aussie bogan. He is 5.96 metres tall and weighs 1500 kilograms. In true Aussie fashion, a few years after the sculpture was built he was given a dog called Rusty to help with his fishing.
The Australiana Pioneer Village has been put together by moving original buildings from the local area a central location. The properties that were moved into the village in 1970 were a mixture from the late 1800’s to early 1990’s. Since 2004 the site has been heritage listed so it will remain in tact for future generations.
It is an amazing display of the courage, creativity and spirit of the Australian pioneers. If they didn’t have something that they wanted they found a way compromise or make it. I loved the the stories that were attached to each of the buildings. I think my favourite example was Case cottage that once a month on a Saturday night took out the middle wall and put it on the front lawn. This allowed the cottage to turn into a dance hall for the locals. They even had a arranged a safe way for single young ladies to safely be transported to and from the dance. Australia’s first Ubers you might say.
The other building I was particularly surprised with was the villages police station. Built in 1888 it was in use at Riverstone until 1970 when it was moved on site. I was 8 at the time so it seems surreal to me that a police station this small was all the area needed.
The sample of hand made whipped butter made during a presentation was amazing. I would love to have the patience to make my own.
The Australiana Pioneer Village is an 100% volunteer organization. It’s slogan is Proud to Preserve the Past. They have done a great job of it and I am very grateful.
For anyone who is not aware the #AtoZChallenge is held every year in April. Bloggers are challenged to chose a theme and write a post everyday except Sunday. The posts start at A and go through until Z. The other fun part is also blog hopping and visiting new and friends blogs.
During this years #AtoZChallenge I will share with you some of the interesting things, places and people I have discovered as I travel the states of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
I hope that you find my theme interesting. Australia is a very unique and varied country that can be very different. It is not unusual to hear the phrase “only in Australia.” On our travels in Truby (our blue Iveco truck and her red slide on camper) we mostly visit small towns. Nearly all are filled with history and have found some way to reinvent themselves using creativity. At the beginning of the day it is not unusual for us to have no idea what we will find on our journey. I love it. I hope that you find my selections interesting and that they give you an insight into our Australian culture.
For any of my #weekendcoffeeshare friends who are also joining in the fun I will attempt to keep up with your posts. Thanks for hosting Natalie.
If we were having coffee I would tell you about our trip to Windsor a few weeks ago. Our purpose was to win a trip to Disneyland. I had won a golden ticket in a chocolate bar just like Charlie. Winners were then registered and put in a lucky draw barrel. By attending the special event, if we won we received extra spending money. Why not we thought. The local lolly shop held the event. All 40 staff were dressed in Disney costumes and acted in character. Unfortunately, we didn’t win but had a great time anyway. By the way Mickey sends his love.
If we were having coffee I would tell you how pleased my husband and I were to find an old fashioned All You Can Eat Pizza Hut. These are rare in Australia these days. However, when our kids were little we would often go and celebrate our special events at the local one near our home. Just being at one always brings back many happy memories. We were also pleased that the pizza and salad bar options hadn’t changed much in the last 30+ years.
If we were having coffee I would tell you how much I am enjoying blogging again. Not only writing and creating the posts but also blog hopping. I love visiting other blogs and seeing how they interpret the same themes. I am really looking forward to joining this years A-Z blogging challenge next month. It will be my 4th time but for the first I am the most organised this year.
If we were having coffee I would tell you how pleased I was to discover the cause of my hip pain. It has been going on for about 5 years. Initially, it was thought to be osteoarthritis, something I couldn’t do much about. Fortunately, it turned out to be a form of bursitis and was fixed by a simple cortisone injection. I love being able to walk without a limp again.
If we were having coffee I would tell you about our work Paint and Sip social last year. It was a lot of fun. Our theme was The Grinch. He was fairly easy as we could trace him rather than draw him freehand. It was a fun way to spend a Saturday morning and despite a few sips, I think my painting turned out well. Me being me of course had to change his background colour from black to one that I made up myself.
