Cycling Santa

Today whilst riding in the hills south of Adelaide and I came across a familiar character on his bike.

Adelaide Parklands

Adelaide City is surrounded by a corridor of parklands; over 7 square kilometres in total. Much of it has been developed into gardens, and the rest is a mix of recreational areas and open bush land.


Both of these photos were taken a couple of weeks ago in the vicinity of South Terrace.

Fountain without water

The rivers have dried up for this fountain located in Victoria Square in the centre of Adelaide. The fountain which was formally opened in 1968 has had its water turned off in recent years due to our drought conditions. The City Council is considering turning the water back on, but is coming under fire from many who argue that our scarce commodity would be better used on stressed trees in our parklands.

The fountain named Three Rivers represents the three rivers (the Torrens, the Onkaparinga and the Murray) from which Adelaide receives most of its water. It was designed by South Australian artist John Dowie.

ETSA Festive Lights

The Electricity Trust of South Australia (ETSA) is once again illuminating their head office building at No 1 Anzac Highway; this has been a tradition for 25 years.

This year the display is quite different. This year they are using LED globes and LED 'rope' lighting which they anticipate will use only 5 percent of the energy used last year.

I have looked at the display in past years and often thought about the massive amount of energy being used; this use of new technology and the resulting reduction of energy use is a good move for the environment.

ABC Wednesdays - S for Sturt's Desert Pea

Sturt's Desert Pea is South Australia's floral emblem. The plant, Swainsona formosa, is a native of Austrlalia growing in most states. This photo is scanned from a slide which I took about 25 years ago in the northern Flinders Ranges.

It is named after Captain Charles Sturt who discovered it during an exploration expedition in central Australia in 1845 .

Sturt's Desert Pea has been featured on several Australian postage stamps.

The 20 cent stamp was issued in 1968 and the 7 cent stamp in 1971. Wasn't it lucky that I collected stamps back then and was actually able to find them to scan!

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see other participants' contributions go to the ABC Wednesdays' Anthology or to see direct links to their own sites go here.

Glenelg Christmas Pageant (Part 3)

There's nothing like being larger than life to get attention. Here's some fun characters; real crowd pleasers.






















All in all it was a fine pageant - appreciated by a good crowd lining Jetty Road at Glenelg.

Glenelg Christmas Pageant (Part 2)

The Glenelg Christmas Pageant features many local community groups; sporting and the arts. Here are just a few.

The Little Picassos; quality art classes for children.

A circus and acrobatic skills group

A surf lifesaving club

Dancing

Glenelg Christmas Pageant

Last week I gave you a glimpse of Adelaide's Christmas Pageant. In addition to that pageant, there are several others held in suburbs around Adelaide.

Today was the Glenelg Christmas Pageant. This pageant involves many local community groups and businesses, churches and schools; a few small floats but mainly walking groups.

The main reason I went to the pageant was to see my granddaughter who paraded with her school.

First Birthday

Adelaide in Photos turns one today. When I started this blog one year ago I did not really appreciate the demands and rewards of doing a daily post. At times it has been challenging to keep up, but I have done it - a post a day for a whole year!

The rewards far outstrip the demands. I have learnt so much about my city, my district and my world in general. To get new photos I have visited familiar and not so familiar places, attended events I might not otherwise have attended and spoken to people I might not otherwise have spoken to.

I have so appreciated comments from people in the blogging world and learnt so much about them and their world in the process. Thank you.

I have chosen to repost one photo; one of my favourites but also so significant. The photo of Lake Bonney was taken at Barmera about 200 km from Adelaide. Unfortunately water flow to the lake from the River Murray was cut off during the year to reduce losses from evaporation.


Last night on the News there was a report of dead fish on the edges of the lake; casualties of Australia's drought and mismanagement of the River. Fortunately there is now a whole of Australia approach to the Murray's management, so the future is looking a bit brighter. Of course what we need is more rain in the right places.

Classic Adelaide Rally

Today I drove to a vantage spot in the southern Adelaide Hills to watch the second stage of this year's Classic Adelaide Rally. This event, in its twelfth year, attracted over 200 entrants from all states of Australia and some from overseas.

On each day there are several closed road special stages where the cars in some categories are timed; the remaining driving each day is under touring conditions where cars drive along with the general public.

The Classic Adelaide Rally is held over four days (19th - 23rd November). The vehicles, which must have been build prior to 1990, travel over 1000 kilometres. The field includes classic makes like Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Jaguar, BMW, Lotus, Alfa Romeo, MG, Bugatti, Austin-Healey and Aston Martin. Also are Australian vehicles, Fords and Holdens, and others from Asia and America.

Bush Song and Dance

Yesterday the school my granddaughters attend had a day of song and dance. The school had hired Bushwahzee to perform bush music and dance and then run workshops with the children.

In the late afternoon parents were invited to come along and watch as the children performed what they had learnt during the day; a great school community event!

ABC Wednesdays - R for Roses

Adelaide lays claim to being the Rose Capital of Australia

• About 60% of the cut roses sold in the country are cultivated here
• A rose festival is held biennially
• There are numerous public rose gardens within the City and the metropolitan area and many private gardens feature roses
• The Adelaide International Rose Garden located in the Botanic Gardens has extensive plantings
• The National Rose Trial Garden of Australia, also in the Botanic Gardens, trials roses not yet commercially released to determine their suitability to our climatic conditions.
  

