Monthly Archives: December 2011

The Joys of Summer

Posted on December 29, 2011 by dazzlerplus

I’m sometimes asked about travel to the Outback in summer. The Australian summer is December to February. I don’t normally go Outback between mid-November and mid-March, because it’s just too hot. Here are some average daily maximum temperatures for the … Continue reading →

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Baby Kookas

Posted on December 21, 2011 by dazzlerplus

Although kookaburras are not normally found in the Outback, I can’t resist sharing with you this picture of baby kookaburras from a recent edition of the Sydney Morning Herald: They’re certainly cute, and their mother no doubt thinks they’re exquisitely … Continue reading →

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Birdsville Museum Closes

Posted on December 18, 2011 by dazzlerplus

Birdsville’s remarkable Working Museum closed last September. See http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-09-20/birdsvilles-working-museum-closes/2907730. It housed an amazing and eclectic collection of all manner of machines and artifacts from Australia’s rural past, and was a “must see” item for visitors to Birdsville, one of Australia’s … Continue reading →

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How to get there: Cordillo Downs

Posted on December 15, 2011 by dazzlerplus

Reader Joe has suggested that it would be helpful to have instructions on “how the get there” for some of the out-of-the-way places mentioned in the Newsletter. Fair enough, Joe! So here’s the first one: Cordillo Downs. But first a … Continue reading →

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The Washerwoman’s Dream

Posted on December 10, 2011 by dazzlerplus

A friend recently lent me a copy of “The Washerwoman’s Dream” by Hilarie Lindsay. I enjoyed it so much I bought myself a copy. It’s the story of an English girl, Winifred Oaten, who migrated to Australia with her father in … Continue reading →

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Shearing Shed Memories

Posted on December 9, 2011 by dazzlerplus

Reader Anne found that the article about shearing brought back memories for her: “I was working for a local shearing and mulesing team in 1983. We became a ‘scab’ team as we continued to service the local properties affected by … Continue reading →

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More Shearing Terms

Posted on December 4, 2011 by dazzlerplus

Newsletter #48 (November 2011) contained an article about shearers. Here are some more terms used by shearers: Baitlayer: Shearers’ cook, also known as “babbling brook” or “water burner”. Bluey: Bundle of possessions (usually wrapped in a blanket), swag, or matilda, … Continue reading →

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