If we were having coffee I would ask you what is happening in your world?
During our travels we have found many interesting seats. They are often made into works of art which draw us in to photograph them. So recently I was excited to find a new weekly challenge to join others who enjoy similar things. Thanks to XingfuMama for hosting.
While wondering the streets of Port Lincoln we noticed this beautiful lounge display outside a church. Initially I didn’t notice all the details but as we got up close and sat down, I smiled. It was covered in mosaics and they were beautiful. The ottoman even had a game of scrabble on it. There was also an exquisite mosaic rug both on the back of the lounge and on the ground in front of it.
Getting back to blogging means reconnecting with Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge. (CMMC) Each week she has a theme. As its the 4th week of the month the theme is about a chosen letter contained in a word. February’s letter is W or X.
When I pondered these letters, the first thing that came to mind were the very cute toWel animals we found in our room on the cruise ships. They are adorable. I loved them. They are created by the amazing hospitality staff. On Carnival they were changed every day. Sometimes they left the old ones but sometimes they ran our of toWels and had to change up the old ones.
On P&O we were only occasionally given a fun surprise.
My favourite day on Carnival was when we woke up and went to breakfast to find the whole pool area covered in toWel animals. They were everywhere. Unfortunately it was raining so many were wet but they still looked great.
I loved them so much I bought the book on how to make them. My plan is to surprise X and any future grandchildren when they visit.
Todays Cee’s Fun Fotos Challenge is all about cars-new, vintage or toy. When looking for inspiration on this weeks theme I discovered some photos of a Variety Bash vehicle. A few years ago I happened upon this car on one of my Sunday walks. She’s a gem.
The Variety Bash is a weeklong fun charity event. Participants work in teams, dress up and decorate their cars. To be eligible to enter cars must be a minimum of 25-30 years old depending on car type. The must also be registered, roadworthy and insured.
Throughout the weeklong adventure Variety Bashers call into small towns and communities along the way raising money for sick, disadvantaged and special needs kids.
Great job teams. This year the Variety Bash ends in Newcastle so if I am free I will join them at the finish line.
If we were having coffee I would tell you that my virtual coffee dates are very similar to my real life coffee dates. I love them but they are often a long time coming. That aside, I was happy to see that Natalie is still hosting our #weekend coffee share. Thank you. I find it welcoming to catch up with old friends as well as make new ones. I was surprised however to realise today that I had been MIA for nearly 12 months. How quickly that time has gone. I am hopeful that 2024 is the year that I get my blogging act together.
If we were having coffee I would tell you that I am still working 3 days a week despite giving a lot of thought into retirement. It’s weird. I know that I am ready but part of me doesn’t know who I am when I’m not a mental health nurse. At present I am on long service leave and not missing work at all. We have a few big trips planned for the next 12 months so I am thinking I have about 18 months left in me. Who knows, whichever way it goes I will definitely be taking Dolly Parton’s advice.
“Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”
If we were having coffee I would tell you that my husband and I have become cruisers. Last year we went on 2 cruises to various parts of the South Pacific. Our first one was to New Caledonia and Vanuatu onboard the Carnival Splendor. It was a lot of fun. We visited Noumea, Mystery Island and Lifou.
In October, we joined The Mutiny On The Bounty cruise with P&O’s Pacific Adventure which followed the journey of Willliam Blythe. During the cruise we visited places associated with the mutiny including stopping for half an hour on the exact spot it occurred. We also stopped at Norfolk Island, Nukualoka and Vava’u (both part of Tonga) as well as Fiji’s Dravuni Island and Lautoka.
We found both cruises very relaxing however we were very unhappy with P& O’s food. It was lacking inspiration, very repetitive and you had to pay for choices such as pizza and burgers. Both of which were included on Carnival six months earlier.
