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posted by Jon @ Friday, July 21, 2006 2 comments

Murrim Bridge

So I've just arrived back from Lake (Cargellico), the 4 and a bit hour drive away from where I am staying in Bathurst and just wanted to post my very unique and interesting experience. After the usual morning exercise class (cardiac & pulmonary rehab) I joined two nurses from the mental health team and went out to a local Aborginal settlement called Murrim Bridge.

A bit of back ground about the settlement, it was created many many moons ago by the 'white man' who rounded up local indigenous people and forced them to live together and told them that anything they required would be provided. The problem is that the abdorinals used to wonder over large distances (dependent upon season) and now forced to live with, in the case of Murrim Bridge with other tribes that were from hostile tribes.

Ok so i don't have the knowledge, or time (very tired at the moment) to attempt to explain the history aborginal people, but basically thiscommunity which is incredibly small (roughly 500 people) has (like all Aborginal communitise) chronic drink, drunk abuse problems, as well as chronic problems with sexual assult and teenage births. Although every other society in the world has the same problems this particular community is struggling. This can be seen in the horific fact that the average lifespan of an Aborginal person is well below (more than 10years!) compared to a white Australian.

I think what i need to do is really sleep on this as today has been an extremly interesting day which i must reflect on before i can really decided how I feel.

Ok too deep lets pull this back up to my level, I was asked if I wanted a boil egg the other day for breakfast, my response was 'you can't beat a boiled egg!'

The picture above is take on the drive out from Lake heading back home. NSW is in the mist of draught which started about 5 years ago, and over the weekend the rains returned! In parts of the state the average rainful for July fell within two days. This caused all the grass to become vividly green and with the dark red soil and sky a lovely blue thought was really amazing. Lyn descirbed this as a typical Australia shot.

Well its late, have a full day and I'm heading off to Sydney tomorrow night to pick up some girls (i love you amelia)

enjoy! 

posted by Jon @ Tuesday, July 18, 2006 0 comments

Pictures

as promised here are some photos my bad, when i tried uploading them it just wasn't working then i never got round to it. So this picture is of the three sisters, 'they' (clever people who enjoy studying rocks) believe that these three formations were part of an 8 formation orginally, bloody errosion! Water freezes, it expands I sure we all remember our geography lessions!







This photo was taken by Graham after we came over a gorge thingy (very specfic!) The jasmine valley just seems to go on for ever! Could you imagen being an early settler trying to cross this?


Now this one is for JP, it was taken at the base of the railway, you can see at the bottom of the photo where the tracks start, the go straight up the side of the mountain, and through a tunnel which naturally occurs further up. But the tunnel didn't start until about after the large tree is if you follow the tracks straight up. Even now i think what the hell, esp. after reading about the Gondalas at Ben Nevis!


So its late and i need to get up, finish some painting, take the beauty out for a spin, bit of book work then another post, until later on this evening......... 

posted by Jon @ Sunday, July 16, 2006 1 comments

Katoomba

So last week, over breakfast with Penny, Graham and Lyn they decided that we should all take a trip into the mountains to a place call Katoomba to see the three sisters. Its only about a hours drive from Bathurst.

Sorry to sound like a bit of a history lesson but it makes it much easier to understand:

Historically the Blue Mountains were once thought of as the barrier to freedom, as although many early settlers attempted to cross them, they were for many years impassable, which was reinforced by the belief that China was on the other side. But later Europeans crossed the mountains and soon after a road was built to the other side. Although there are various Aboriginal markings few Aborigines were found in the Blue Mountains, thought to have been wiped out by disease. The mountains themselves reach a height of 1100m, and have been given their name due to the blue haze that hovered above the mountains produced by the oil from the plentiful Eucalyptus trees.

The importance of Katoomba lies with a rock formation that is called the three sisters. Aboriginal legend has it that they were three beautiful young women who had fallen in love with three men from an Aboriginal tribe from the foothills. Tribal lore prohibited the union, and a battle ensued. A witchdoctor turned the women to stone so they wouldn’t be harmed, but he was killed and no one could undo the spell.

