Welcome to Life Images by Jill

Welcome to Life Images by Jill.........Stepping into the light and bringing together the images and stories of our world. I am a photographer, writer and multi-media artist.
Focussing mainly on Western Australia and Australia, I am seeking to preserve images and memories of the beautiful world in which we live and the people in it.

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Sunday, 26 January 2025

Australia Day 2025 - Aussie's invented that!

Hello dear readers. Welcome to the Australia Day edition. We celebrate Australia day on 26 January - but in true Aussie tradition - if the day comes on the weekend (like it does on Sunday this year), we declare a public holiday the next work day - ie Monday! Aussies love public holidays! 

To celebrate Australia Day I thought I would share with you a few things us Aussies invented. You might be surprised about some of them - I was.  

There has even been a song written about some them - written by Matt Scullion. So for the musical version click on the video - the words are below. 

We Invented That written by Matt Scullion 

Everybody knows we invented Iced VoVos
Lamingtons, Cherry Ripes, and Chiko Rolls
We're famous for the Hill's Hoist and the Speedos


We gave the world the ute, but I bet you didn't know - 
We came up with the wine cask, I love the way we think
It doubles as a pillow when you've had too much to drink

And see that little black box that survives every plant crash
We invented that
Some clever Aussie invented that.

Now we were only showing off with the dual-flush dunny
We saved the Mint a fortune with plastic coated money.

From the Esky to the stubby cooler, we don't muck around
We even gave expecting mums an early look with ultrasound.
Next time you're using Wi-Fi, you've got us to thank
Yeah, we've been on the front line since we built the armoured tank
From the selfie, to the surf ski, even Google Maps
We invented that
Some clever Aussie invented that

We saved lives with penicillin, with Aerogard we made a killing, 
They even put the AC in the power drill.
Mowed the competition over, with the two-stroke Victa mower
You'd think with all our accolades, we might have had our fill

But then we sailed into victory with the winged keel.
And with the Race-Cam put the lounge lizard behind the steering wheel
We were on the cutting edge with the Stay-Sharp knife
It was just a taste of things to come with Vegemite. 


We put a battery in a heart, what a great idea!

Even gave the hard of hearing a bionic ear.
From the Ugg boot to electric shears, it's an unknown fact
We invented that. 

It all started with the corks hanging from a swaggie's hat
Yeah, we invented that
Some clever Aussie invented that!

And wait there's more:

the boomerang - 10,000 years ago

Splayd - the Australian version of the spork - The splayd was created in 1943 in Sydney by William McArthur and was popular as a 1970's wedding gift. 
In my family it is our most used eating utensil - Great for eating one pot stir fries and spaghetti and dessert slices - anything really that doesn't require a knife! 

Powerboard - 1972

Prepaid Postage stamps - 1838

Worlds first feature-length film - 1906 

Roll-a-door garage door - 1956



On Boxing Day 1906, The Story of the Kelly Gang, opened at the Athenaeum Theatre in Melbourne. It was the first multi-reel, feature-length film ever produced in the world. See more here: National Museum of Australia

The Hills Hoist history is fascinating. It was developed in 1945 by South Australian Lance Hill, though the rotary clothes hoist design was created by another Australian, Gilbert Toyne, way back in 1911, who wanted a way to maximise the amount of clothesline space, but with less of a footprint. Australian seniors - The Hills Hoist

The Australian breakfast table wouldn't be complete without Vegemite. Made in Australia since 1923 - you can read more about Vegemite and it's history here - Vegemite.com   My hint to tasters new to Vegemite - only put a thin slather on your toast - especially delicious on fresh crusty bread with butter! And NEVER NEVER spread thick on burnt toast! 

The Happy Little Vegemite song which we all grew up with has recently had a remake - evidently Vegemite had over 10,000 audition applications! 


For more information and more amazing inventions that Aussies created - 

And whilst there is still some discussion about the day we should celebrate Australia Day - 26th January - it doesn't stop me celebrating everything that is wonderful about Australia - and my Australian heritage through my ancestors who came to Australia in the early days of the colony. 


