Autumn Sunset Sky

Taken last week from Glenelg North looking out to sea.

Transit of Venus Viewing

Members of the Astronomical Society of South Australia set up about a dozen telescopes in the City as a service to the general public to view the Transit of Venus. When I arrived the sun was obscured by cloud, but thankfully the sky cleared and I got a great view.

ABC Wednesdays - P for Port Festival

Port Adelaide is rich in history and it came alive at the Port Festival last October; stories of the past were told by images projected on many of the buildings.

This image is of a scene in 1904 with with ships of the day on the river; a paddle wheel steamship and a sailing ketch.

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Kids in the Kitchen

Budding chefs of the future were given a chance to work with some of the top chefs from Australia and abroad at the Tasting Australia event on Sunday.

Feast for the Senses

Today I spent a couple of hours at the Bank SA Feast for the Senses at Elder Park. This public event is part of Tasting Australia which runs for a week, with a program of more than 80 events in and around Adelaide and rural South Australia.

Anzacs abroad

On Anzac Day our TV stations covered events here and overseas; one being the service at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux in France.

Visiting here and other places in and around Amiens two years ago, gave us a true apprection of the contribution and sacrifices made by the Australian forces during the war in this part of the world.

Dawn Service at Henley

Yesterday morning I attended the Anzac Day dawn service at Henley Beach. I have been going to these services for about 15 years; playing in the Henley and Grange Concert Band. It is gratifying to observe that a growing number of people are attending; a time to remember and honour the sacrifices of our servicemen and women.

ABC Wednesdays - O for orphan girl

Thanks to Steve for the photo

This is 'Sarah', a young child whose parents died on board a ship enroute to Adelaide in the 1800's. She is sitting on her bunk, holding her only real possession; a straw doll. You can read about her at the Maritime Museum at Port Adelaide.

Last October as part of the Port Festival, Sarah came alive - her story was told by this young girl, my granddaughter, who was employed for the weekend to roleplay her character. During the day she went about her chores, sweeping and scrubbing, spoke to passing visitors and spent time playing with her friend.

Throughout the Museum there were other actors enacting other characters, giving patrons a better understanding of life at sea.

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Heart of the City

A quiet Sunday morning view of Adelaide; a northerly aspect with Victoria Square in the foreground.

City Street Skate

This morning a small group of roller bladers and roller skaters took part in a 6km ride through the city. The event, organised by SkateSA, provided participants the opportunity to skate on the city street circuit with a police escort.

Similar events are held in many cities around the world. The event in Paris is held regularly on a Friday night and attracts thousands of skaters. Maybe this event today in Adelaide could be the start of something big!

Adelaide Botanic Garden First Creek Wetland

Adelaide need to conserve water, so projects like this are significant for our future. Some of the water that would otherwise flow out to sea in periods of heavy rain will be captured and stored here; to be used for watering the Botanic Gardens.

(Copy of an information board at the site)

ABC Wednesdays - N for National Wine Centre

The National Wine Centre of Australia was built in 2000 and has won many awards for its architecture and features. It is used as a function centre and for wine education. A key attraction for visitors is an interactive display that covers such topics as vine growing, wine regions in Australia, history and containers.

The Centre has a very large cellar that can house up to 38,000 bottles! A selection of these can be tasted at the Concourse Cafe.

I briefly visited the Centre to take some photos, but will be going back soon the spend more time looking at the display and, of course, sampling some of the wines!

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Second Valley jetty

Second Valley

Second Valley is 91km south of Adelaide, just off the main road to Cape Jervis. This shot was taken in February on a balmy warm summer's day.

Second Valley was named by Mathew Flinders in 1836 as he explored the coastline looking for a suitable site for Adelaide. He had spent a few days further south at Rapid Bay and then discovered another little valley; the second valley.

Sealink Terminal

The Sealink is a vehicle and passenger ferry that that services Kangaroo Island. The terminal is about a hundred kilometres south of Adelaide and the ferry takes about forty minutes to travel the 20 kilometres across Backstairs Passage to Penneshaw.

Unfortunately it not always this calm. Many years ago I sailed my small yacht across to the Island in 4 metre seas; the ferry might have been a better option!

War Memorial Clock

This monument near the entrance to the Semaphore Jetty was unveiled in 1925, as a memorial to the soldiers who fell in the First World War. Since then another plaque has been added in memory of those who served in subsequent wars that Australia was involved in.

Semaphore sunset

We have been having some glorious weather this week; temperatures in the upper 20's and very little wind, and to top it off an evening glow when the sun sets. This was the Semaphore Jetty yesterday, much less busy that it was last weekend during the Kite Festival.

Puppet lad

A roving performer at Semaphore during the Kite Festival last weekend.

ABC Wednesdays - M for migration

"The Immigrants" is a bronze statue located at the Migration Museum in Adelaide. It was designed by Italian sculptor Aurelio Fortelaan and was created by the Guastini Artistic Foundry of Vicenza in Italy.

Adelaide's Migration Museum has numerous displays depicting migration to our state; starting with the British in 1836 through to the current day. SA is now very much a multi-cultural state, and this museum tells the stories of the groups of people who immigrated; who came, why they came, how they came and what they brought with them - new skills and ideas that have enhanced our culture.

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Oz Feathers

 Oz Feathers is a South Australian company that make 'feathers' like these for groups and businesses. Their display added yet more colour at the Adelaide Kite Festival. Click here to see what the company offers.