Walking around and seeing the sisters were very impressive. What I think was far more astounding was the Jasmine Valley which runs behind it, it was just incredible, and seemed to go on as far as the eye could see! But to me what was surprising is the fact that the valley was actually a rain forest, I suppose I associate it more with warmer weather, but that’s more my ignorance I suppose. Standing by one of many look out post, there was a path down to the three sisters, which really didn’t appeal to Lyn and Penny, so they wondered off to one of the many local art galleries while the boys walked down to the sisters. Man it was incredible! The first part of the path down to the sisters was a relatively easy walk, (anything down is easy) with nice wide paths and gentle decline. Once at the sisters, we took some photos from an observation point which was really nice. But then we noticed that there was more path going down the side of the mountain, so we thought what the hell! Now that I’m back sitting in Bathurst with my feet up on the sofa typing this I can look back and smile but it was incredibly challenging.

I think that the Australian attitude is one of well it may be steep but sod it we’ll nail in some nearly vertical steps into the mountain, hand then over a sheer drop and you’ll be able to wall down it. Plus a few steps bore into the mountain and bobs your uncle. This photo was taken about half way down with Graham and Sam checking out some of the views! Not too long after this was taken we decided to head back, and being the grown ups we are (that Graham is, he suggested a race) well after nearly 3 respiratory failures and what felt like a half marathon we made it back up to the top (we won’t say who the winner was, but it wasn’t an Australian!)

Walking around a world heritage site you would expect some sort of added tourist attraction and Katoomba is no different! There is a Skyway, Cableway, Walkabout and Railway. Which thanks to a large family and a big looking 13year old (yours truly), we bought a family ticket plus one adult for all four.

First we headed over the Skyway which is basically a large cable cart across a big chasm, for those into statistics it was a 720m journey 270m above ravines which had thick rainforest below with a really pretty waterfall. It took only about 10mins but it was well worth it as you get an awesome 360 degree view of the three sisters, Katoomba falls, mount solitary and the seemly endless Jamison valley. On the other side we had a short walk around, which was well worth the effort, as although you get amazing views by the first look out point, the further you go round you can see more of the valley and then more of the three sisters.

We then headed off down into the valley to go on a ‘walk-about’ (pun intended). When purchasing the ticket the nice lady suggested we headed down the cable cart, and then back up the railway, and this is exactly what we did. Entering the cable cart if felt like we needed a set of skies, as it was a big old gondola and reminded me very much of one you enter when heading up to the piest. The ‘Sceniscende’ is the steepest aerial cable car in Australia, which we took down on a 545m ride into the valley. After an initial mild decline, it just seemed to fall away, and I know people who aren’t good with heights (like mum!) this, and in fact of the rides would not been for them. But was good fun! At the bottom we had a relatively short walk around, through the rainforest which was awesome, and very nicely done. We managed to see all where the land was mined for coal between 1878 and 1900, finally being close in 1945. Randomly they had an iron donkey, so what the hell, what do you think, could I make a cowboy one day?

But any who I mentioned that coal was mined and that is clear evident when looking around the valley and there are many things that remain as a result. One of them is how we returned from the valley. It was via scenic railway which is it's the steepest railway in the world and originally part of the Katoomba mining tramways. At one point it reaches a maximum gradient of 52 degrees! In total we assended 178m along a 415m track at a speed of 4m/s. And Lyn has just said she felt every single meter of that! Getting into the car you got an inkling as to how steep it is because the seats are nearly horizontal. It started off quite slowly but then as you start to go up and it just gets steeper and steeper. When we hit the steepest part I was bracing with my knees and at a point were I was think wow this is insane! What I should of mention is that there were no seat belts, a cage roof which went around the right hand side and roof, and a thin plastic chain, that’s it! It was insane, I could not believe and when at the 52degrees part of the track I think everyone was holding onto something!!!

But never the less we survived that and made it back up! An amazing day and a really big thank-you goes out to Lyn, Penny, Graham, and Sam.

Well I hope that you are all well, not sure if I’m going to watch the final, still a bit bitter about our exit and it’s on at five in the morning. I’m at work for nine, only for four hours but then I have a long old drive out to Lake.

