Posts Tagged ‘Aboriginals’

Think Tasmania articles referring to People Tasmania.

People Tasmania

Accommodation Ulverstone – Tony & Val Foster

Adore U – Designer Jasmine Shepherd

Arty – Kym & Sarah Moving Options

Barn Market – Artisan Makers

Beaconsfield Mine – Brant Webb & Todd Russell

Bicheno Ocean View Retreat – Debbie & Jock Gardam

Big Tree – Peter Cundall

Bill Flowers – Jennifer Rowlands

Blue Rocks – Soap by Kath Dallas

Bohemian Beauty – Silvia Bell

Caroline Kininmonth – King Island Icon

Cassandra Wunsch – Journalism Student

Chocolate Hampers – Karen Kelly

Dan Fellow – Professional Tourism Photography

David Foster – Tasmanian Champion Bloke

D’Entrecasteaux Soaps – Carol Whitmore & Jen Holdsworth

Devil of a Cookbook – Fiona Hoskin

Devonport – Russell Robertson

Devonport Tasmania – Joseph & Enid Lyons

Dinner Cruise – Captain Fell (Peter)

Don River Railway – Volunteers

Estia Greek Festival – Tasmanian Greek Community

Exposed Beauty – Belle, Cacia, Katie & Prue

Farmers Market Hobart – Anne, Jo & Michelle

Flatpack Bakers – Tamsin Singleton

Food Tour – Sally Legosz

Friends – Genevieve Viney

Fudge – Dannielle Quinn & Matthew Gould

Geeveston – Rino Nobel

Gina Scott – North East of Tasmania

Gourmet Farmer – Matthew Evans

Gourmet Food Tour – Mary McNeill

Governor of Tasmania – His Excellency Peter Underwood

Great Team – Think Tasmania, Everyone!

Haberle Photo Cards – Carol Haberle

Handmade in Tasmania – Lucy Patmore

Happy New Year 2012 – from Think Tasmania

Hobart Centre of Learning – Karen Goodwin-Roberts

Hobart Doll Show – Susan Lyden & Doll Club

Hobart International – Tennis Professionals

Holiday in Hobart – Brian Ritchie

Island Markets – Local Fishmonger

Jen Holdsworth – Hospital Healing Hampers

Joseph Lyons – Enid Lyons

June Wilson – Pastel Artist, Latrobe

Kaydale Lodge – Kay & Robert Crowden

Kempton – Karen Collyer-Christmas

King Island – Beef Cattle Farmers

Lark Distillery – Lark Family

Latrobe Fine Art Gallery – Beverley Skurulis

Letterpress – Narelle Badalassi

Leven River Cruise – Kim Haines

Lorraine McNeair – Latrobe Tourist Information Centre

Love in Tasmania – Des Brown & Robb Tait

Mad About Apples – Melita Beard

Made in Tasmania – Artisans

Mary Lewis Designs – Glass Beads & Jewellery Artist

Merry Christmas – and Thanks for the Support, People!

