Facts about Australia.
ANZAC Day
ANZAC Day is commemorated by the Australians and New Zealanders every year on the 25th April, to remember the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp (ANZAC), who fought at Gallipoli, in Turkey during WW1.
Now it commemorates those that have served and died in all military operations for their country.
Simpson and His Donkey.
Jack Simpson Kirkpatrick was born in 1892 in the north east of England.
As a child he would work as a donkey-lad during his summer holidays.
He had a great affinity with animals, in particularly donkeys.
When he heard about the war with Germany, he deserted ship in Australia. Fearing a deserter would not be accepted into the Australian army he dropped Kirkpatrick from his name and became John Simpson.
Jack was accepted into the army and chosen as a field ambulance stretcher bearer. As only strong men were given this job, it appears his years as a stoker in the Marine Corp served him well.
On the 25th of April, 1915, he, along with the rest of the Australian and New Zealand contingent landed at, what is now known as, ANZAC COVE, Gallipoli.
While Jack was carrying casualties back to the beach over his shoulders he saw a donkey.
From then on he became part of the scene at Gallipoli, walking fearlessly next to the donkey, holding on to his wounded passengers.
On the 19th of May he was hit by a machine gun bullet in the back.
In the 24 days between 25th April and 19th May he rescued over 300 men and became one of Australia's most famous and best loved military hero.
I will be putting more facts about Australia and her animals, and maybe some of our strange slang and rhyming slang, on this page.
Port River Dolphins of Adelaide, South Australia.
Bottle nosed Dolphins.
We have over 300 dolphins who visit the Port River regularly and over 30 who have taken up permanent residency. It is the only place in the world where wild dolphins live within an urban area. They each have a name.
Billie used to swim with the race horses.
Hilo was one of two dolphins shot dead.
Jock died and the autopsy found he had high levels of pollutants in his system.
There has been many deaths and injuries caused be humans, shooting, stabbings and being speared as well as boat strikes and entanglements.
Motorised vessels must slow down to 5 knots if they are within 150 metres of a dolphin.
The Port River system is now a dolphin sanctuary, regularly patrolled by government rangers, and the dolphins are protected. Everything possible is done to clean up the Port River of any pollutants from industry, and anyone caught harming the dolphins is prosecuted.
The sanctuary is 118 sq. km.
Our dolphins are unique. Not only do they live among us but they are also the only wild dolphins in the world that tail walk regularly.
Billie was a master at this and she has taught the rest of the dolphins well.Sadly she is no longer with us.
Wave has been known to do over 60 walks a day.
Tail walking is not natural for a dolphin to do, so this makes ours even more unique.
Thankfully there are many volunteers who help keep our beautiful and unique dolphins safe and everything is being done to clean up the river. But there is still a lot of work ahead of them.
One of our dolphins tail walking
Billie swimming with a race horse.
After writing about our Port River Dolphins, I received a gentle reminder from one of our Western Australian neighbours that they, to, have their own dolphins.
For a one on one interaction with these loveable creature, the best places to go are Rockingham, Mandurah, Bunbury or Monkey Mia where you can experience the thrill of swimming with them.
But no-one can enter the water if the animals are mating, feeding or if they have their young with them. Minimal impact is of crucial importance.
HMS Buffalo
The "Hindostan" was built of teak in Calcutta, India, in 1813.On the 13th October, 1813, she arrived in London, England.
She was renamed, by the Navy Board, "HMS Buffalo" and employed as a store ship.Her figurehead was a water buffalo.
The "Buffalo" became a ship of many uses.
In 1831 she was refitted as a timber carrier to carry spars from New Zealand.
In January, 1833 she became a convict ship. In May 1833 she carried a cargo of 180 female convicts to Australia.
She became an important ship in the maritime history of South Australia, serving as a quarantine, transport and colonisation ship.She also aided the British expansion into New Zealand,New South Wales, Tasmania and Upper Canada.
The "Buffalo" sailed from Portsmouth, England, on the 23rd July, 1836,and arrived in South Australian waters in December the same year.She had on board 176 colonists including Captain John Hindmarsh who became the first governor of South Australia.
South Australia was proclaimed a colony on the 28th December, 1836.
A replica of the "Buffalo" is moored at the Patawalonga River, Glenelg (a beach side suburb), and now is used as a restaurant with historic tours held of the ship held after dining.
Despite the bad medical practices of that period and the volume of passengers she carried,only 3 deaths were ever recorded. A remarkable achievement.
In 1839 she was fitted as a timber carrier again. On July, 1840, she was wrecked by a storm while anchored in Mercury Bay, Whitianga, New Zealand.
She was torn from her cables during a gale and washed ashore to become a total wreck.
The "HMS Buffalo" wreck is still visible at Buffalo Bay, Whitianga,from the air at low tide and in clear water conditions.
"HMS Buffalo"-1813 model.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is observed in Australia to remember those of the armed forces those that have died in the line of duty since World War1.
It is observed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the official date of the ending of the war in 1918.
The red poppy has become the official symbol of Remembrance Day because of the poem "In Flanders Field".
These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in WW1.
Their red colour is an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled.
It is not a public holiday, but most institutions observe a minutes silence at 11am in memory of those who have died for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflict.