If we were having coffee I would tell you that X (our grandson) turned one a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, we couldn’t spend the day with him as he was in Japan with his other grandmother. Despite this my daughter and I celebrated in our own way. We had Australian party food, party pies and sausage rolls as well as our family favourite cheese dip. Unfortunately, hubby was away minding X’s rabbits. To add to our enjoyment we had a few celebratory drinks and watched Shrek 1 & 2.
If we were having coffee I would tell you that I lost my mother just before Christmas. Unfortunately her death was a long goodbye as her body slowly shut down. Like every thing she did in life, her death was in her time. Looking back I think it is very interesting that my first and last visit to the nursing home were on the night shift. At least the first time I was returning her after a family celebration.
If we were having coffee I would tell you that I am continuing to enjoy my creative side again learning more about my Cricut cutting machine. I Love it when the items I design turn out well even if they aren’t perfect. My favourite things recently have been personalised chocolate wraps, my glitter baubles wall chart using our Christmas family colours of the last 20 years. Last year was Ice Christmas – white, silver and pale blue. I also created the gift boxes for the table settings. To complete this I also learnt to create stickers.
If we were having coffee I would ask you what is happening in your world?
If we were having coffee I would tell you that we have recently returned from Japan. The purpose of our visit was to meet our first grandchild. A beautiful healthy baby boy who we will call X. Unfortunately Japan’s covid rules don’t allow hospital visits so while we waited to see him we enjoyed sightseeing around Japan. I look forward to sharing our experiences in the future.
If we were having coffee I would tell you that Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO was right when he said that ‘Australian’s had forgotten how to travel during the pandemic.’ When he first said it, I was offended. I didn’t agree and thought he was making excuses for his company’s problems. But we had forgotten many of the things that need to happen before you get on a plane. As we hadn’t flown in 4.5 years I suppose it makes sense.
If we were having coffee I would I would tell you how great it felt to have my first swim of the season just before we left for Japan. It was a very hot day and my girlfriend and I were meant to go walking but instead choose to swim. She hadn’t swum for a long time either so it was a win-win all around.
If we were having coffee I would tell you how happy I have been learning how to make projects with my Cricut machine. I signed up to Jennifer Makers Design To Shine course. I love it. She is teaching us not only how to make things but also how to design them from scratch. I find it fascinating how by using simple shapes, very complicated designs can be created. I am loving having an idea and seeing it come to life. Below are several of the first things I have made using various techniques and materials.
If we were having coffee I would you how weird it was going from 35C in Australia to -5C in Japan. Then just to add to the weather confusion last week we had the hottest days in our state since 1964. I hope that the beautiful Autumn weather we usually have arrives soon. Last weeks hot nights made it very difficult to sleep.
If we were having coffee I would ask you what is happening in your world?
Today is our national holiday Australia Day. It marks the arrival of the First Fleet and settlement in Australia.
To celebrate I have updated my 2015 Australia Day post, celebrating my A-Z of Australian things. Although far from a complete list it is fun way to share Australia. Included in the list are:
Animals
Birds
Food
Inventions
Items
Places
Treasures
A:Aboriginal Art – Paintings by indigenous Australians often using a dot design. To celebrate Australia Day Sydney lights up the Opera House at dawn each year with Aboriginal art. Today beautiful design would have been spectacular to see at dawn.
Photo Credit; Australian Associated Press
Anzac biscuits – Australian biscuits were eaten by our troops on the shores of Gallipoli hence the name. They are made from rolled oats, golden syrup, coconut and butter. There ingredients were chose due to their ability to not deteriorate over the long journey from Australia to the front.
Arnott’s Biscuits – Australia’s original biscuit brand is now more than 150 years old.
B: Beaches – Australia is known for its sandy beaches. The most famous being Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Since moving home to Newcastle I go to the beach regularly as it is a 5 minute drive or 30 minute walk from my house. Our local beaches are Bar Beach, Dixon Park and Merewether beach. Below is the few from Bar Beach carpark up towards Merewether with Dixon Park in-between.
Black Box Flight Recorder – The black box voice and data recorder was invented in Australia. Its invention has help to change airline safety as it guides investigators to the cause of crashes.