Michelle Kneipp Pegler – Leven River Farm

Middleton Country Fair – Premier David Bartlett

Mike Fry – Photojournalism: West Coast Tourism

Mountain River Yoghurt – Barbara Pippos

Naracoopa Cottages – John & Rhonda, King Island

Natelle Two – Laura Roper

Nest – Natalie Simpson

Nicole Meijer – Just Like Nicole DJ

NosMos – Hiedi Limebeer & Rodney J Alexander

Pedal Buggies – from Dallas to Michelle

Pili Pala – Pieces by Helen Mansbridge

Queens Domain – The People’s Place

Richard Cowling – Mad Keane Photography

Ritchie’s Mill – Kim Seagram & Becky Shrimpton

Roger Findlay – Think Tasmania Tourist Reporter

Sarah Woodward – Tasmanian Clay Artist

Shene – David and Anne Kernke

State Library of Tasmania – Henry Allport

Sweet-As – George & Sharon Smith

TAFE Tasmania – CLAYmates

Tasmanian Adventure – Mark Webber

Tasmanian Craft Fair – John Dare

Tasmanian Female Skipper – Laura Roper

Tasmanian Government – Governor Underwood

Tasmanian Menu – Simone Bett & Alastair Bett

Tasmanian Produce – Hilbarn

Tasmanian Trout Fishing – Mike Tenner

Tasmanian Wineries – The Pooley Family

Tasmazia – Brian & Laura Inder

Tassie Devils – Angela Wilson

Tassie Experience – Judy Livingston

Tassie Treasures – Stacey Saunders Facebook Page

Ten Things That Attract Me to Tasmania – Friends

Tennis Tasmania Bruce Cup – Simon Youl

Terrapin Puppet Theatre – Jeff Michel & Sam McMahon

The Gatekeeper – Hanna Parssinen

The Taste – Mr Squid, Sword Swallower

Thermomix – Fiona Hoskin

Three Little Ducks – Mark and Ruth de Bont

Think Tasmania Festive Season – Personal Greetings

Tourism Tasmania – Jack Lark MasterChef

Tucker’s Tennis Museum – Denis Tucker

Waterfalls – Cameron Blake

What is Think Tasmania – Tania & Gavin Horne

Wind – Robert Nichols

Wings Wildlife Park – Megan & Tracey Wing

Wooden Boat Centre – Sir John & Lady Jane Franklin; Tetsuya Wakuda

World Party Hobart – Diverse Community Celebration

Youl – Simon, Hamish & Tom

It’s a Miracle!  Tasmanian History is Fascinating.

Tasmanian History: making teaching (and learning) easier!  Anyone with school-aged kids will know this:  you have to offer them something exceptional to spark an interest in history.

Tasmanian History is Monumental…

Here’s the thing with Tasmanian history – the whole state is a monument!  Every way you turn, there’s bridges and buildings built by convict hand.  There’s a whole attraction at Port Arthur dedicated to transportation, focused on the colonisation of Australia.  And what about the naming of the towns and features?

Tasmanian History: Campbell Town bridge, Heritage Highway

Exploring Tasmanian History…

When crossing from Melbourne to Devonport on the Spirit of Tasmania, the stretch of water dividing the two (Bass Strait) refers to George Bass.  Explorer Bass has been granted multiple naming rights, if George Town in the north of Tasmania can also be credited to him.  And with good reason – with Matthew Flinders (as in Flinders Island), history records them circumnavigating the state, proving that Tasmania was actually an island.  Probably saved the next batch of explorers a great deal of travel time!!

George who? Naming features in Tasmanian history.

Local Indigenous Tasmanian History…

Aboriginal heritage also plays a part in naming.   It is believed the Bay of Fires was named by explorer Furneaux seeing the  flames of the natives’ fires along the coastline as he sailed by in 1773.  That sounds reasonable!

Get Your Hands on History in Tasmania…

It’s also reasonable to assume that history as a subject is enhanced by practical excursions.  My children enjoyed exploring the remains of the Coal Mines on the Tasman Peninsula, and have retained that information more than anything else they have read about convicts.  Amazing, considering this site is free to visit and easily accessed in a day-trip from Hobart.

Coal Mine site, the budget-friendly historic cousin of Port Arthur

Tasmanian history is naturally woven into the visitor itinerary:  the expeditions of Bass and Flinders, the heritage of convicts and the study of the indigenous inhabitants.  Great when you want your kids to just absorb some extra learning without even knowing it.

Tasmanian History: Oatlands, Heritage Highway

A good excuse for a holiday in Tasmania – as if anyone needed an excuse!!  Tasmanian history offers extra curricular activities for the kids, it’s got nothing to do with that wine tour, or the chocolate factory, or the market day, or…

Travel to the Bay of Fires for research?  Gee, tough gig!!

Bay of Fires Beach (Photo by Dan Fellow)

Bay of Fires Tasmania: arriving at St Helens, you are offered terrific service facilities for a town of 5,000 locals, with a fishing fleet and a pleasant location.  My local source (the check-out operator at the supermarket), informed me the population more than doubles in the summer, when tourists flock to the area for the love of a good beach.  Must say at this point, however, that the only flock on this particular day was of the feathered variety.

The marina in St Helens, base for the Bay of Fires Park

Bay of Fires: Hot Topic

St Helens, in northeast Tasmania, has a big range of activities within comfortable driving distance of both Hobart and Launceston.  But that’s a whole other story. This current report is chiefly regarding the winner of the “hottest travel destination 2009″ title:  the Bay of Fires (as judged by The Lonely Planet).

Sceptical of tourism brochures showing idyllic, tropical-island images;  a first-hand visit actually confirms this one.  The sands are pure white, the water is turquoise and the vast expanse was deserted.  Enticing enough to strip down to one’s underwear and dive in for a swim.  Well, almost!

Binalong: Bay of Fires HQ

Anyway, Binalong Bay is at the southern end of the Bay of Fires in north east Tasmania.  Apparently it was named due to the sightings of aboriginal fires by Captain Furneaux as he sailed by in 1773.  The significance of the area has now been acknowledged with proposed national park status.

The Gardens, Bay of Fires National Park

Driving about 13kms along the scenic road with views of the picturesque bay to The Gardens, I checked out the rugged camping sites along the way.  Here, you either seriously rough it or take your own luxuries with you in some form of motor-home.  The northern end of the section, via unsealed roads, includes Mt William National Park and the Eddystone Point Lighthouse on the most eastern tip of the state.

Sand Dunes at St Helens Point

Judging by the map, the only point that might be a squeak more east than Eddystone is St Helens Point.  Running parallel to Binalong Bay Road, separated only by Georges Bay, is a road leading to Peron Dunes.  Great fun for energetic kids and a delightful prospect for the amateur photographer!  You get the impression that you are the first to stumble across this treasure, all wind-swept and natural bushland.

St Helens Point, East Coast Tasmania

The Lonely Planet didn’t mention this jewel,
but its close proximity to the Bay of Fires
could have them as a dual attraction.
Not that you need more incentive to travel here.

Peron Dunes & St Helens Point accompany the Bay of Fires

The Bay of Fires Rocks!!

A final highlight from the experience to finish with?  The rocks!!  How could rocks be a highlight, you may well ask?

• Besides being a pushover in the photography stakes,
  they have a magnetism all their own
• Rounded and ranging in colour from granite pink to fiery orange,
  they dominate the seaside landscape
• They can be perched on for maritime viewing; clambered over
  for fun and exercise; or just examined for lichen

Orange lichen on the Bay of Fires rocks (Photo by Dan Fellow)

What more do you need from a highlight?  Well okay – not everyone is into rocks.  But the lure of the Bay of Fires:  it has something for every beach lover.

Click here to check out my favourite Bay of Fires photo, taken by Dan Fellow.

Map: Bay of Fires Tasmania…

The Tasmanian Museum.  I would suggest it’s one of the best attractions to visit in Hobart.  But who’s going to believe me?

The Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery

Not wanting to show bias to my personal favourites, I enlisted the assistance of two junior researchers.  Their job was to judge if I was just a geek (their word), or my suggestion really held up.

Entrance to the Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery

There is a school holiday program conducted at the museum, but in the interests of a fair trial, my group went in to tackle the exhibits head on.  The results, I’m happy to report, were unanimous and support my original assessment – thumbs up for the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, Hobart.  Here’s our short-list of favourites, in no particular order:

Tasmanian Aboriginal Gallery

The collection is called Ningenneh Tunapry, which translates to mean “give knowledge and understanding”.  It is essentially a celebration of  indigenous history and culture, including a really big bark canoe!  There is another room dedicated to Tasmanian Aboriginals on the first floor.

Zoology Gallery

This is where you get to touch stuff – usually frowned upon, for obvious reasons.  But in here:  encouraged!!  There’s all sorts of animal skins and furs to pat and stroke, as well as glass display cabinets filled with snakes, spiders and other creepy crawlies.  There’s mounted birds in an interactive seascape scene, and the big one – the Tasmanian Tiger display (no, you can’t touch that one).  There’s also video footage of the last captive tiger (they are now extinct) pacing back and forth in his cage, which I found a little disturbing.

Convict Gallery

Following a visit to the Port Arthur convict settlement, this was another reminder of Tasmania’s colonial heritage.  Guns for the uniformed guards;  pick axes and shackles for the prisoners.  There’s lots of historical information displayed if you have the time and opportunity to read it.

TMAG - Guard Portrait displayed in Convict Gallery

Islands to Ice Exhibition

Wow!  This is a fantastic, interactive room that bombards the senses.  The exhibit is everything Antarctica:  a 3D movie experience, oceans and currents, bird and sea-life displays and the deal breaker:  a big, wet patch of ice that you can stick your hands on to melt patterns.  Really!

Interactive Ice Sculpture at the Tasmanian Museum

If you only have time to visit one exhibit, make it the
Islands to Ice room at the Tasmanian Museum.

Antarctica bird-life from the Islands to Ice Exhibit

The art gallery section often has photographic displays – a personal preference of mine.  I love those amazing black and white, formal “old-time” photos standing proudly next to more contemporary works.  But that’s just me being all geeky.  Anyway…

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) facts:

• open daily 10am-5pm (except Good Friday, Christmas & ANZAC Day)
• the main entrance is via Macquarie Street, Hobart
• located between the CBD and Constitution Dock
• metered parking is available nearby, entry via courtyard cafe
• general admission is free (donations always welcome)
• special, touring exhibits may charge individual fees*
• all the essentials are catered for: cafe, shop, cloak room, toilets
• wheelchairs are available from the information desk
• guided tours are provided periodically free of charge

The guided tour is on my to-do list;  so far my game plan has been to wander aimlessly on my own.  Actually to be honest, the wandering is usually rushing, to see as much as possible in the pinch of time I have in between other engagements.  This is both good and bad, because:

(a) there’s always things to come back to see next time around; but

(b) I always leave wishing I had more time at the Tasmanian Museum right now!!

Oceans & Currents on Display in the Islands to Ice Exhibit

*For more information about special exhibits, visit the
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery site.

Map: Tasmanian Museum Hobart…