Back to the Nation's Capital

I am just beginning my final term teaching here in Bendigo, which means that I just finished my final term break.  I spent my last holidays back up in the Canberra and Sydney during an enjoyable break with family.

Whilst this meant we did not get a chance to jet-set over to Western Australia and visit the State whose economy is a good reflection of what we have in Alberta it didn’t mean that we wouldn’t have our share of excitement.

On one of our first days in Canberra we visited Floriade, which is kind of like the “Tulip Festival” in Ottawa, except that it is contained all in one area.  We enjoyed a lovely afternoon of warm temperatures, sunshine and some quite spectacular spring-blooming flowers.  It was as we were leaving that the real excitement started.

It seems that some guy had stolen a 10-metre construction vehicle and took it for a joyride around parliament.  He drove it the length of the city centre weaving around cars and onto the sidewalks, narrowly avoiding pedestrians (namely us!).  Check out the story here. (Disclaimer: when they state “narrowly” we were much, much closer to being hit by the cars on the road we were waiting to cross than the hijacked truck.  In fact, it is a bit like saying January 3^rd is just narrowly away from Jan 6^th.  Sure but there are few things that are closer)

After the excitement of almost getting run over we decided to lie low for a few days before heading up to Sydney where it has been a scorcher of a spring, recording temperatures in the low 30s.  New South Wales is also witnessing a barrage of bush fires unlike anything that anyone can remember this early out of winter.

While we were not surrounded by any blazes, the warm temperatures did allow us to wander around by the water and gave our eldest daughter some quality trampoline time with her cousins.

The other thing we were able to do while on vacation is enjoy the "bush" in the city's moniker of "Canberra the bush capital".  It being the spring and "joey" season my daughter and I blissfully went on walks around 6:30 am around the neighbourhood spotting the local kangaroo population out with their new additions or fighting amongst each other.

We also introduced our daughter to some of the snakes that can be found down under.  She has learned that if she sees a snake she is to "Stop" and yell "Danger!" because "the snake bites Am's toe, ouch.  That's silly."  A lesson I did not go to great lengths reinforcing as I jumped out of the car to pursue a brown snake for photos, a la Steve Irwin.  Lucky I was also wearing thongs (on my feet, not my person) and shorts the prime attire for being bitten so all in all if she questions me about it in the future I can explain that I was merely displaying the exact opposite of appropriate snake behaviour.

Ambriya attempting Parsel-tongue

Brown Snake

How to be a Children's Author in 10 Easy Steps

Today at school my class was visited by Australian children’s author Justin D’Ath.  He, whilst probably unknown to North American audiences, is quite famous down under, with over 40 books published.  He gave the class writing tips and spoke about his journey from seminary student to author via a 2 ½ year motorcycle trip around Australia.

One of the things that writing this blog has made me realize is that everyone has a story to tell and it is those little life experiences that we have whose sums make us who we are.  Justin’s story just reinforced this notion and it was amazing how a well told story, regardless of how insignificant it may seem, can hold an audience captive.

Justin went on to read excerpts from his books, give the kids feedback on their writing, answer questions and tell them some more stories about the inspiration behind his books.

My, poorly, summarized outline of Justin’s steps to be a children’s author

1.     Go to school, it doesn’t matter for what, just go learn

2.     Decide that what you are learning isn’t for you

3.     Travel

4.     Go to the library, frequently

5.     Start writing, it doesn’t matter what - comics, articles, etc…

6.     Get published

7.     Imagine (what if…?)

8.     Use these questions as an inspiration for your stories

9.     Work hard (probably harder than you think)

10.  Presto!  You are an author.

For a better outline of the author, his works and background, as well as contact details for what would probably be better guidelines visit: http://www.justindath.com/main.html

The light at the end of the tunnel

Well, it is finally coming to the end of a busy (and wet) winter here in Bendigo.  While it is true that winters back in Calgary can be, and usually are, freezing and snow-filled part of me would much rather accept living in that than the cold, wet, grey days I have experienced in Bendigo over the past two months.