This afternoon we went to see a wonderful heart warming true blue Aussie movie - Runt - if you haven't seen it, do yourself a favour and see it. You'll love it. 


Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
   

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.
Until then, enjoy your day...and make it as good as you can...


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Sunday, 19 January 2025

Midwest, Goldfields, Wildflower trundle - (final) Part 7 - Elachbutting & Beringbooding Rocks - Western Australia

 Hi everyone. I hope 2025 has started well for you. 

Last year I brought to you my Midwest, Goldfields, Wildflower Trundle which started in September - and I promised to bring you the last part. Finally here it is.

To recap here is the map - for part 7 we are on our homeward run, leaving Karalee Rock and heading to Elachbutting Rock and nearby Beringbooding Rock, before heading south through Bruce Rock where we stayed overnight at my nephew's farm, then back home to Bunbury. 


We only had 194km to drive from Karalee Rock to Elachbutting Rock, so we didn't rush in the morning, but were on the road by 9am, arriving at Elachbutting Rock around 1pm.  Located off Elachbutting Road in the Walyahmoning Nature Reserve, the rock is accessed via well maintained gravel roads. We stopped for morning tea at Southern Cross, on the Great Eastern Highway, and were able to empty our waste water put clean water into our caravan. We then travelled north through Bullfinch, then west along the Koorda Bullfinch Road, before turning north onto the Rabbit Proof Fence Road. 

Here are a few wildflowers we stopped to photograph on the way. Clockwise from top left - the first two are the tall Flame Grevillea (Grevillea excelsior), Bottlebrush Grevillea (Grevillea paradonxa) Tinsel Flower (Cyanostegia microphylla), I think one of the Melaleuca Honey Myrtles, and the yellow Popflower (Glischrocaryon aureum). 

It is easy to see why Elachbutting Rock got its name which is thought to mean “big thing standing” in the local indigenous language.  This prominent landmark is one of a number of granite outcrops that rise abruptly from the plains of the wheatbelt landscape. Unfortunately I don't have a photo of it taken from a distance - but you might be able to get an idea from this image. 

We easily found a spot to set up with some light shade in the free camping area located amongst natural bushland at the base of the eastern side of the rock, 1.8 kilometres from the park entrance. Visitors are requested to stay on the designated tracks. Watch for overhanging branches on the way in. 

A map at the entrance to the park shows the five kilometre one way track which winds around the rock and the location of the walking trail and physical features.

We hadn't camped here for a number of years, so it was good to visit again. There is plenty of space to set up, and more open areas further away from the rock, especially if you are setting up with a group. 

There are walking trails to explore. Not far from the park entrance is a 200 metre easy walk trail which leads to two rainbow coloured rock waves, similar to but smaller than Hyden’s famous Wave Rock, the 40 metre Monty’s Pass tunnel beneath a rock slide, and Kings Cave, a large acoustic cavern where you can create echoes by stamping your feet at either end. You might decided as we did, that wearing a fly net is a good idea when you are walking about exploring. 

A 4WD-only track takes you to the top of the rock where you will see spectacular 360 degree views of farmland to the west and mostly inaccessible virgin bushland to the east beyond the Vermin Proof Fence marking the edge of the north eastern wheatbelt.  

There is a rock cairn located on the rock’s highest point. Along the way you will see numerous gnamma holes  (rock depressions which collect water during rain) and huge rock slips and cracks which show the effects of the incredible forces of nature on the rock. You may also see Ornate Dragon Lizards (Ctenophurus Ornatus), scampering over and under rock crevices. Gnamma holes and water soaks were important sources of water for animals, Aboriginal people, explorers and early settlers. 

Below are a couple of photos taken by my husband - the Ornate Dragon Lizard and possibly the Brown Flycatcher. 

Located only 200 metres from the camping area is an old well which has five to six rows of dry wall stones above a clay or stone shaft. This well is typical of other wells in the area which were built to provide a water supply for settlers. 


