Storms over Melbourne

Sky over Malvern 25th Feb 2006- shortly after this cloud arrived the deluge began! Mid afternoon in summer.

"Punch and Judy" theatre for pre-school kids.

At Wheelers Hill- home made fun for kids. For a real Punch and Judy show we needed at least Punch and his wife, Judy and the Policeman and a baby. Also best with a gauze screen for the "puppeteer" to hide behind. See more about this traditional kids entertainment Punch and Judy pictures and script

Beaches on the Western Coast of Westernport, Mornington Peninsula

Balnarring - bush up to the sand.

Frankston Beach

McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park Frankston

Fabulous flowers from Dame Elizabeth Murdoch's garden for the opening. Black steel sculptures by Inga King. This world class gallery in only 40 minutes from Burwood. It is a spacious outdoor gallery for sculpture set amongst natural but landscaped bush. It holds interesting very high quality sculpture exhibitions. Web site HERE

Torquay Surf Coast Victoria

Geelong Harbour. The sundial at the far eastern end of Torquay beach foreshore in a howling gale. Windswept cyprus trees Torquay. Windsufers and kite boarders Torquay Cliff top view over Jan Juc surf coast.

Tarra Warra Art Gallery and vineyards Yarra Valley

Rainbow Lorikeets in Melbourne on red flowering gumtree

Kangaroos in the outskirts of Melbourne - Churchill Park

Wildlife in Melbourne Suburbs- a Mopoke ?

These are pictures of a Tawny Frogmouth [which I grew up calling a Mopoke -perhaps not one?]. They are members of the nightjar family, and are more closely related to kookaburras and kingfishers than to owls. They eat insects, worms, slugs and snails, small mammals, reptiles, frogs and birds. Their eyes face sideways not the front like an owl. They are not found in Tasmania or desert country. This bird was very accustomed to humans and this photowas taken in May 2005 about 200 meters from Gardiners Creek. I never saw one in the city before. As a kid I saw them in the bush around Lysterfield Resevoir but I never saw another until this one. I have not seen him since. Photo taken at dusk. I have heard he lives in a tree in the next street - much closer to the creek. Paperbark Titree that could hide a frogmouth - lots like this are near where this bird was sitting.

Dying - Choices Please!

A great blog that discusses the rights of a teminally ill person to die the way of their choice. here

Frederick William PEERS Liverpool to Melbourne 1852 - Grimes Hunter Dunn

"Fred W Peers" stockbroker, Sketch by Lionel Lindsay, 1896 Melbourne newspaper "Free Lance" . Frederick William Peers who owned a large property on the Dandenong Road, Caulfield, Melbourne. He was born 19th March 1842 West Derby, Lancashire, England, the son of William Hunter Peers cotton broker of Liverpool and Janet Grimes born 1792 Scotland. William Hunter Peers was the son of John Peers and Mary Hunter,and he died 8th May 1863,Motshaven, New York, 1863. Frederick William Peers arrived in Melbourne with his mother; elder brother John Grimes Peers, (1841 Liverpool England -1896 Bairnsdale, Vic) sister Janet Alice Peers [1843 Liverpool Eng. - 1917 Vic) Charles Harley Peers (1844-1853). Frederick Peers married Margaret Henrietta DUNN in 1867 at Carlton, Vic. They had 11 children. More information on them and his parents too at web site http://www.geocities.ws/jumeau_overflow/peers.html .

Elwood Beach Melbourne

Kite Boarding in a gale at Brighton Beach, Melbourne

Art Deco -Sandringham Harbour - fishing boats and Pelican

Art Deco Style house with newer extension top story in keeping with the sytle, North Road, Clayton.