Now don’t get me wrong, there is not a lot I find enjoyable about a nose hair freezing, bone chilling -45 ^oC , but it can be quite beautiful staring out at a freshly snow covered yard in the bright sunlight.  I haven’t found the same can be said of a wet, puddle riddled, yard on a grey, dreary day.

To make matters worse here the mighty Australian cricket side got demolished by their arch rivals the English in the ashes cricket series.  For those of you unfamiliar with the terminology, imagine how dejected you would feel if the Americans whitewashed the Canadian ice hockey side in a best of 5 series. 

Also, here in Victoria, the Aussie Rules League has been marred by a drug (or supplement if you are an Essendon fan) scandal that has led to a team being fined, kicked out of the playoffs, forfeiting draft picks, a coach to be suspended and this is all before the Anti-doping agency has had their bite at the players. 

I will admit that the winter hasn’t all been grey and dreary.  The beginning of August saw the world welcome a new princess, my daughter Saana Jan Murphy Edmonds.  While she won’t share a birthday with the future King of the Commonwealth, she will be fortunate enough to be a citizen of two of those group’s nations (I, albeit biasedly, believe the best two).

The past few weeks has given way to Penni and I scrambling (at times) to learn how to juggle two children, work, our lives and an outdoor cat.  While it has been stressful and trying, it has undoubtedly made this the most memorable winter of my life!

A Beginner's Guide to Bendigo - Chapter 1 View St. and Rosalind Park

It occurred to me as I looked over my blog entries from months past that I haven’t really written anything about Bendigo.  This is an oversight that I really need to remedy.  Also, as my family and I did not travel afar during the last term break I was able to spend a few days driving, walking and generally cavorting throughout this central Victorian city.

Bendigo has a much different feel as you wander through its city centre on a workday compared to the weekends.   For starters you have to pay for parking and all the free parking in the neighbouring blocks is occupied by just after nine, which is not that much different than Calgary (although at a few dollars an hour for leaving your car unoccupied on the street here in Bendigo is much cheaper than Calgary’s exorbitant prices.)

Once you find a place to leave your car, Bendigo has a few interesting sites to ambulate to in town.  The arts district along View St. runs perpendicular, down a hill, and into the city centre.  This takes you along numerous galleries, cafes and shops.  I haven’t spent as much time as I would like exploring some of these galleries and cafes, but from the feedback from locals it is something I should do before leaving.

Situated behind the arts district is Rosalind Park.  Ambling through the park will reveal to you views of the city centre.  If you choose to climb the old mining platform that is in the park you will be rewarded with some terrific  360 degree views of the area and Bendigo cathedral.

Also located in the confines of the park is Bendigo Senior Secondary School, the major public senior high school in the city.  It is a breath-taking building that harkens to days past when the majesty of school buildings reflected their importance in society.  It is hard to walk by the building, even today, and not feel a sense of pride well up for the students who attend the school.  I imagine there are not enough public schools today whose mere appearance evokes the same level of awe in its viewers.

 

Finally, situated at the end of the arts district is the Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo’s home to VFL football and A grade cricket.  Built in 1897 the building harkens back to Bendigo’s English heritage and is usually occupied during the winter weekends by the football teams that call it home.

Death from above in Victoria's Mountains

            Last weekend I spent Mother’s day away with Penni in the Victorian alpine towns of Beechworth and Bright.  This was a nice weekend away where, thanks to Penni’s parents looking after Ambriya, we were afforded the luxury of sleeping in; which we both did until 9 am, I time I don’t remember being in bed since possibly last decade.

            When awake we spent two pleasant days wandering through the towns and driving along the Great Alpine Road.  The towns themselves are reminiscent of Banff and Jasper back in Alberta but much smaller and less alpine.  The non-native leaves were in full autumn glory and provided a lovely backdrop for our trip.  More than anything I have experienced on my trip so far, this reminded me of Canada.