Beetroot – Your typical Aussie hamburger includes beetroot, lettuce, tomato, fried onion and barbeque sauce.
Baby Safety Capsule – Developed in 1984 to make sure babies and small children could be safely locked into a seatbelt.
C: Cockatoo – There are 21 varieties of Cockatoos in the world and all can be found in Australia. In my area the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo is common and are often seen on the ground in groups looking for food.
Caramello Koalas – Small Australian chocolate bar. They are very yummy.
Photo Credit: Cadbury
Cherry Ripe – My favourite chocolate bar. They are now also available in double dipped chocolate which takes the experience to a new level. Cherry, coconut and dark chocolate amazing.
D:Dual FlushToilet – A toilet with two flush buttons. The choice to flush either a half or full load of water makes a big difference to our water used daily.
Dame Edna – Australian iconic entertainer known for her comedy and ability to make fun of our way of life.
Didgeridoo – A wind instrument, invented by Aboriginals and originally found only in Northern Australia. It is thought to be the oldest musical instrument in the world.
E: Echidna – Australia’s most widely spread native animal. They and the platypus are the world’s only egg laying mammals. On many occasions while driving in the bush, we have seen them crossing the road. They are very cute to watch waddle.
Emu – Australian flightless bird. The can run very fast and have a habit of pecking you when you least expect it. My kids still remember one pecking my father when her wore a red shirt.
Esky – Portable coolers keeping food and drink cool in the Australian sun.
Electric Drill – Originally invented to drill through rock this technology was later adapted to household use.
F: Fair Dinkum – Aussie slang meaning true or fair. Used when you want someone to believe what you are telling them.
Fridge – In 1854 the first mechanical ice making machine was invented in Australia that lead to the development of the refrigerator—”fridge.”
G: Great Barrier Reef – World’s largest coral reef covering 2,300 kilometres off Queensland
Photo Credit: Google Images
G’day Mate – Australian welcome.
Google Maps – 2003-4 Australian’s Lars and Jens Rasmussen developed the platform that developed into Google Maps. Recently we saw the Google Maps cars while on the Nullabor Plains.
H: Holden cars – Holden is an Australian automaker that was based in South Australia. With limited choice for cars in the early days many families including mine had a Holden. Unfortunately, the Holden factory closed in 2017 and along with it car manufacturing in this country.
G: Goanna – Goanna’s are monitor lizards found in Australia. They are scary and can move very quickly. We once saw one up close and person in in a National Park. Bravely we waited for him to move rather than have him think we were dinner.
I: Icy Pole – Famous Australian water ice block especially good on days like today. Its 35-36 degrees on the coast and early 40’s away from the coast. So far the hottest day this year.
Photo Credit: Peters Icecream
J: Jackaroo/Jillaroo – Male and Female workers on a cattle or sheep station in Australia.
Jumbuck – Name for sheep in Waltzing Matilda.
K: Kangaroo – One of Australia’s most iconic marsupials. This restaurant allowed the kangaroos to come to the table. Personally not sure how I feel about that but I was walking past not having food delivered.
Koala – Small bear-like herbivorous marsupial that eats gum leaves. After the recent tragic fires these amazing Australian animals are endangered as so many were killed. We now have less than 100,000 koala in the country. and working hard to provide safe environments for them to live safely in the wild.
Kookaburra – Known for their laugh Kookaburras can be found everywhere. We have often had one or two visit our backyard.
L: Lamingtons – Spongy butter cake coated in chocolate sauce and rolled in coconut.
Long wearing Contact Lens – Were developed by the CSIRO as the original ones couldn’t stay in day and night for long periods.
M: Melbourne Cup – “The race that stops the nation” is the richest two-mile handicap horse race in the world. Run the first Tuesday in November, it is a public holiday in Melbourne.
Meat Pie – The meat pie is an Australian icon. Traditionally it is pastry filled with beef and gravy just big enough to fit into your hand, making it easy to eat on the go.
