Australia Day - two leaders

After the Australia Day Parade there were the speeches from a variety of people at Elder Park before the "party' and free concert.

This is Aunty Josi Agius who welcomed the Adelaide public present onto the traditional land of the Kaurna people.

In her speech she recognised that Australia Day is a great day for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to celebrate being Australian but highlighted that many Aboriginal people regard the day as Survival Day. She also suggested that another day should be brought in for Aboriginal people or something be included specifically to recognise her people.

Other Aboriginal people across the nation had some different ideas, including a call from the new Australian of the Year, Mick Dodson, who suggested the date should be changed. Click here to read a report on the ABC website.

This is the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Michael Harbison, who performed an official flag raising ceremony and gave his Australia Day address.

Australia Day Parade - groups

Last Monday I took lots of photos at Adelaide's Australia Day Parade. Here is slide show of some of the cultural groups.

ABC Wednesdays - B for Brighton

Brighton is beachside suburb just south of Glenelg. This is a view of Brighton looking north from Kingston Park. In the foreground is the beach in front of the Seacliff Yacht Club where club members and the public can launch their boats.

This is a shot looking south.

These photos are from my archives; I had intended going out yesterday afternoon to take some fresh shots but I renigged on doing so as we had our hottest day for five years; 43.2 degrees Celsius (109.7 degrees F) at 3pm. Today is forecast to be even hotter.

(PS - I just checked and it reached 44.7 at 12:40; looks like we are in for another heatwave.)

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 using Mr Linky.

Party in the park

After the parade masses of people congregated in Elder Park on the banks of the Torrens to hear Australia Day messages from the Premier, Lord Mayor and others. This was followed by a free concert.

Australia Day Parade

"One Australia - many cultures" was overwhelmingly obvious this morning during the colourful Australia Day Parade in Adelaide. Representatives from many of the cultural groups that make up our South Australian community adorned national costumes, played their music, sang and danced in the parade that ended in Elder Park for a massive community Australia Day party.

2009 Tour Down Under Finale

The last race in this year's Tour Down Under was run today in glorious weather; an 18 lap 4.5 kilometre circuit in the streets of Adelaide City. The overall winner for the Tour was Alan Bates, an Australian who rides for Quickstep. An estimated 144,000 spectators were there to see him claim victory.

The stage winner was Italian Francesco Chicchia a rider in the Liquigas team.

TDU bikes

Each afternoon after the race the teams return to City. At the Tour Down Under Village in Victoria Square the public can look at the bikes, the mechanics at work and various other displays and merchandise.

Each day the bikes are washed and the mechanics give them a thorough check, clean and relubricate the running gear.

This year's Tour Down Under was attended by record crowds; many first timers coming to see the seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. This is a photo of his bicycle.

Anzac Highway Underpass

This is a major roadworks' project; the Anzac Highway underpass is being built under as part of a project to decrease traffic congestion along South Road, one of Adelaide's busiest arterial roads. This project is scheduled to be completed late this year.

ABC Wednesdays - A for Anzac Highway

Anzac Highway links Adelaide City with Glenelg; about 11 kilometres.

This monument is located part way along Anzac Highway, about two kilometres from Glenelg. There is a duplicate at the City end.

ANZAC is an acronym for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. On the reverse side to the 'diggers' pictured above, is a map of the two countries that formed the alliance.

The images are cut outs on a large gun-metal grey sheet of steel; by day they are highlighted by a bright orange panel behind and at night the panel is illuminated.

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 using Mr Linky.

Waiting for the moment

Poised ready to capture the winner of the Cancer Council Classic

Now for the media scoop; these are but a few of the 350 or so media professionals covering the 2009 Tour Down Under.


We get limited television coverage of the Tour Down Under here; about 30 minutes of highlights on SBS, a free to air channel. In the US cable channel Versus is telecasting the event live. I would be interested as to what coverage you get; please leave a comment.

Classic winners

What a thrill! UniSA's debutante rider, 19 year old local lad, Jack Bobridge won the first two sprints in last night's 51km race.

Aussie favourite Robbie McEwin sprinted home at the end to claim victory in the race, much to the delight of the home crowd. He is racing with Katusha, the first ever Russian Pro Tour Team.

Cancer Council Classic

The man of the moment; tonight at Adelaide's Tour Down Under prelude event saw Lance Armstrong's first professional road race in nearly four years. A record crowd of 138,000 people were there to witness the occasion. One of Lance's objectives in returning to racing is to raise cancer awareness.