            Most interestingly, in the town of Bright, we were confronted with a sign that warned of the danger of massive falling pinecones.  Upon seeing the sign I thought to myself, “How foreign can these fir trees be that the Australian’s need signs warning them of pine cones?”  Not readily seeing any cones on the ground I was then of the belief that these cones were so massive as to disintegrate upon landing.  You can imagine my surprise when I was confronted by 60 cm + cones that had seeds like jagged shark teeth.  To be honest, if these things were falling from trees back home I would be angry that there weren’t signs warning me of impending death raining on me from the forests above.

            After returning to the safer confines of Bendigo I cannot begin to say how surprised I was to find that I was not the only celebrity wandering the streets of this central Victorian town.  Turns out that another one of Rosedale’s teachers is doing his part to make this city, and country a better place.  In fact, he is so important here he has been canonized.  However, if you want to find out whom you will have to read the article attached. 

 

While we walked on beaches of (the) Gold (Coast)

                  It is hard to argue with someone who laments on the beauty of this stretch of Australian Coast line.  It is also hard to argue with someone about how the lack of a centralized plan, or controlled building regulations hasn’t spoiled some of it.

                  I must admit that I spent an enjoyable week staying on Broadbeach, which is one of numerous beaches along the Gold Coast.  The most famous (and busy) of these beaches is Surfer’s Paradise where the aforementioned building explosion took place, leading to the skyscrapers casting a shadow over the beach during some seasons by mid-afternoon.  Broadbeach was delightfully slower and much more family-friendly which has become the tone of many of our holidays these days.

                  It is also very easy, when coming to a place like this, to recognize how the climate of a city can so easily dictate, well, the climate of a city.  In that, I mean that the geographical location, weather patterns and temperature experienced by a city can influence the lifestyle enjoyed (or despised) by the people who inhabit said city.

                  Hanging out for a week in the Gold Coast it was really easy to fall into the lifestyle of morning walks on the beach, afternoons in the pool or ocean and evenings strolling along the café and restaurant lined streets to indulge in something tasty on an outdoor dining area.  You can imagine how different this would be from huddling around an indoor fireplace to escape the frigid winters of some of the Canadian cities (or Melbourne) back home.

                  Interestingly, the Gold Coast is also hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2018 (see website here: http://www.gc2018.com/) and the city was abuzz with infrastructure projects.  New hotels, roads and even a light rail system are in the midst of being constructed and disrupting traffic and annoying residents.  It reminded me of Calgary (and every city I have been to that has hosted the Olympics, Pan Am games, Expo, World Fair, etc…) and the legacy, both positive and negative), that world events like that leave on a city’s blueprint.

Holiday - Week 1

The school year here in Victoria runs a little differently than it does back in Canada.  Instead of having a long summer break along with a two week break at Christmas and one week in March like we do in Calgary, here in Victoria (and throughout Australia although different states run their school breaks at different times) you go to school for between 6-8 weeks before getting a two week break.  Hence, this inevitably leads to four semesters separated by three two-week breaks and a month long summer/Christmas vacation in December.

This means that at the moment I am on holiday and that I have just returned from the first week of my two-week break.  I spent it driving from Bendigo to Adelaide inland and then back to Bendigo along the Great Ocean Road.  This not only is a beautiful drive, but it now allows me to claim that I have visited all of Australia’s capital cities.

            Adelaide, the capital of South Australia is a quaint city, if that word can be used to describe a city that has a population of over 1 000 000.  It has the feeling of a country city but on a grand scale.  The downtown core, which is a square mile (think area), is surrounded by parkland, running and hiking trails and

a slow running river.  The zoo, while not massive, already houses two pandas (eat your heart out Calgary).  Adelaide is also situated right on the Pacific Ocean, which means it has beach access from the southern suburbs and that occasionally a great white shark nips an unknowing swimmer.  Not bad for a city designed by someone by the name of Colonel Light way back in 1836.