ANZAC Day is commemorated by the Australians and New Zealanders every year on the 25th April, to remember the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corp (ANZAC), who fought at Gallipoli, in Turkey during WW1.
Now it commemorates those that have served and died in all military operations for their country.
Simpson and His Donkey.
Jack Simpson Kirkpatrick was born in 1892 in the north east of England.
As a child he would work as a donkey-lad during his summer holidays.
He had a great affinity with animals, in particularly donkeys.
When he heard about the war with Germany, he deserted ship in Australia. Fearing a deserter would not be accepted into the Australian army he dropped Kirkpatrick from his name and became John Simpson.
Jack was accepted into the army and chosen as a field ambulance stretcher bearer. As only strong men were given this job, it appears his years as a stoker in the Marine Corp served him well.
On the 25th of April, 1915, he, along with the rest of the Australian and New Zealand contingent landed at, what is now known as, ANZAC COVE, Gallipoli.
While Jack was carrying casualties back to the beach over his shoulders he saw a donkey.
From then on he became part of the scene at Gallipoli, walking fearlessly next to the donkey, holding on to his wounded passengers.
On the 19th of May he was hit by a machine gun bullet in the back.
In the 24 days between 25th April and 19th May he rescued over 300 men and became one of Australia's most famous and best loved military hero.
I will be putting more facts about Australia and her animals, and maybe some of our strange slang and rhyming slang, on this page.
Port River Dolphins of Adelaide, South Australia.
Bottle nosed Dolphins.
We have over 300 dolphins who visit the Port River regularly and over 30 who have taken up permanent residency. It is the only place in the world where wild dolphins live within an urban area. They each have a name.
Billie used to swim with the race horses.
Hilo was one of two dolphins shot dead.
Jock died and the autopsy found he had high levels of pollutants in his system.
There has been many deaths and injuries caused be humans, shooting, stabbings and being speared as well as boat strikes and entanglements.
Motorised vessels must slow down to 5 knots if they are within 150 metres of a dolphin.
The Port River system is now a dolphin sanctuary, regularly patrolled by government rangers, and the dolphins are protected. Everything possible is done to clean up the Port River of any pollutants from industry, and anyone caught harming the dolphins is prosecuted.
The sanctuary is 118 sq. km.
Our dolphins are unique. Not only do they live among us but they are also the only wild dolphins in the world that tail walk regularly.
Billie was a master at this and she has taught the rest of the dolphins well.Sadly she is no longer with us.
Wave has been known to do over 60 walks a day.
Tail walking is not natural for a dolphin to do, so this makes ours even more unique.
Thankfully there are many volunteers who help keep our beautiful and unique dolphins safe and everything is being done to clean up the river. But there is still a lot of work ahead of them.
One of our dolphins tail walking
Billie swimming with a race horse.
After writing about our Port River Dolphins, I received a gentle reminder from one of our Western Australian neighbours that they, to, have their own dolphins.
For a one on one interaction with these loveable creature, the best places to go are Rockingham, Mandurah, Bunbury or Monkey Mia where you can experience the thrill of swimming with them.
But no-one can enter the water if the animals are mating, feeding or if they have their young with them. Minimal impact is of crucial importance.
HMS Buffalo
The "Hindostan" was built of teak in Calcutta, India, in 1813.On the 13th October, 1813, she arrived in London, England.
She was renamed, by the Navy Board, "HMS Buffalo" and employed as a store ship.Her figurehead was a water buffalo.
The "Buffalo" became a ship of many uses.
In 1831 she was refitted as a timber carrier to carry spars from New Zealand.
In January, 1833 she became a convict ship. In May 1833 she carried a cargo of 180 female convicts to Australia.
She became an important ship in the maritime history of South Australia, serving as a quarantine, transport and colonisation ship.She also aided the British expansion into New Zealand,New South Wales, Tasmania and Upper Canada.
The "Buffalo" sailed from Portsmouth, England, on the 23rd July, 1836,and arrived in South Australian waters in December the same year.She had on board 176 colonists including Captain John Hindmarsh who became the first governor of South Australia.
South Australia was proclaimed a colony on the 28th December, 1836.
A replica of the "Buffalo" is moored at the Patawalonga River, Glenelg (a beach side suburb), and now is used as a restaurant with historic tours held of the ship held after dining.
Despite the bad medical practices of that period and the volume of passengers she carried,only 3 deaths were ever recorded. A remarkable achievement.
In 1839 she was fitted as a timber carrier again. On July, 1840, she was wrecked by a storm while anchored in Mercury Bay, Whitianga, New Zealand.
She was torn from her cables during a gale and washed ashore to become a total wreck.
The "HMS Buffalo" wreck is still visible at Buffalo Bay, Whitianga,from the air at low tide and in clear water conditions.
"HMS Buffalo"-1813 model.
Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day is observed in Australia to remember those of the armed forces those that have died in the line of duty since World War1.
It is observed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the official date of the ending of the war in 1918.
The red poppy has become the official symbol of Remembrance Day because of the poem "In Flanders Field".
These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in WW1.
Their red colour is an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled.
It is not a public holiday, but most institutions observe a minutes silence at 11am in memory of those who have died for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflict.