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Australia - The Land Down Under
- Thread starter Condobloke
- Start date
I replied but lost it. My wife says her Dad would have possibly known them. He was from Duncans Creek. A little ways past Dungowan. He actually played Cricket for Dungowan.
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
from memory, (and remember this is bloody long time ago) we came into dungowan and the pub ?...I think...was on the left hand side, and we would turn left there and his property was up the hill on the right hand side. No idea how many acres he had....it wasn't all that big. It ran down to the peel river, I think.
He was a grumpy , crusty old man even then. Tough as nails, but perpetually angry
He was a grumpy , crusty old man even then. Tough as nails, but perpetually angry
That's pretty much the best year. I mean, I'm biased, but I think it was a great year.
Now that might be interesting. Speaking of which, I should think of some uniquely Australian song and record it.
As for this old age stuff... I got to thinking again...
(And, yes, this has to do with Australia - just wait a minute and I'll get there.)
When I was a kid, when I just got my license, gasoline was $0.53 per US gallon.
That's what the internet tells me. My memory says it was about right.
Adjusted for inflation, that's $3.82 per US gallon.
Yesterday, the average price of gasoline (using Maine's average) was $2.99.
It sure feels a lot more expensive. Also, I am not currently driving anything that uses the cheaper gasoline. The car I'm driving takes premium. (That's 87 octane vs 93 octane for the premium.) Well, it could also be 91 octane if it's ethanol-free.
The real price I paid was $3.29 per US gallon.
Those years were because we could get our license at the age of 15 - if we timed it properly and took driver's ed.
So, I went looking... Again, it's your fault for making me think...
I went and dug up the official Auustralian inflation calculator, the one on their .gov site.
At first, I tried to use 1965 but it complained about not using pounds and pence. So, I used 1966 as the starting year.
I then tried to use the current year, 2025. It complained again, saying that I could only use 2024.
So, I did that...
The $0.25 AUS you spent on that thing of milk would be the same as spending $4.02 AUS in 2024. I have no idea how much a chocolate milk costs in Australia today. It's hopefully less than $4.02 AUS unless you're buying some upscale gourmet stuff. At least I hope it's less than $4.02 AUS.
Further... That made me think more...
I just checked the exchange rates. $4.02 AUS is equal to $2.60 USD...
That wouldn't buy much pre-mixed chocolate milk. You can buy a half-gallon of milk for $2.25 USD in Maine. A large thing of powdered chocolate mix would be a few dollars (but make a lot of chocolate milk), and a chocolate syrup product would make less chocolate milk but be about the same cost.
So, you could be paying $4.02 AUD for chocolate milk. If you're paying less than that, you could be getting a deal!
Also, this is fun and all, but inflation rates and exchange rates aren't always that accurate and are easily misleading due to things like societal value of goods or even outliers such as ease of manufacturing or shipping. While the numbers used are 'precise', they likely do not represent a 1:1 reality. They are useful approximations and nothing more.
I probably shouldn't do more thinking - but I did tell you that I would get to the Australia bit. I'm now a bit curious about chocolate milk prices on your island nation.
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Chocolate milk?....I have no clue....I will ask Te. My instincts tell me you are close.
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Your calculations and my instincts were spot on, David
In a high school canteen Chocolate milk costs ~$4.50 ....and in the largest supermarket chain $4.20
In a high school canteen Chocolate milk costs ~$4.50 ....and in the largest supermarket chain $4.20
I decided to look. I always forget that people order groceries online. They don't deliver to my house. No, they do not...
The 'store brand' chocolate milk is $2.62. The name-brand chocolate milk is $2.99.
Those prices are for a half gallon. A half gallon is about 1.9 liters.
You also sometimes have weird things... Like, right now, a dozen eggs is a lot of money. This is because of a bird flu thing but also increased demand. That's right... Folks heard that eggs were more scarce due to bird flu and suddenly decided to buy even more eggs than they've ever purchased in their life. Trying to do any inflationary calculations would be stupid because costs are not accurately represented.
We humans are not rational beings, we're rationalizing beings...
We have fewer eggs! I know, I'll buy more eggs than I usually buy!
Also, I don't pay for eggs. It's a long story but let's just say that I eat a lot of food that didn't come from a grocery store. You can PM me to ask about it, but it has nothing to do with Australia.
The 'store brand' chocolate milk is $2.62. The name-brand chocolate milk is $2.99.
Those prices are for a half gallon. A half gallon is about 1.9 liters.
You also sometimes have weird things... Like, right now, a dozen eggs is a lot of money. This is because of a bird flu thing but also increased demand. That's right... Folks heard that eggs were more scarce due to bird flu and suddenly decided to buy even more eggs than they've ever purchased in their life. Trying to do any inflationary calculations would be stupid because costs are not accurately represented.
We humans are not rational beings, we're rationalizing beings...
We have fewer eggs! I know, I'll buy more eggs than I usually buy!
Also, I don't pay for eggs. It's a long story but let's just say that I eat a lot of food that didn't come from a grocery store. You can PM me to ask about it, but it has nothing to do with Australia.
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Outback teen turns welding into station sign side hustle
Annabelle Smith says her passion for welding developed into a business after word of her skill spread across far west NSW.
www.abc.net.au
I kind of want one. The shipping costs would likely be greater than the cost of the sign.
I can sort of weld. I have a stick and TIG welder but I'd not trust my welds for anything structural. Well, I guess it depends on the structure. I have recently welded a small trailer.
I wonder what her shaping process is. It looks like she's using a pipe bender for the letters and using the same die for it to keep the letters consistent.
I can sort of weld. I have a stick and TIG welder but I'd not trust my welds for anything structural. Well, I guess it depends on the structure. I have recently welded a small trailer.
I wonder what her shaping process is. It looks like she's using a pipe bender for the letters and using the same die for it to keep the letters consistent.
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Where is Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Filmed? Inside the Action Epic’s Australian Filming Locations
Here’s how they made it epic
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Broken Hill, NSW Australia The Capital of the Outback
1300 km west of Sydney.
approx 17000 people
Broken Hill is a city in the far west region of outback New South Wales, Australia. An inland mining city, it is near the border with South Australia on the crossing of the Barrier Highway and the Silver City Highway, in the Barrier Range. It is 315 m above sea level, with a cold semi-arid climate, and an average rainfall of 265 mm. The closest major city is Mildura, 300 km to the south and the nearest State Capital City is Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, which is more than 500 km to the southwest and linked via route A32, the Barrier Highway. The town is prominent in Australia's mining, industrial relations and economic history after the discovery of silver-lead-zinc ore led to the opening of various mines, thus establishing Broken Hill's recognition as a prosperous mining town well into the 1990s. Wikipedia
www.timeout.com
1300 km west of Sydney.
approx 17000 people
Broken Hill is a city in the far west region of outback New South Wales, Australia. An inland mining city, it is near the border with South Australia on the crossing of the Barrier Highway and the Silver City Highway, in the Barrier Range. It is 315 m above sea level, with a cold semi-arid climate, and an average rainfall of 265 mm. The closest major city is Mildura, 300 km to the south and the nearest State Capital City is Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, which is more than 500 km to the southwest and linked via route A32, the Barrier Highway. The town is prominent in Australia's mining, industrial relations and economic history after the discovery of silver-lead-zinc ore led to the opening of various mines, thus establishing Broken Hill's recognition as a prosperous mining town well into the 1990s. Wikipedia
| Established | 1883 |
|---|---|
| Postcode(s) | 2880 |
I went to the NSW outback for the first time ever – this is why I think you should, too
In Broken Hill, deep in regional NSW, you'll discover so much more than quirky pubs and stunning desert landscapes.
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Locusts destroy western Queensland pastures with plague possible by summer
After the rains, locusts descend on western Queensland properties
Graziers are watching pastures disappear, despite some spending tens of thousands to protect their paddocks from voracious swarms threatening to grow to plague proportions.
www.abc.net.au
Sherri is a Cat
Well-Known Member
Locusts destroy western Queensland pastures with plague possible by summer
After the rains, locusts descend on western Queensland properties
Graziers are watching pastures disappear, despite some spending tens of thousands to protect their paddocks from voracious swarms threatening to grow to plague proportions.
View attachment 25845
View attachment 25846
The Four Horsemen, the Rapture...
Or climate change.
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Climate change does not get a look in. Locusts occur naturally, as their main source is the channel country in Queensland.
The Channel Country is a region of outback Australia mostly in the state of Queensland but also in parts of South Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales. The name comes from the numerous intertwined rivulets that cross the region, which cover 150,000 km². The Channel Country is over the Cooper and Eromanga geological basins and the Lake Eyre Basin drainage basin. Further to the east is the less arid Maranoa district. Wikipedia
Locust Pest Status Review
Page 3 February 2003
3.0 History
3.1 Outbreaks across Australia
Locust plagues can occur more or less anywhere in mainland Australia. Of the major
locust species, the Australian plague locust has traditionally had the greatest impact in
this country, with outbreaks having occurred since early settlement in south-eastern
Australia. Problems with this locust are particularly frequent in inland areas of New
South Wales and South Australia due to the proximity of these states to the usual
source area for breeding—the Queensland Channel Country. In some years swarms
of the Australian plague locust also reach cropping areas of Victoria and Queensland.
The Great Dividing Range acts as a natural barrier to migrating locusts; however, from
1930–50, Australian plague locusts commonly invaded subcoastal areas of New
South Wales, but preventive control by the APLC has made such invasions rare.
An unidentified species, believed to be the Australian plague locust, was first reported
invading Adelaide in 1844 (Key, in Farrow & Baker 1989). Further outbreaks recorded
in New South Wales and South Australia throughout the 1800s were a mixture of
Australian plague locusts and the small plague grasshopper, Austoicetes cruciata.
There have been thirteen plagues and six major outbreaks of the Australian plague
locust in the eastern half of Australia since 1933. Although infrequent, outbreaks of
locusts do occur in Western Australia.
Locusts are in the superfamily Acridoidea, in the large family Acrididae, which has 712
species in 225 genera in Australia, most of which (93%) are endemic to this continent
(Rentz 1996). Worldwide, this superfamily has 8000 species in 1500 genera (CSIRO
1991). The economically important species in Queensland are drawn from two
subfamilies—the Australian plague locusts (Chortoicetes terminifera), migratory
locusts (Locusta migratoria migratorioides), and the yellow-winged locust
(Gastrimargus musicus) are members of the subfamily Acridinae; while spur-throated
locusts (Austracris guttulosa synonym Nomadacris guttulosa) and wingless
grasshoppers (Phaulacridium vittatum) come from a subfamily called Catantopinae,
which has over 600 species.
Channel Country
Bioregion of AustraliaThe Channel Country is a region of outback Australia mostly in the state of Queensland but also in parts of South Australia, Northern Territory and New South Wales. The name comes from the numerous intertwined rivulets that cross the region, which cover 150,000 km². The Channel Country is over the Cooper and Eromanga geological basins and the Lake Eyre Basin drainage basin. Further to the east is the less arid Maranoa district. Wikipedia
Locust Pest Status Review
Page 3 February 2003
3.0 History
3.1 Outbreaks across Australia
Locust plagues can occur more or less anywhere in mainland Australia. Of the major
locust species, the Australian plague locust has traditionally had the greatest impact in
this country, with outbreaks having occurred since early settlement in south-eastern
Australia. Problems with this locust are particularly frequent in inland areas of New
South Wales and South Australia due to the proximity of these states to the usual
source area for breeding—the Queensland Channel Country. In some years swarms
of the Australian plague locust also reach cropping areas of Victoria and Queensland.
The Great Dividing Range acts as a natural barrier to migrating locusts; however, from
1930–50, Australian plague locusts commonly invaded subcoastal areas of New
South Wales, but preventive control by the APLC has made such invasions rare.
An unidentified species, believed to be the Australian plague locust, was first reported
invading Adelaide in 1844 (Key, in Farrow & Baker 1989). Further outbreaks recorded
in New South Wales and South Australia throughout the 1800s were a mixture of
Australian plague locusts and the small plague grasshopper, Austoicetes cruciata.
There have been thirteen plagues and six major outbreaks of the Australian plague
locust in the eastern half of Australia since 1933. Although infrequent, outbreaks of
locusts do occur in Western Australia.
Locusts are in the superfamily Acridoidea, in the large family Acrididae, which has 712
species in 225 genera in Australia, most of which (93%) are endemic to this continent
(Rentz 1996). Worldwide, this superfamily has 8000 species in 1500 genera (CSIRO
1991). The economically important species in Queensland are drawn from two
subfamilies—the Australian plague locusts (Chortoicetes terminifera), migratory
locusts (Locusta migratoria migratorioides), and the yellow-winged locust
(Gastrimargus musicus) are members of the subfamily Acridinae; while spur-throated
locusts (Austracris guttulosa synonym Nomadacris guttulosa) and wingless
grasshoppers (Phaulacridium vittatum) come from a subfamily called Catantopinae,
which has over 600 species.
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
10 things you didn’t know about the Channel Country - Outback Queensland
You’ve probably heard of the Channel Country, but chances are, you have no idea where to find it. If you’re somewhere in Outback Queensland’s Barcoo, Boulia or Diamantina Shire, you’re right amongst it.
www.outbackqueensland.com.au
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
5 epic Outback Queensland sunsets - Outback Queensland
Get yourself to one of these spots for the picture perfect Outback Queensland sunset.
www.outbackqueensland.com.au
I know nothing about locusts except that the most successful day of fishing I ever had was when I was using grasshoppers as bait - and I'm pretty sure those little things wouldn't count as "locusts".
But you're talking about -Australia- and you guys don't do anything half fast, so to speak, so I'm semi-expecting to hear something like, "and by the way, these locusts are venomous and are even more deadly than the North American Bone Tick".
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
On the subject of fishing, Cod and Barramundi both love grasshoppers and locusts...if there are any perch hanging around, they also love them.
The fish for culinary pleasure, is the Barramundi.
The only way locusts will be dangerous will be if they lodge in your throat and choke you to death.
There are plenty of other critters in the channel country for you to watch out for.
The fish for culinary pleasure, is the Barramundi.
The only way locusts will be dangerous will be if they lodge in your throat and choke you to death.
There are plenty of other critters in the channel country for you to watch out for.
And what a way to get rid of them:
Just find a good recipe and -eat- the little bastards! Either a) you deplete their numbers enough to eliminate them as a problem or b) you have a never ending source of food. Either way, you win.
I'm not sure how many folks would be able to bring themselves to eat bugs but I do feel like I should throw in a disclaimer about seemingly "win/win" situations:
Dandelions, which in my corner of the U.S. are considered a weed, are the bane of many homeowners who just want a nice green, well manicured lawn. The flower stems also grow absurdly fast so you can mow your grass today and they'll have it looking all ratty again by tomorrow. I don't really care that much what my grass looks like but I had this great idea that I thought would be a great public service to those who do.
There is such a thing as a "dandelion green salad". There's also rule of thumb, brown thumb, so to speak, that says that if I try to grow food in my garden, the relevant plants will die. So playing these two things against each other, I picked some dandelion greens and made myself a salad on the theory that either a) all dandelions plants in my yard would immediately die or b) I'd have a never ending supply of greenery for salads. Either way, I win.
Yeah... no. The salad didn't taste too bad until the moment I swallowed the first bite. Then a previously undetected blast of "bitter" hit the back of my mouth and I literally could not swallow it the whole way. I hate to think what that might have done had it actually reached my stomach (or further). I've learned to just appreciate the pretty yellow flowers in my yard.
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Condobloke
Well-Known Member
Most natives are bitter. I have eaten/imbibed unknown plants/sort of fruit looking thingoes....from the Philippines. My good wife, (who I love dearly...Filipino)) was damn near a widow.
The 'concoction' cured the stomach upset which was bothering me no end......talk about a blast from the
The real 'hurt'....was the sight of my good wife laughing herself silly....at my expense.
Life.
It is the bitter nature of these native things that do the job. They have been used for centuries as medicine.....and still are to a great degree...especially in countries where medical services are either non existent or horribly expensive.
btw.....dandelions. A good dose of sulphate of ammonia...powdered....sprinkled liberally all over the grass/lawn just before it rains....will get rid of them.
It will also increase your grass cutting activities from fortnightly to twice weekly