            We spent three days in Adelaide, strolling, eating, shopping and generally relaxing.  Those three days were also interspersed with long, lazy drives getting lost in the Adelaide Hills and the Barossa Valley, which if I may say so, are some of the loveliest places on the continent to get lost in.  From the dozens of wineries that line the laneways, to the rolling hills reminiscent of northern Europe, to the small villages and hamlets inhabited by South Australia’s wealthy or the ancestors of the Germans who first populated this area so many moons ago, it is hard to take a wrong turn in this part of the world.

A Local on the Great Ocean Road

            The drive back hugs the southern coastline of Australia and rivals the Pacific Coast highway from Oregon to California for dramatic vistas.  The tourist hot spot is the “12 Apostles”, which today should probably be called the “9, oops I mean 8, I mean 7 Apostles…”.  It turns out the very thing that has shaped the dramatic coast line and its rocky inhabitants has not stopped working and as such is now destroying the very things it created in the first place.  Although if this makes you feel bad, I understand that some millennia from now it will have recreated something very similar.  I guess that is nature’s answer to Ozymandias, if you wait long enough something even greater, or newer, or more amazing, or just plain different will take its place.

Some of the Apostles

            

 Next stop…the Gold Coast.

Is it still a Birthday Party if no one shows up?

Well this past long weekend saw me arrive in the nation’s capital (Canberra for those of you feverishly googling Australia’s capital city) just in time for its 100th birthday.  Australia was having a celebration to commemorate the anniversary of Canberra being named the capital of Australia, unfortunately, after spending the weekend there; no one else seems to have shown up.

Now for those of you unfamiliar with their Australian history here is an (very) abridged version.  When Australia became a country in 1901 the capital was temporarily located in Melbourne, much to the disgust of New South Wales and its primary city Sydney.  Both cities wanted to be the capital, and probably more importantly, did not want the other to be named capital.  So in a crafty political move the parliament decided to build a new capital city in bush-land between the two major cities.  They commissioned a design from American (possibly Canadian?) Walter Burley Griffin who designed the blueprint for the new capital.

16 years later in 1927 the first Parliament in the bush capital opened.  Today Prime Ministers still don’t want to live there, John Howard relocated and moved to Sydney while Prime Minister (imagine Barrack Obama choosing to live in New York), they are yet to build an international airport capable of handling heavy flights and the city becomes a ghost town every weekend as parliamentarians and their staff escape back to wherever every Friday morning. 

All that being said, I did once call Canberra home for nine very enjoyable months.  It is also home to the Australian Institute of Sport (the model that Canada’s Own the Podium used before the Vancouver Olympics), the top Rugby Union side in the country, a Rugby League side as well as some truly world-class museums.  It is also the only city in the country where Kangaroos wander the street and you can enjoy beautiful bush walks between suburbs.

In the end I enjoyed watching the Brumbies defeat their cross state rivals the NSW Waratahs quite handily before heading back to Bendigo for a week of work.

Last weekend we made the trip as a family to the town of Echuca with a pit stop in the town of Kyabram to visit an Australian Fauna Park.  It was here we finally got to wander amongst the wildlife that down under is so famous for.

See if you can guess what the following animals are:  (I will give you the answers at the bottom of the post).

The second stop on our trip was the once mighty port city of Echuca.   The city name comes from an Aboriginal word meaning “meeting of the waters”; the city is located on one of the major Australian waterways: the Murray River.  The city, being the closest city on the Murray to Melbourne, became a thriving port for shipping goods to Adelaide and the Indian Ocean and in time became Australia’s biggest inland port-city.  Furthermore, in true Aussie fashion it was founded by an ex-convict name Henry Hopwood, proving once again that given the opportunity people, regardless of their status in society, can do great things.