Macadamia – A tree nut specific to Australia with a creamy texture.
Meter Maids – In the 1960’s meter maids literally went around the Gold Coast putting coins in the newly introduced parking meters as a protest.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
N: Nullabor Plains – 1200 kilometre stretch of desert runs from South Australia in the east to Western Australia. Its name means no trees, just flat mostly straight road. In fact, the Nullabor holds the record for the worlds stretch of straight bitumen 146.6 kilkometres.
New South Wales – My home state between Queensland and Victoria.
O: Opera House – Multi-purpose entertaining venue on Sydney Harbour. A white building during festivities it is changed dramatically using lights.
Outback – The Outback is the large, remote, arid space that covers a Australia. Usually covered in red soil.
P: Platypus – Unique Australian mammal that looks like a cross between a duck and beaver. There are found in rivers but are very hard to spot. This concrete platypus is found in a park in an area they are found.
Plastic Banknotes – Invented by the CSIRO, making bank notes tougher and reducing their ability to be counterfeited. We were also the first country to have all notes changed from paper to plastic.
Powerboard -Invented in 1972 allows multiple electrical devices to be powered from one electrical socket.
Q:Quokka – Australian macropod about the size of a cat found on Rottnest Island off Perth. They are so cute and love to take a selfie with you.
Quoll – Carnivorous Australian marsupial first seen by Captain Cook in 1770.
Photo Credit: Wikipeadia
Queensland– Australian state north of New south Wales.
R: Rotary Clothes Hoist – Clothes line that raises and lowers as well as swings around in the wind. Growing up in Australia many backyards had them. I am fortunate I still have one as they dry your clothes quickly and effortlessly.
Photo Credit: Google
Rottnest Island – 18 kilometres off Perth, it is home to Quokkas, pristine beaches and world-class surf.
S: Sydney Harbour Bridge – The world’s largest steel arch bridge and connects Sydney to the north shore. When we lived in Sydney I travelled across it everyday on my way to work and never tired of the sight.
Surf Life Savers – Australians classics that keep our beaches safe by rescuing swimmers in difficulty. Drowning in the ocean are too common in Australia particularly in unpatrolled beaches.
Photo Credit: Google Images
Surf Ski – Australian invention to assist in saving lives see above photo
Speedos – Australian men’s swimmers—sometimes colloquially referred to as “budgie smugglers.”
Splayd – Australian invention that combines the spoon fork and knife
Spray-on Skin – Invented in 1999 by Professor Fiona Wood, this technology saved many lives after the 2002 Bali bombing.
T: Tim Tams – Iconic Arnott’s biscuits that involves two layers of chocolate biscuits joined together with chocolate cream and covered in chocolate.
U: Ugg Boots –Unisex sheep skin boot with fleece on the inside.
Uluru –Also known as Ayers Rock is a large sandstone rock in the Northern Territory.
Photo Credit: Google Images
Ultrasounds – Invented in Australia through work with the Department of Health.
V: Vegemite – Sandwich spread most Australians won’t travel without and most of the rest of the world try but find it very bitter.
Victoria – Southern State of Australia on the East Coast—Capital is Melbourne.
W: Wiggles – The original Wiggles —children’s entertainers—are Australian. The group which is now over 30 years old is the most popular children’s entertainers in the world. I can remember seeing them perform in the local shopping centre as they began their journey.
Photo Credit: Wiggles
Wine casks – Wine casks are an Australian invention to carry large amounts of wine in a plastic bladder with a simple pouring spout
Wi-Fi Hotspots – Wi Fi technology was invented in Australia through research at the CSIRO.
Winged Keel – First invented by Ben Lexcen for Australia II in the America’s Cup.
X: XXXX Beer – Famous brand of Queensland beer
Y: Yackandandah – Small tourist town near the New South Wales and Victorian border. It was the setting for the iconic Australian movie, Strange Bedfellows.
Z: Zeehan – Former silver and gold mining town in Tasmania
