Blackbutt Reserve

Since I was unable to visit Gap Creek Falls the other day, I decided I might pop in to have a look at the new animal enclosures at Blackbutt Reserve near Newcastle. I will say straight off the bat that I do have something of a prejudice against Blackbutt Reserve, as I see the place as nothing like a natural bush setting, it being far too ‘corrupted’ by human activity, weeds and the like. Having said that it is a good place for a family or group outing/event. It certainly has its place, but it is not a true nature reserve (in my opinion).

ABOVE: Visitor Centre

I do think that some well designed animal and bird enclosures at Blackbutt could lift the value of the reserve dramatically and make it a really great place for families, especially young families. There are opportunities for educational visits for kids, possible environmental activities and the like there. So the potential is certainly there for Blackbutt.

The enclosures of my youth are giving way to those that are much better and up to a more modern standard, which is great to see. Certainly the improvements I saw are great and some of them are outstanding. The Quoll enclosure, with nocturnal habitat viewing was brilliant. Some of the other enclosures are getting there also, though I was disappointed with the size of some of the aviaries and poor vegetation choices they appeared to have. They didn’t look to great for the birds, which I think is not a good look. Still, they are a major improvement on what had been there before.

Some of the other enclosures for snakes and amphibians were really good also I have to say and overall the place is going ahead and improving all of the time. So I think it has a place into the future, if it can continue to improve along the way. Just some thoughts…

ABOVE LEFT: Modern Enclosures  ABOVE RIGHT: Koala BELOW: Nocturnal Quoll Enclosure

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Australia: Queensland – Barcaldine Museum

 

This photo was taken during my first major trip around Australia in 1998. The museum at Barcaldine in Queensland provides a wonderful glimpse into the past, with many examples of machinery from our past.

Australia: New South Wales – Warrumbungle National Park

View from the Grand High Tops

 

 

The photo above was taken during my first major trip around Australia in 1998. The Warrumbungle National Park was my first stop in that holiday. This photo shows a view from the Grand High Tops.

Tracing our History

I have been away from this Blog for the last several weeks because of the work I have been doing on one of my sites. I have been transferring, reviewing and updating my genealogy website and the work is now more-or-less completed. There are several pages that still require a bit of work, but the majority of the site is now functioning correctly. The site has been moved to a new domain and host, and has also had a major overhaul.

Visit ‘Tracing our History’ at:
http://tracingourhistory.com

Entering the Harbour

A ship is entering Newcastle Harbour in today’s photo. This picture shows Nobby’s from Fort Scratchley in New South Wales, Australia. This is the scene of the 2007 Pasher Bulker grounding during a major storm event.

FAMILY HISTORY RESEARCH

One of the things I’m really into is genealogy. I have been researching my family history for at least 10 years now, probably longer. This is something I spend quite a bit of time on and at the moment I probably spend at least 6 hours a week on it.

By the end of the year I am hoping to publish a book on my family history, which will be about 700-1000 pages long. It will be quite an effort to have it completed by then (that is the information I have thus far compiled), though the research will continue after the book is completed and there will undoubtedly by further updated editions down the track. It is exciting to know that there is a major milestone not too far away.