Unfortunately for Henry and the people who lived there, an economic depression, better roads and the ever-looming droughts led to the slow decline of the city.  Today all that remains are the old port and the paddlewheel steamers.  Part of me wonders if there isn’t a lesson in there for all places that were once rich and important.

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away

-Percy Bysshe Shelley

a) Tasmanian Devil; b) Grey Kangaroo c) Emu d) Flying Fox

My my my it's a Beautiful World

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This past week in Bendigo has seen +30 degree days all week.  It is beginning to feel a bit like an oven that won’t shut off.  Worst the nights are also getting hotter and without the reprieve of a cool breeze finding a good night’s sleep has been a bit more of a challenge.

Luckily we spent last weekend down on the Mornington Peninsula southeast of Melbourne.  We went down to watch one: Mr. Colin Hay in concert at the Frankston Art Centre.  To my Canadian readers you may know him better as the lead singer to the Australian band Men at Work. 

Colin sang both hits from his days with Men at Work (Who Can it Be Now?, Overkill) as well as songs from his single career (highlighted by some cameo appearances on Scrubs).  The apex of the evening was Colin singing a solo version of “Land Down Under”.  Ironically, Colin is actually from Scotland, not Australia, but I guess “I come from a land north of England” would not have been as catchy (nor would have “He just smiled and gave me a marmite sandwich”).

During their lives I hope that everyone is lucky enough to hear music performed where a song, and a place, and a time and an atmosphere all align to create a truly unique moment.  For me I can say that Colin singing “Land Down Under” in Australia rivals hearing Stan Rogers' “Barrett’s Privateers” sung live at the Lower Deck on Halifax Pier and The Hip belting out “50 Mission Cap” at the opening of the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

The other big news this week is that I have almost caught up to Vince in popular sightings around Bendigo.  As I discovered whilst attending a barbecue this week there is another Canadian who is living down in Bendigo (he also does some teaching and coaches the local American Football team).  He was telling me that last week when he went to the Gloria Jeans in city centre (i.e. Second Cup) the barista heard his accent  and she asked if he knew the other Canadian in town…one Chad Edmonds from Spring Gully.  He politely said he explained that Canada is a big country and that we don't all know each other.  

Turns out more people in this community read page 14 of the Advertiser than I suspected.  Score after 2 months Vince: 3 – Chad: 1.

[For the record I did not know that barista, nor have I ever visited that store.  I prefer the Good Loaf Bakery closer to home]

The Blues in Bendigo

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Week 2 has wrapped up this week in Bendigo and I am continuing to learn the ropes, as are most staff, to the new curriculum in Victoria.  While this has been a bit of a challenge I am pleased to say my colleagues and the Internet have been huge helps and I feel like I am winning the battle.

I have also been settling into small town life.  Now I know for a lot of people reading this blog a country town of around 100 000 people is not a small place, but it is for Penni and I.  We have been entertaining ourselves with farmer’s markets, drives through the countryside and humorous (although I am not sure they are meant to be) Bendigo building commercials. 

These ads try to persuade you to buy from one of three Bendigo builders.  What makes them truly incredible though, aside from the atrocious soundtracks, is that two of the ads actually use the same actress who, moreover, does exactly the same acting in both commercials.  I even think that she wears the same clothes.  After seeing this commercial for the second time I had a strange yearning to drive around the town looking for this mysterious actress just to ask which company she would really recommend.  Although I can’t say that this will have persuaded us to pack up and relocate yet.

The other big news around town is that the Carlton AFL team rucked up and held a few open practices for the locals.  Carlton’s star player, Chris Judd (read Jarome Iginla or ummm Phil Kessel?) didn’t show up but this didn’t dampen the spirits of the local media who fawned over their heroes with multiple articles singing the praises of the boys.