And some more wildflowers from our wanders. I will attempt to identify some of them - starting clockwise from top left - possible on the the Teatrees, possibly one of the yellow Immortells or Waitzias, Tall Mulla Mulla just opening (Ptilotus exaltatus), Long tails Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus polystachyus), possibly Burrobunga (Olearia pimeleoides), possibly a yellow Immortelle variety, one of the pink everlastings varieties, I think the greeny one is one of the saltbush varieties, and in the middle a show of yellow immortells or waitzias. 


And in the rock gardens on the rock - clockwise from top left - spikey rock garden plants, lemon scented sun orchid, clown orchid, the red is either the one-sided bottlebrush or a clawflower, granite sun orchid, and the little laughing leek orchid. 


And at days end - there's plenty of time and space for a game of bocce, then after dinner sit by the fire and toast marshmallows and enjoy the peace and quiet under the night sky. 


It is only 20km from Elachbutting Rock to Beringbooding Rock, so we drove over for the morning. I wrote a blog post about Beringbooding Rock and water tank back in June. You can click on the link above to read more about it. 

Beringbooding Rock is dominated by a ten and a quarter million litre water tank built during 1937-38 for the farming community. It is the largest rock water catchment tank in Australia.  The concrete tank and catchment was built by sustenance labour, a scheme which provided employment during the Great Depression. Over the years the corrugated iron roof covering the concrete tank started to come adrift through age and strong winds, creating a safety hazard, and has now been removed. The shire is committed to funding a new roof. Please - no swimming - the water is not drinkable. 

The tank is fed by a seven hectare catchment area. Rock walls hewn from the rock itself encircle the rock and channel the rain water via a concrete aqueduct into the tank. These slabs were sledged away, stood on their sides and cemented together to form rock walls up to a metre high.

The picnic and small free camping area suitable for caravans and camper trailers is conveniently located at the base of the rock. They have built a new smaller water tank to service this.  

A 2.3 kilometre walk trail starts at the gate at the base of the tank and takes you over the rock to a variety of natural features. There are said to be cave paintings, but we have never found them - perhaps looking in the wrong place. 

I suggest you take a photo of the information map and allow a minimum of one and a half hours for your walk. The rock cairn at the highest point was erected in 1889 by surveyor and early explorer HS King.  You can enjoy 360 degree views over grain-growing farmland to the south and west, and virgin bushland to the north and east. 

One wonders how the rock you see above balances there, seemingly defying gravity. Below is the Kangaroo Pool and the Granite Kunzea (Kunzea pulchella) that grows there. 

And some more wildflowers - of course! Clockwise from top left - Long tails Mulla Mulla (Ptilotus polystachyus), Quandongs (Santalum acuminatum) (an edible fruit), Native Cornflower (Brunonia australis), Hop Bush (Dodonaea inaequifolia), possibly the Nodding Chocolate Lily (Dichopogan preissii), and lastly one of the small Fringe Lilies. 


If you are visiting Elachbutting and Beringbooding Rocks I would suggest you camp at Elachbutting. 

An eco wheelchair friendly toilet and a couple of picnic tables and fire rings are provided. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own firewood, take note of fire-ban months, and take their rubbish away. Pets and motorbikes are discouraged.  If you are camping you need to be self-sufficient with food, water and anything else you may want.  The camping area is suitable for caravans, camper trailers and tents, although caravaners need to be aware of overhanging branches along the track.

For more information:

Wheatbelt Tourism

Westonia Shire

To catch up on the rest of the tour - here are Links to our Midwest-Goldfields-Wheatbelt Trundle 2024. By the way - the campsites I have shown you on this tour are easy to get to on well made gravel roads. No hard off roading for us these days. 


You might also like - 

Wheatbelt Central - Bruce Rock Caravan Park

Beringbooding Rock water tank and catchment

Rock building blocks and water catchments

Camp food - Western Australian wheatbelt

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed my Western Australian Midwest, Goldfields, Wildflower trundle. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!


Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.
Until then, enjoy your day...and make it as good as you can....

