Australia - The Land Down Under

[Condobloke]

Given that he is working, in most cases, in country that sees little disturbance of any kind on a day to day basis, the risk of disturbing a snake is very real.
I dont know his exact location but judging by the fact that the area are mainly cropping or grazing areas, the presence of an Eastern Brown snake is going to be highly likely. They love peace and quiet, and rarely (if ever) actively go looking for trouble.
However, if they sense trouble...ie a human being clattering around on a tractor/truck/engine etc etc which has been undisturbed for a long, Long time......they are gonna get stroppy.

Eastern Brown snake...A few facts:
The eastern brown snake, often referred to as the common brown snake, is a species of extremely venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to eastern and central Australia and southern New Guinea. It was first described by André Marie Constant Duméril, Gabriel Bibron, and Auguste Duméril in 1854. The adult eastern brown snake has a slender build and can grow to 2 m in length Continued in Wikipedia (and longer, in my experience)

In other words, if an eastern brown is present, the best place you can be, is not there !
Withdraw cautiously, being thoroughly aware of your situation. Situational awareness is everything.

Of course, if you'd rather be dead, then upset the snake. He/she will be almost certain to make that wish a reality.(sarcasm....also fact)

Eastern Brown Snake

Eastern Brown Snake

australian.museum

Search 'eastern brown snake' in ddg and then click on images. Their colour varies, depending on diet, climate, and a whole host of other factors

 

[KGIII]

the risk of disturbing a snake is very real.

Indeed, 'disturbing snakes in Australia' is actually on my list of things to not do.

I've seen pics of that snake before, but I've never seen one in real life.

 

[KGIII]

It's decidedly past my 'bedtime'. I noticed this pop up in my queue and figured I'd share:

I've not yet taken the time to watch it. It'll be up on the TV in the bedroom shortly. (I'm usually still awake for a few hours after I 'check out' from this site. I do prioritize my time accordingly.)

 

[Condobloke]

There is most definitely a fascination with the Australian accent. The link below is from Facebook...it portrays an older Australian who has spent his life in the bush....the outback.
Hence, his accent and rate of speech is fairly slow and steady

I would normally view a man such as this, as inherently honest. He says what he means and means what he says. He is a salt of the earth type of person (from Wiktionary: A most worthy person. A decent, dependable, unpretentious person.

Have a listen: If the link to facebook does not load, try again....hit the refresh button in your browser etc

5.9K views · 13K reactions | Caught up with Ben Tapp out at Wandoan recently after a show out there asked him about the early days growing up at Killarney station, south of Katherine in the Northern Territory. A fascinating insight into how they live

Caught up with Ben Tapp out at Wandoan recently after a show out there asked him about the early days growing up at Killarney station, south of Katherine in the Northern Territory. A fascinating...

www.facebook.com

 

[BTH]

The good people here will no doubt have noticed that there is an abundance of Aussies here at Linux.org

Just a little something to wish everyone a Merry Christmas....from Alice Springs-based cinematographer, Chris Tangey,

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=487308648424471

G'day- Just joined from the Olympic City (Southeast) - That is if they build within budget for 2032..

 

[Condobloke]

Thread 'Temperature: Hot enough for you ?....Australia'

Jan 27, 2026

Temperature in Broken Hill NSW, Australia....on January 27, 2026

Just after 4PM.....Daylight saving time, so 3PM real time

Broken Hill is a city in the far west of the state of NSW (same state as Sydney) approx 1200 km north west of Sydney....Population around 18000

Broken Hill - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

• Condobloke

• 

 

[Condobloke]

Austin Appelbee: Australia boy, 13, describes swim to save family

Austin Applebee recounts his 'superhuman' swim which saved the lives of his mother and siblings in Australia.

www.bbc.com

 

[Brickwizard]

 

[Condobloke]

What's for tea, Mum ?

Hot pies and tomato sauce, same again for the second course.....

 

[KGIII]

Hot pies and tomato sauce, same again for the second course.....

As I quickly skimmed the new posts, I read that as 'hot peas and tomato sauce'. I was both confused and curious. In that quick instant, I was reminded of wasabi peas. At the moment, that sounds delicious.

Then again... Well, how do I describe this?

Hmm...

Let's just say that I don't have a lot of prejudices when it comes to what I'm willing to stuff into my face-hole. I accept the risks, but I find that it's delicious more often than not. So, I'd eat 'hot peas and tomato sauce'.

Well, turnip is right out of the question. I've tried turnip in dozens of foods, and it is always disgusting. Also, most crabs aren't really all that delicious (to me). I love lobster. I'm willing to try crab dishes, but they've mostly not appealed to me.

Yup... All of that from just misreading a word.

There is, as I recall, some Asian influence on the Australian diet (from ramen to pho, I guess). So, maybe you have wasabi peas to go with your tomato sauce.

 

[Condobloke]

Coles Supermarket is the second biggest in Australia.... the main rival Woolworths is the biggest

Wasabi peas are available at both. (So is tomato sauce)

 

[KGIII]

Wasabi peas are available at both. (So is tomato sauce)

At this point, I think you know what you have to do. You now have to try wasabi peas in a tomato sauce, for science!

LOL My nearest grocery store certainly doesn't have anything with wasabi in it. It's a small store and, quite literally, is where the supply trucks turn around to head back to civilization. That's not actually an exaggeration. The closest grocery store is the last one the grocery delivery trucks turn around. (They head back towards Farmington, Maine.)

Their idea of 'cultural foods' is a pack of hard taco shells with a small container of salsa.

I really can't complain too much. Dinner consisted of steaks that had never been frozen, potatoes, and cheesy broccoli

As an aside, broccoli is man-made. It was created with selective breeding by the Etruscans a long time ago.

It is delicious.

 

[Condobloke]

Speaking of cultural foods.....

15 Australian Dishes You Need To Try At Least Once - Tasting Table

If you're heading Down Under, there are some delicious dishes you need to add to your must-try list.

www.tastingtable.com

^^^^^....That's a Pav. (pavlova for those fussy about language

That, is a Lammo (Lamington, to you dreary mob who insist on correctness

A slice of Barramundi, (barra) ..arguably one of the best eating fish in the world (and a damn good sport catching them too)

What did you say?...looks like hundreds and thousands on a slice of butterred bread??....
That's because it is, ya galah !....Fairy Bread....a staple at any children's birthday party (and grownups1)

Sydney Rock Oysters. served like that, they fetch an asonishing price. Or, find a friendly local and go pick em up yourself.

Meat Pie. aka mystery bag (you may never know what's in them) The plain pie is made with beef....sometimes minced, chick, curried chicken/beef, tandoori, and a range as long as your arm.

Kangaroo Steak. If you choose to sample kangaroo, it is usually served as a medium-rare steak in Australia. The taste has been described as bold and earthy, and the texture is lean, with very little fat. Hop along to somewhere that serves it.

No not shrimp.....Prawn. get it right. You most certainly chuck a prawn on the barbie (bbq)...... No !....not your neighbour !....the prawns! (even if he is a bit of a yobbo/prawn)

Emu Meat. Many believe the Australian species should be left alone to live in the wild.
That said, I have never seen it on a menu. Low in fat and cholestrol.

Sausage Sizzle. Really?....I have always called them snags, or bangers. Been around forever and a day, commonly sold outside the Bunnings Warehouse stores every Saturday for around $3. The trip to bunnings for s snag sandwich has become a ritual. (330 + bunnings stores in Australia, huge hardware + chain)

Grilled Bugs. (yes, insect like things that wriggle in your mouth when you first bite them)
No....I am just having a loan of you (talking bs)....these are actually sought after, they are a crustacean (part of the lobster, crab, prawn crowd etc)....common names for them are Moreton Bay bugs and Balmain Bugs (very close to the heart of Sydney, suburbs)

Roast Lamb. probably one of the most popular dinner dishes in Australia. (chuck a leg a lamb in the oven, mate).....whack the oven on 180C....get it up to temp....have the leg already seasoned...some people season with brown sugar) whack the leg in.......leave it for 15 minutes (browns the outside nicely)....then turn the oven down to 110 - 120C.....and leave it alone for an hour (depending on what it weighs)
Put the peeled spuds (potatoes) and pumpkin etc in when it has a good half hour to go. I pre cook mine in the microwave, then dry and moisture off and coat them with oil and a bit of salt)
How high on the popularity list ?

Anzac Biscuits: ....better know as anzac bikkies
Why Anzac? Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
Good tucker.

Damper Bread:
Made with just flour, water, butter, milk, and salt, is dense and hearty, like Irish soda bread. It's especially tasty when still warm and spread with a generous dollop of butter.
Its gotta be warm/hot
You cant give it away when its cold....unless some poor unfortunate is starving.

Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/1920403/australian-dishes-to-try/

Vanilla Slice: I have seen blokes ride/drive 100's of km's to get a few of these. I am one of them.
They are 'picked apart' (not literally) buy those that regard themselves as connoisseurs. The crust/base is most important. if you end up with a gob (mouth) full of very small hard bits and pieces, then that is not a favoured crust. The fillings taste varies enormously depending on where you have bought it. Needless to say, any that come from a supermarket etc are not up to scratch (not good enough/inferior/mass produced)

If you need proof of just how loved this dessert is in Australia, you need only look to Merbein in Victoria. Every year, the town hosts The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph. The festival was first started in the town of Ouyen in 1998 by a local called Jeff Kennet, who had declared it his mission to find the best-tasting vanilla slice in the country. To this day, bakers all over Australia compete to take home the gold for their take on the iconic sweet treat.
The crowd that turns up there would do a footy grand final proud.. (lots and lots of people attend.

i'm hungry. I need steak: Australia is a leading player in the global beef market, exporting approximately 61% of its total beef production. The country is the second-largest beef exporter worldwide, known for its high-quality grain-fed and grass-fed beef.
Scotch Filet steak: Scotch fillet steak, also known as ribeye steak, is a tender and flavourful cut of beef that comes from the rib section of the animal. It is boneless and is prized for its marbling, which adds juiciness and taste when cooked.