Andrew Mcinnis

Lachie Thompson

Tom Bell

Most importantly for Spring Gully was the fact that we were lucky enough to have three guests from the Blues to chat with on Friday afternoon.  Lachie Handerson (i.e. Lee Stempniak), Andrew Mcinnes and Tom Bell (i.e. two guys from Abbotsford or the Marlies who got called up for a few games and only real hard core fans know of) spent the better part of an hour chatting with the grade 5/6 students and answering their questions.  I have to give credit where it is due as the players handled questions ranging from “what is your training schedule like” and “which player do you find the hardest to defend” to gems like “have you ever farted on the field”? 

In the end, even though Chris Judd was absent from the meeting I was amazed with how much like a little boy chatting with pro-athletes can still make me feel.  Good on ya boys (although I still cheer for the Swans)!!!

Advance Australia Fair

Well we have been down here in Australia for 1 month now and, after feedback from fans (actually my sister-in-law, the lone member of my readership from Australia), I felt I had left out some of the more important aspects of my journey.

I have had the honour (or insult depending on your point of view) of being mistaken for Vince Vaughan 3 times since moving to Bendigo.  For your approval I have posted two photos of us, for you to decide if we look alike.  I welcome your feedback, and I am positive Vince would as well.

Probably more importantly I, along with 20+ million others in this nation, just celebrated Australia Day.  This holiday commemorates not the day Australia became a country, January 1, 1901, (think Canada Day, Independence Day, Mexican Independence Day) but the day in 1787 that the first fleet (read prison transport) landed at Sydney and turned Australia into a huge British social experiment…or something like that.  Now, some 226 years on, Australia should celebrate its standing as one of the best countries to live in on the planet.

I celebrated this day in Mt. Eliza, Victoria attending a ceremony presided over by Carlton Football coaching legend David Parkin.  His speech fluctuated between a lyrical praising of Australia and a three-quarters motivational speech.  This left me wondering whether to start singing “Waltzing Matilda” or throw down the second (free) sausage I was nibbling and tackle someone.  It also left my sister-in-law fuming over the inequalities that still exist today (insert angry comment - "I ask you, where are the aboriginal people; women; and acknowledgement of different religion asides from catholicism in this ceremony?".....can you believe this from an important human rights lawyer?!?!?!), and hunting for someone, probably me, to turn into a tackling dummy.

The most cyclical part of the whole day was the fact that all this revelry was hosted on Canadian Bay Road.

Now, onto month two…

I wanna be a celebrity...in Bendigo

Well, it was finally back to school for me today, and with it the start to another school year for the students at Spring Gully Primary School in Bendigo.

There were different routines than I have been used to in Calgary; the mandatory uniform try-on being one; the opening of a new building being another.  However, there were many similar routines as well: writing in the agendas, setting out books and lockers (more like what we would call cubby holes back home), and learning names and routines.

I have also begun settling in to life in Bendigo.  We have walked around a few of the parks in the city,  all of which seem to include a wonderful park with baby swings that my daughter cannot get enough of.  They are all also kitted out with public bathrooms, the quality of which we could only wish for in Calgary.

The temperatures have finally begun to subside, no more +40 days and the nights are blissfully cool to the point of being frigid.  Upon my arrival Luke’s lovely parents pointed out a thick wax candle that they had left on the bistro table in our backyard had melted like it had been in a fire. (see picture)  This did get me to thinking about how cool it would be to leave something out in the Calgary winter to see how fast it would freeze to show Australians (think about a water balloon, a wig or possibly one of the dead kangaroos from the road en route to Bendigo).

I have also attained the level of local celebrity after the Bendigo Advertiser ran a story about me in the local paper.  It read something like this:  Handsome man-of-the-world from Canada has come to Bendigo to teach for a year.  His eloquence, grace and intelligence rivals that of kings and philosophers of yore….blah, blah, blah.  Unbelievably, the story didn't run until page 14, being judged less important than new Taxi stands in Victoria, the Melbourne opening of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and another school in Bendigo that has 4 sets of twins all set to start today.

It actually was quite flattering to have such a fuss made over me, and completely unexpected.  I only hope Luke is enjoying such ado in Calgary.