The Grampians, Victoria

The Balconies

Mount Sturgeon and Mount Abrupt

Driving back to Dunkeld


Boroka lookout


Falls Gap



Dunkeld

This part of Victoria still in terrible drought



Looking down on Falls Gap

The Grampians National Park is a very special place and not to be missed. There are 167,000 acres of interesting rock architecture, spectacular mountains and beautiful views everywhere you look. The air today was crisp, around 8C, perfect for a 2 kms return walk to The Balconies.

Warrnambool, Victoria

They call it the Shipwreck Coast and I can understand why after two days of gale force winds and high seas here in Warrnambool. Eight hundred shipwrecks occurred along the Victorian coast since 1797 and fewer than 200 of these wrecks have actually been found. All shipwrecks over 75 years of age are protected by State and Commonwealth historic laws.

In 1905 La Bella was approaching Warrnambool and was thown on its side into huge breakers then onto a submerged reef just south of the Warrnambool breakwater. The sea was so fierce that it wrenched a one and a half ton anchor from its moorings and flung it into the ocean.

Several attempts to rescue the anxious crew were made but the sea was so huge, the lifeboat crew couldn't get close enough and had to come back to shore. Onlookers had to watch helplessly in the moonlight as the men slowly succumbed to the cold and fatigue and were washed overboard.

Back on shore the lifeboat crews could see that the La Bella was breaking up and they made a desperate last attempt to rescue the five terrified sailors still left on board. A young local fisherman William Ferrier in his small dinghy also went out to help but both boats couldn't get close enough. Just then, the captain and another man jumped overboard and Ferrier picked them up. The captain indicated to the men left behind to do the same, two sailors took a chance and jumped, leaving one terrified man behind and both boats headed back to shore.

Ten hours had passed and the weather had eased slightly and William Ferrier decided to go back for the last sailor. He managed to get the man into his boat just before the La Bella broke up and sank.

William became a national hero and received a medal for bravery and was honoured by the Governor and Prime Minister.

For diving enthusiasts the La Bella is considered to be a spectacular dive. It lies on its port side in 13 meters of water, 300 meters southeast of the end of the Warrnambool breakwater.

Anzac Day in Warrnambool, Victoria

Today, Anzac Day, marks the 94th anniversary of the first landings of The Australian and New Zealand Army Corp (ANZAC) on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey during the first world war in 1915.

When we see the official statistics, we know it was utter madness, sending thousands of men to a certain death. About 480,000 Allied troops took part in the Gallipoli campaign. The British had 205,000 casualties (43,000 killed). There were more than 33,600 ANZAC casualties (8,700 killed) and 47,000 French casualties (5,000 killed). Turkish casualties are estimated at 250,000 (65,000 killed).

It may seem strange to some people that we choose to commemorate a bloody defeat, but it was the first time our country went into battle as Australians and not as an appendage to the British, and the courage shown by our diggers against impossible odds, is revered and appreciated.

And every year, on the 25th April, we remember and honour them.

Lest we forget.

The Twelve Apostles, Victoria

Huge rock stacks rise majestically from the Southern Ocean and are the central feature of the rugged Port Campbell National Park. And on a cold and rainy day like today, with no sunshine to pick up the beautiful colours of the limestone, they still look absolsutely magnificent.

Cape Otway Lighthouse, Victoria

View from the top

Old Telegraph Station, circa 1859

Sleeping koala

On the road into the lighthouse, keep looking up into the gum trees, there are an abundance of koalas in this area.

Henry Bales Ford lived here in this remote, isolated spot for 30 years (1848 to 1878). There is a small plaque which commemorates his long service and includes the words of Henry Bales himself "There is no record of any failing of the light since it has been in my charge".

Apollo Bay, Victoria

Smoke haze still hanging around

Looking west

Looking east

Town Centre

Barham River

On the 16th and 17th of May, the Great Ocean Road 2009 Marathon will be on again in Apollo Bay and this year there will be exactly 50 runners from eleven countries, namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Japan, England, New Zealand, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Denmark and the USA. Prize money and prizes is valued at $50,000.

Two-time Olympian Chris Wardlaw will run for the first time and has come out of retirement to do it. "It's a beautiful run and I've spent a bit of time down there in my youth, so I thought what a wonderful way to spend a Sunday morning," Wardlaw said.

A beautiful run indeed, as Steve Moneghetti once said, it's worth doing it just for the views.

Cape Patton, Victoria

The Cape Patton cliffs, some of the highest in Victoria are embedded with 106 million year old dinosaur bones in the rock layers of sandstone, siltstone and mudstone.

