Easter in Whyalla

We spent Easter in Whyalla this year.  Whyalla hosts the Australian Snapper Fishing Competition every Easter.  There were plenty of people fishing.  The trailer park was full to overflowing and boats were in and out of the marina all day.

There were some other "fishers" on the scene as well, but they were after smaller prey.

I managed to get out into the arid land NW of Whyalla, but the birds weren't at all co-operative. I managed shots of Singing Honeyeater and Southern Whiteface, but both are heavily cropped.

At least this Shingleback couldn't fly away when I got my camera out!

ANZAC Day 2014

Today is ANZAC Day, the 99th anniversary of the ANZACs landing at Gallipoli in Turkey early in the First World War. All over Australia and New Zealand, (and indeed all over the world), this day is commemorated with dawn services and parades.

We went to the parade in Adelaide this morning.  The crowd gathered early, eager to pay their respect to soldiers, sailors and airmen young, old, and departed.  Some made signs, others waved flags, but all cheered and clapped.

The parade was led by the Australian Mounted Police, the Colour Party and the army band.

There were some military vehicles throughout the parade, but everyone was really here to thank the veterans.  How proud they were, marching with their comrades, in perfect time with the marching bands.

Bringing up the rear was a contingent of the Australian Army, recently returned from Afghanistan, and a historical depiction of the South Australian Light Horse, a regiment that took part in the landing that fateful day in 1915.

 They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Lest we forget

AFL - Port Power vs Brisbane Lions

I have been a bit lax with posting to my blog recently.  Hopefully things will improve!!

Last weekend we went to watch my AFL team, Port Power take on Brisbane Lions at the newly redeveloped Adelaide Oval. As most of my followers are not from Australia, I will try and explain some of the intricacies of Australian Rules Football as we go along.

Brisbane Lions won the toss and elected to kick right to left in the first quarter.

To begin the game, the umpire bounces the ball, and two players jump to pass the ball to a team mate. Also, during the game the ball is tossed up to restart play.

Players can pass the ball by a "handball", they can carry the ball up to 15 metres, and they can kick the ball to a team mate.

There are 4 posts at each end of the oval, and you score a goal (worth 6 points) if you kick the ball between the middle posts and a behind (worth 1 point) if it goes between the outer posts

During the fourth quarter, Port passed the hundred point lead to eventually win by 113 points, which really got the crowd going!