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Plovers have returned to the area and seemed to have survived the domestic cats and foxes so far - I hope the young ducks manage to survive too. In some areas of Australia at this time of the year the flowering wattle trees flank the highways and roads. It's a magnificent site and a welcome addition of colour to our green landscape. If you don't suffer from allergies this is a good time to experience all the different fragrances that only nature can conjure up. Just imagine how hard it must be for bees to choose a flower from the smorgasbord laid out by nature. In N.S.W. the statutory Bush Fire Danger Period is from the 1st of October to the 31st of March and fire Permits are required to light fires during this time. Depending on local weather and fire conditions this can vary. To be absolutely sure check where fire permits are required and remember no matter what the season, the devastation that an out of control bushfire can cause is horrific and cruel. The NSW Rural Fire Service has some good information that could help protect you, your family and friends or someone else from injury or death.
If you see anything that's not right remember to phone Crime Stoppers from anywhere in Australia. Help make Australia a better place to live. The mighty "Zuki" has been replaced by the latest version of the "never die, go any where" machine. We now have a Suzuki Jimny JLX 1.3L fuel injected 5 speed manual.The new Jimny goes very well for a stock standard vehicle from a Dealership. If you rev the engine out to its maximum torque figure of 4100 rpm and beyond by a few hundred revs in 4th gear, you'll hopefully be as surprised as the drivers of the more powerful vehicles are that I cruise past going up those long hills on the freeways. The key to its performance is in keeping the engine revving. Down at low revs it's a slug and slow to accelerate, which can be dangerous in aggressive traffic and a nuisance off road 4wding. The factory air conditioning won't come down past 8 to 9 degrees Celsius which isn't good enough for the hot temperatures we get in Australia. The more normal 4 degrees Celsius would have been better and more comfortable. Camping in the Great Outdoors is one of those Australian
hobbies that can be very rewarding and rejuvenating. We're fortunate in
that there isn't a land based Australian animal that likes to eat
humans.
Although the bites of some of our snakes (Taipan) and spiders (Funnel
web) are poison and can be fatal.
In the oceans of northern Australia from Gladstone in Queensland to Broome in Western Australia lives the Box Jellyfish. This Australian animal is one of the most dangerous and poisonous in the world. The Australian Venom Research Unit at the University Of Melbourne has excellent information and pictures on the Taipan, Funnel Web Spider and Box Jellyfish. It also has an index for you to check what other Australian animal has a bite or sting that is poison and how to apply FIRST AID for each different bite or sting. Remember to DIAL 000 in AUSTRALIA for EMERGENCIES.
Spring
time in Australia is daisy time. The ground is turned to bright yellow
as the daisies come into flower. Do you remember as a kid making daisy
chains by putting a hole in the stem with your thumb or finger nail and
joining the daisies together? Perhaps you plucked the leaves off one at
a time and played love me and love me not in the hope of knowing your
romantic future?
Little Daisies One of the easiest ways to experience what Great Outdoors Australia has to offer is to walk - and it doesn't have to be far. It could be just outside of your house and if it's night time and the weather is clear, the sparkling star filled sky can look so big and so beautiful. If you breathe in the fresh, crisp, invigorating night air you would be experiencing Great Outdoors Australia in a time honoured way. Or perhaps you enjoy driving 4x4s off road along bush tracks. Or the excitement of 4x4 beach driving under the light of the full moon that Australia is famous for, as you experience the overwhelming sheer enormity of night turned into day. For those of us that are lucky enough not to be disabled or
incapacitated think about our disabled friends and how we can help them
to experience Great Outdoors Australia. For there are as many
wonderful ways to experience Great Outdoors Australia as there are
people in the world and with that, let us now begin our journey
into the past, present and future.  
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