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Sunday, 5 January 2025

Recap to 2024 - and wishing you a happy 2025

Hello dear readers, and welcome to my New Year edition. Another year has come and gone. I can't believe it is already 2025! It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating the dawn of 2000. Over those 25 years we retired, we lost our parents, our eldest son got married, and had two children, the eldest of whom has just completed Year 12 and going to university next year! How did that happen so fast? At times I feel that time is running out, and there is still so much to do! 

For today I am going to share a few highlights from 2024. If you would like to read the posts just click on the links to go back and take a look. 

In January we travelled to Albany on our south coast so I could attend an Advanced Botanical Eco-printing class with master printer Penny Jewell at Summer School. It doesn't look like I blogged about it, but I have blogged about eco-printing several times before. How far does the hand reach - The Peace Cloth (July 2019)

We attended the Chinese Lantern Festival for Chinese New Year and the Australia Day Fireworks. 


In February we were in the safety boat & on-water control for a dragon boat regatta (a great opportunity to take photos from the water), took photos at a triathlon, and took photos at the South West Multi-cultural Festival - a truly wonderful cultural event with music, dance and food. 


March was spent getting ready for a couple of art markets - The Tree Street Art Safari and the Dardanup Art Spectacular Art Trail


In April we watched our sons compete at the Australian Dragon Boat Championships in Perth, and I collected a photography prize at the Dardanup Art Spectacular, and had an enjoyable market weekend talking to lots of people. 


In April we commemorated Anzac Day and made our annual autumn visit to the Balingup Golden Valley tree park. 


Also in my April-May randoms I announced that my blog had been deemed worthy to be preserved by the National Library of Australia on their research site - Trove This was an unexpected and treasured honour and accolade for the work I have put into my blog which was selected as it was about Western Australia and written by a Western Australian author. And it was on a subject of social, political, cultural, religious, scientific or economic significance and relevance to Western Australia. 


In May I made Quince and Grape jam and revelled in having my blog recognised as worthy enough to be preserved on the National Library of Australia website - Trove. And I had a rather dismal attempt at photographing the Aurora Australias. 


In May I was excited to photograph Spoonbills along the Leschenault Estuary for the first time. 


Earlier in the year I was sorry to be told that the travel magazine, On The Road, which I had been writing for since 2010 was closing down. I was lucky to secure another small writing gig with Caravan World magazine. My first Side Tracks article for Caravan World was published in June. Beringbooding Rock water tank


In July my husband and I took a mini break in Nannup in our beautiful southwest, enjoying relaxing and bushwalking. I wrote two blog posts about it - 
Timberline Trail
Four Aces and One Tree Bridge


In August we visited the annual Blooming Art Exhibition at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery - hosted by the Bunbury Floral Designers Club. Always gorgeous. 

And did a city photography street walk with members from the Photography Group of Bunbury

In September we went on a 3 week wildflower, midwest and goldfields trundle. The links are in my intro post here - Wildflowers, midwest, goldfields trundle - intro. I still have one more post to share with you! 

October and November seemed to blur by - but I was runner up at the end of year awards for the Photography Group of Bunbury for points scored from our monthly exhibitions during the year. At the AGM I put my hand up to be secretary next year. And I had a market stall at the Stirling Street Art Centre - art in the garden market. 


My Gold awards for 2024

In December we had a couple of nights in our capital city, Perth, and visited the amazing Rone Exhibition at the Art Gallery of WA, and also visited the Museum and the botanic gardens at Kings Park. 


In the last few weeks I have had friends loose a loved one, so I think of them as they start the new year without them. 

Also, here are a couple of my most enjoyed books from my 2024 reading list - (for my complete reading list go to the Reading List tab)

The Librarians of Rue de Picardie - by Janet Skeslien Charles - also published as Miss Morgan's Book Brigade

So that's it for my little look-back on 2024. I wish you and yours a safe and happy 2025, with new adventures, new inspirations, and plenty to make you smile and give thanks. And I pray for peace around the world. Who knows where 2025 will take us - as Doc from Back to the Future movie says - our future is not written yet, so make it a good one. 

Hoya in my garden
Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!
   

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