I was lucky to be in a box seat, right at the start/finish line; my wife works for UniSA and we had tickets to their corporate area.

WakeWars 2009

Last Sunday an estimated 10,000 spectators were at the Glenelg on the banks of the Patawalonga Lake for Wake Wars, "Australia’s premier wakeboard event."

Unfortunately I had other commitments on the day, so by the time I arrived the competitions were finished. By then though the crowd was being entertained by on stage performances; the headline act being Terra Firma.

This is a photo I took at last year's event. It is quite exciting to watch; and must be even more so to be competing.

Koala

This was not taken at the zoo; on my bicycle ride last Sunday I spotted this koala in a tree at the side of the road. This is one of the reasons I like bike riding; you see much more than when driving and you can stop pretty much anywhere to take a photo.

ABC Wednesdays - Z for Zoo

This is the current entrance to the Adelaide Zoo, but soon to be made redundant. A new entrance building is to be built to accommodate the expected increase in visitors when two Giant Pandas arrive in October 2009. Inside the zoo a special facility will be built for them. Their stay in Adelaide is part of the global breeding program to conserve Giant Pandas.

Zoos South Australia is a non-profit conservation charity which provides conservation education and conducts conservation, breeding and research programmes. They work within the WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums) guidelines for the ethical treatment of animals.

As well as the zoo in the City they also run Monarto Zoo, a 1000 hectare open-range sanctuary, about sixty kilometres west of Adelaide.

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 using Mr Linky.

The Corkscrew

This is the reward for riding UP hills - the descent! The Corkscrew is a very windy road that links Montacute Road and Gorge Road.

Montacute Valley

This is what I stopped to photograph when I spotted the cyclists in yesterday's post. One of the properties in this valley is Montacute Valley Orchards where you can pick your own seasonal fruit; cherries, peaches, nectarines, lemons.

And this is the road I had just ridden up; the things I do to get photos for this blog !

Ag2r-La Mondiale in training

This morning I went for a bike ride in the Adelaide Hills and stopped to take a scenic shot along Montacute Road when I spotted a group of cyclists coming up the hill. The team spotted me and obliged for a photo.

Ag2r-La Mondiale is one of the teams here in Adelaide for this year's Tour Down Under which starts next Sunday.

Glenara

Yesterday I showed modern day luxury houses. Here is a heritage listed Italianate style mansion of yesteryear; built in 1879 for Robert Hill this building on South Esplanade at Glenelg has been recently restored.

Adelphi Waters

Adelphi Waters is a complex of 23 three level luxury houses being built on land that overlooks the marina at Glenelg.

ABC Wednesdays - Y for Yourambulla Caves

About 360 kilometres north of Adelaide on the road to Hawker are three cave galleries in the Yallapa Hills. The Aboriginal rock paintings featured here are available for public viewing.

From the carpark just off the main road is a walking trail and a climb to the site high up the hillside. The location of the paintings was chosen carefully; sheltered from the elements.

The artwork is mainly done with black pigment; some with red ochre. It mainly relates to ceremonies associated with the site. There is sign nearby to help visitors interpret the paintings.

Click on the image for an enlarged view

As well as being able to view some art work of the Adnyamathanha people, the climb to the caves rewards you with a spectacular view.


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 using Mr Linky.

Approaching Glenelg

Today was another glorious mild summer's day and I made the most of it; a 32 degree Celsius maximum and winds around 10 knots. I took this shot as we headed back towards the Holdfast Shores Marina at Glenelg.

Sidewalk cafes

Glenelg is a popular beachside location; for tourists and locals alike. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and hotels to entice you. These cafes are on the northern side of Moseley Square.

Moseley Square

Moseley Square, the site of the monument featuring a model of the Buffalo I showed yesterday, is at the end of Jetty Road at Glenelg. It is here that the Adelaide tram to Glenelg terminates.

HMS Buffalo

Last Sunday (28th December) was Proclamation Day; a commemorative day for South Australians because on that day in 1836 the settlers were notified that the government was in place in the new 'Province of South Australia'.

This is a model of the Buffalo at the end of Jetty Road at Glenelg; this was the boat that brought colonists including our first governor here.

You can see more in my earlier posts Proclamation Day and The Buffalo Restaurant.