The faint blue haze on the horizon is from the 'controlled burning' being performed by councils up and down the Great Ocean Road, the smoke has been hanging around for days.

The Pole House, Victoria

The pole house at Fairhaven Beach on the Great Ocean Road, is probably one of the most photographed houses in Australia.

Lorne, Victoria

Lorne is another example of how a clever little town can attract thousands of tourists every year and it all centres around being fit. The Pier to Pub Swim is held in January and this year attracted 4,300 competitors and at $50 entrance fee, that's not bad going. It's the largest organised swimming race in the world - gold medal winner Kieran Perkins is one of the previous winners. There is also the Mountain to Surf run held the day before, the Great Ocean Road Marathon is on in May and the Anaconda Adventure Race is held in December. For rock concert fans, The Falls Festival is on every New Year's Eve.

Lorne has the friendly feel of a small seaside village with lots of places to eat and beautiful scenery.

Anglesea, Victoria

Kangaroos on Anglesea Golf Course

Anglesea Beach

Where the river meets the sea

Interesting Rocks

Bells Beach, Victoria

Bells Beach in the distance

Where the action happens

Joel Parkinson

The Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach is Australia's longest running and most prestigious professional surfing event. The surf is flat here today but last week this place was packed with surfing fans from all over the world. Winner, Aussie Joel Parkinson said "There is not another trophy in surfing that holds the prestige and honour list that this has. To be back on the trophy again and to hold it for a year is going to be amazing".

Torquay, Victoria

Looking south

and looking north

The Great Ocean Road officially starts at Torquay and finishes at Allansford where it joins the Princes Highway near Warrnambool. You can do the journey in about 3 and a half hours (243 kilometres) but I hope to take it slowly and enjoy the views.

Geelong Waterfront, Victoria

Artist Jan Mitchell

Cunningham Pier from the front

and from the side

Parisien Seafood Restaurant

Outside the fully restored American Armitage-Herschell Carousel, circa 1892

and inside

ARTIST Jan Mitchell died last year, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer, aged 68.

She was responsible for the design and creation of 111 Baywalk Bollards and asked her three sons to maintain and look after the work she created so they will remain a permanent part of the Geelong waterfront.

Geelong, Victoria

On 30th January 1856, William Buckley walked along a sandy beach the Wathaurong people called 'Kooraioo', an area now known as the Geelong Waterfront. He was an imposing figure, 6ft 6in tall, bricklayer and ex soldier and was called the Wild White Man because he lived with the local Wada wurrung balug (Barrobool) and Bengalat bulluk (Indented Head) clans for thirty two years.

In England in 1802 he was convicted of being in possession of stolen goods, in this case a bolt of cloth, and was sentenced to transportation to Australia for life. He was taken to Port Phillip in Victoria and in April 1803 he and two friends escaped from the camp into the Victorian wilderness. Exhausted and hungry, his two friends decided to head back and were never seen again. Buckley soldiered on alone and was barely alive when he was found and taken in by a tribe of Aborigines who believed this tall white man with flaming red hair was the reincarnation of a revered member of their tribe. He took a wife, had a child and stayed with them for thirty two years.


Buckley said he saw white visitors come to Port Phillip many times over the years but he never came forward. Then he heard that the natives were plotting to murder the white men so in 1835, to prevent certain bloodshed, he surrended to a party under John Wedge at Indented Head. He had forgotton how to speak English but was identified by his initials 'WB' tattooed on his arm.


Wedge could see that Buckley would be a great help in negotiating with the natives so he obtained his pardon from Lieutenant-Governor Sir George Arthur and he went on to become Government Interpreter. However, the job became uncomfortable because the white men with influence didn't trust him and the natives didn't either so he left and went to Hobart Town.


In 1837 William Buckley assisted Geelong Police Magistrate to assemble the Koories within a radius of 30 kms of Geelong and 297 men, women and children were counted. When William Buckley died in 1856, there were less than 20 natives left.


When we say "He's got Buckley's" we mean it's very unlikely or there is no chance at all. I'm not sure if I understand how it relates to Buckley. Why did people think he had no chance? He managed to stay alive in the wilderness for 32 years, lived to a ripe old age and went on to receive a good pension when he retired, I'd say he was a pretty lucky man.

The Spirit of the Sea, Tasmania

The Spirit of the Sea was created by Aden and Corina McLeod and sits proudly on the Devonport waterfront. Facing the mountains, it represents the connection between man, the sea and the land.

The project was officially opened on 1st March 2009.

Goodbye Tassie, thanks for the memories.

Mount Roland, Tasmania

The little town of Sheffield

and their beautiful mountain