Right pirates of the Caribbean is on, and we watched Pirates two on Thursday which was very enjoyable, don’t think I can wait until the third one is out next year! Definitely think that it was much better than superman returns although that was also very enjoyable.

posted by Jon @ Sunday, July 09, 2006 2 comments

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE

So I think birthday greeting will likely become a regular fixture on effundo, and today is no different. Katie Banks congratulations 26 years old today!! This photo was recently taken from our camping trip up to Scarborough.

I think i should open this up to a quiz style caption competition...........

"How to tell you've been watching too much buffy!"

Happy birthday Katie x

posted by Jon @ Saturday, July 08, 2006 1 comments

Week One @ work

Well it has finally begun, after a week attempting to get over the jet lag i have started my clinical placement. For those who don't know as a part of my training, all physio's need to complete 1000 clinical hrs. At the University of East London this is divided up to 1 placement in the first year, three in the second, and three in the third year. This prac is the first in the 3rd year and its call an elective as the onus is upon the student to arrange a placement anywhere in the world. Many of the gang have turned into globe trotters with placements including: Malaytsia, Devon, London, Israel, Canada and the States. I've managed to split my placement between a local private practice in Bathurst four days a week, and then one day a week (every Tuesday) up at a small local hospital in Lake Cargelligo. Its about 350km (217 miles) which is about a 4 hour drive from Bathurst. On Monday Lyn and I set off and although it was a long drive as everyone keeps tell me (thank-u amelia). This was my first trip out west in into the country, although for many people Bathurst is seen as a big ish but still rual town, Lake is seen as proper rual. Driving there you can tell you are heading out west as the landscape changes, becomes alot more flat and more dry.

The picture above was taken on Tuesday morning I took walking down to the lake on the way to the Hospital. I've been living in London for the last two years and I think i'm at the stage its still a love hate relationship. Love what its got to offer, hate the communting, over-crowding and polution.

Anyway had a very fun on, in the deep end first day but really enjoy it. That night we drove back to Bathurst for my first day in Bathurst. Because its a private practice its less hands on, but being exposed to such a variety of presenations and my educator is really keen to explain all aspects of the practice, which has been awesome. So the verdict after week one of my first musculo-skeletal placement: bring on week two!

The plan is for today (Saturday) is washing, reading/notes on the shoulder. Pop into town to buy lead for my iPod so i can charge it, take the VW out for a drive, and then maybe a run. Lyn has headed off to see Hugh at Canberra to pick up her car and see some of the art galleries.

Its currently 3oC out, at 10am Saturday morning. Hope all is well. For all you Americans i hope u had a fun 4th of July and hope to hear from you soon

Take care people 

posted by Jon @ Saturday, July 08, 2006 0 comments

Update

Hello guys and girls, even after nearly week I can report that the jet lag is nearly done with (although i'm writing this at 6:34am, and have been up for a while now!).

Generally i'm doing well, still bitterly disappointed with the football, 'bleeding Ronaldo' should be interesting next season esp. first day back! But anyway enough about ranting on about the football.

I've had a nice few days, begining to find my feet as well as my bearing (although marbles still unaccounted for!). I've contacted both of my clinical educators in preperation for my placement which i start this tuesday. I'm going to be spliting my time between two places while i'm working. Four days a week i'll be at a local private clinic in Bathurst and one day a week i will be travelling over to a place called Lake Cargelligo which is about a 4 hour drive west from Bathurst. Its a very rual town and the physio I will be working with is the only health professional for about 200km i've been told! Talking to her, hopefully i should be able to arrange a trip to a local aborginal community (some times refered to as missions by locals) not to work but just to follow a psyc about and really get some exposure to a community and way of living i've never seen, which should be really really interesting!

Hugh (amelia's brother) came home yesterday, so was nice to catch up, although expect for the football, Hugh is too much of a night person for me at the mo, so i sure i spent more time sleeping, and considering I'm sure i need roughly 14hrs of sleep a day not sure how i'm going to survive when i start working for real!

Also watched Superman returns, which I have to say I really enjoyed! They have really played with the story but despite that it was entertaining! Looking forward to the next pirates film which i think is out this thursday.

The plan for the next few days are head out to lake with Lyn this afternoon, in prep for first day tomorrow, then tuesday night drive back for start on wednesday in Bathurst. Oh and Pirates too!

BE good people and recycle, thats all i've got!

posted by Jon @ Sunday, July 02, 2006 0 comments