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see other participants' contributions go to the ABC Wednesdays' Anthology or to see direct links to their own sites go here.

Nobody's home

Another special event on last weekend in Adelaide was the Australian International Three-Day Event, an equestrian event featuring dressage, cross country and show jumping. The little house is one of the jumps used in the cross country. When I photographed it on Monday, workers were starting to remove the jumps.

The Australian International Three-Day Event is unique in that it is held in the middle of a city; in Adelaide's East Parklands. Additionally it is one of only six in the world with a four star (Olympic standard) rating.

Jacarandas

Jacarandas are in bloom within the City and around the suburbs; a lovely time of year - mostly fine days and lots of colour. This is a shot looking west along Wakefield Street from the Fire Station.

Adelaide Fire Station

Oh for the shots that might have been! Today the SA Metropolitan Fire Service held an open day, but I was unable to go as the concert band I play in had a concert.

The SAMFS is a government funded service which commenced in 1882 as the SA Fire Brigade. The current building was opened in 1985. The SAMFS has another 18 fire stations in the metropolitan area and others in major country towns.

Pageant finale

Last but not least in every year's pageant since its beginnings in 1933 are the stars of the Magic Cave - Nipper and Nimble and Father Christmas.

Two lucky 'fairies' ride these elegant horses; every girl's dream!

A big wave to the crowd; Christmas must be near. After the pageant children can visit Father Christmas in the Magic Cave at the nearby David Jones department store in Rundle Mall.

Photos taken by Bec

Pageant characters

Part of the attraction of the Credit Union Christmas Pageant is the variety of big colourful characters like this clown, Pogo, on his trike.

This is Bruto, a big "friendly" monster. He's been a regular now for several years.


Over the years new 'characters' appear and others retire; it keeps the crowds coming back. This year there were 57 floats, as well as walking sets, bands, dancing groups and more than 200 clowns.

Photos taken by Bec

Christmas Pageant

Last Saturday the Credit Union Christmas Pageant heralded the start of the Christmas season in Adelaide. More than 300,000 people lined the streets for the spectacle; my son and his family were among them. Thanks to Bec, my daugher-in-law, for the photos.

The first "Johnnies" Pageant was held in 1933 and has been held each year since, apart from a four year break during World War II. The idea was conceived by Sir Edward Hayward, owner and general-manager of John Martins (a retail store).

Due to the eminent closure John Martin's, ownership was taken over by the State government which secured sponsorship from six credit unions in 1996; hence the change in name.

Each year a Pageant Queen is chosen as the public face of the pageant. This tradition commenced in 1940. The current queen and princesses are representatives from each of the six credit unions that sponsor the event.

Workers at John Martins, and now the credit unions, play a very big part in the pageant. My mother worked at John Martins and had the privilege of being part of this great event.

The photo was taken in 1938

ABC Wednesdays - Q for Qantas

Qantas is Australia's national airline; it provides both domestic and international services.

Qantas is an acronym for Queensland And Northern Territory Air Services. The company was founded in 1920 at Winton in outback Queensland.


The airline has been dubbed as "The Flying Kangaroo"; the company logo being a kangaroo. The logo has been redesigned over the years; one of the earlier logos actually included wings on the kangaroo.

This image is from the Qantas site

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see other participants' contributions go to the ABC Wednesdays' site or to see direct links to their own sites go here.

Victoria Park Grandstand

Victoria Park in Adelaide's East Parklands has been used for horse racing since the 1840's. This grandstand was built in 1882 and was granted heritage listing in 1986.

A decision was made to cease racing here earlier this year. The Adelaide City Council intends redeveloping the site as a "people's park."

Last night the council approved the construction of a criterium track ( a short cycling racing circuit) in the park. The course, which will pass in front of the heritage grandstand, is expected to be completed in April next year.

Adelaide Zoo's Flamingo

It is hard to fathom why someone would harm this beautiful bird. A couple of weeks ago it was beaten by a group of four teenagers. Fortunately it has recovered from the ordeal, and the teenagers have been arrested.

This Greater Flamingo was brought into Australia in 1933, but now due to very strict rules relating to the importation of birds, it is unlikely it will be replaced when it dies.

Warriparinga Bridge Mural

These aerosol can painted murals were produced by a group of young indigenous Australians as part of the 2006 Adelaide Fringe Festival. The design and planning work was done at the Kaurna Cultural Centre under the guidance of artist James Cochran.

The Living Kaurna Cultural Centre

This is very near to the Tjilbruke Gateway. The Living Kaurna Cultural Centre runs programs and activities to promote and preserve the Kaurna culture. It also has a heritage display. The Centre is open to the public on weekdays.

The Tjilbruke Gateway

This is yet another work of art representing the story of Tjilbruke. The forest of dead trees was created in 1995 near the Warraparinga Wetlands.

Circles around the tree trunks symbolise the fresh water springs formed from Tjilbruki's tear drops. The flow patterns on the ground refer to the gully winds for which the area is known, as well as the flow of the river and of life.

Kaurna landmark at Kingston Park

This sculpture is erected at Kingston Park, a southern beach suburb of Adelaide. Unveiled in 1972 by SA's governor, it is a reminder of the Kaurna people, the traditional Aboriginal inhabitants of the area.

It represents Tjilbruke and his nephew who, under tribal law, was slain for killing an emu. Click on the image below to read the full inscription.