How to cook?......ask Brian (Condobloke)

Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/1920403/australian-dishes-to-try/

 

[theLegionWithin]

many of those look amazing. never heard of damper bread but looking at a few recipes it looks very similar to a biscuit (as in biscuits with sausage gravy, not a cookie). I do enjoy irish soda bread so I may have to give this a try.

 

[noelw]

Speaking of cultural foods.....

15 Australian Dishes You Need To Try At Least Once - Tasting Table

If you're heading Down Under, there are some delicious dishes you need to add to your must-try list.

www.tastingtable.com

View attachment 30216

^^^^^....That's a Pav. (pavlova for those fussy about language

View attachment 30217
That, is a Lammo (Lamington, to you dreary mob who insist on correctness

View attachment 30218
A slice of Barramundi, (barra) ..arguably one of the best eating fish in the world (and a damn good sport catching them too)

View attachment 30219
What did you say?...looks like hundreds and thousands on a slice of butterred bread??....
That's because it is, ya galah !....Fairy Bread....a staple at any children's birthday party (and grownups1)

View attachment 30220
Sydney Rock Oysters. served like that, they fetch an asonishing price. Or, find a friendly local and go pick em up yourself.

View attachment 30221
Meat Pie. aka mystery bag (you may never know what's in them) The plain pie is made with beef....sometimes minced, chick, curried chicken/beef, tandoori, and a range as long as your arm.

View attachment 30222
Kangaroo Steak. If you choose to sample kangaroo, it is usually served as a medium-rare steak in Australia. The taste has been described as bold and earthy, and the texture is lean, with very little fat. Hop along to somewhere that serves it.

View attachment 30223
No not shrimp.....Prawn. get it right. You most certainly chuck a prawn on the barbie (bbq)...... No !....not your neighbour !....the prawns! (even if he is a bit of a yobbo/prawn)

View attachment 30224
Emu Meat. Many believe the Australian species should be left alone to live in the wild.
That said, I have never seen it on a menu. Low in fat and cholestrol.


View attachment 30225
Sausage Sizzle. Really?....I have always called them snags, or bangers. Been around forever and a day, commonly sold outside the Bunnings Warehouse stores every Saturday for around $3. The trip to bunnings for s snag sandwich has become a ritual. (330 + bunnings stores in Australia, huge hardware + chain)


View attachment 30226
Grilled Bugs. (yes, insect like things that wriggle in your mouth when you first bite them)
No....I am just having a loan of you (talking bs)....these are actually sought after, they are a crustacean (part of the lobster, crab, prawn crowd etc)....common names for them are Moreton Bay bugs and Balmain Bugs (very close to the heart of Sydney, suburbs)

View attachment 30227
Roast Lamb. probably one of the most popular dinner dishes in Australia. (chuck a leg a lamb in the oven, mate).....whack the oven on 180C....get it up to temp....have the leg already seasoned...some people season with brown sugar) whack the leg in.......leave it for 15 minutes (browns the outside nicely)....then turn the oven down to 110 - 120C.....and leave it alone for an hour (depending on what it weighs)
Put the peeled spuds (potatoes) and pumpkin etc in when it has a good half hour to go. I pre cook mine in the microwave, then dry and moisture off and coat them with oil and a bit of salt)
How high on the popularity list ?

View attachment 30228
Anzac Biscuits: ....better know as anzac bikkies
Why Anzac? Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
Good tucker.



View attachment 30229
Damper Bread:
Made with just flour, water, butter, milk, and salt, is dense and hearty, like Irish soda bread. It's especially tasty when still warm and spread with a generous dollop of butter.
Its gotta be warm/hot
You cant give it away when its cold....unless some poor unfortunate is starving.

Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/1920403/australian-dishes-to-try/





View attachment 30230
Vanilla Slice: I have seen blokes ride/drive 100's of km's to get a few of these. I am one of them.
They are 'picked apart' (not literally) buy those that regard themselves as connoisseurs. The crust/base is most important. if you end up with a gob (mouth) full of very small hard bits and pieces, then that is not a favoured crust. The fillings taste varies enormously depending on where you have bought it. Needless to say, any that come from a supermarket etc are not up to scratch (not good enough/inferior/mass produced)

If you need proof of just how loved this dessert is in Australia, you need only look to Merbein in Victoria. Every year, the town hosts The Great Australian Vanilla Slice Triumph. The festival was first started in the town of Ouyen in 1998 by a local called Jeff Kennet, who had declared it his mission to find the best-tasting vanilla slice in the country. To this day, bakers all over Australia compete to take home the gold for their take on the iconic sweet treat.
The crowd that turns up there would do a footy grand final proud.. (lots and lots of people attend.

i'm hungry. I need steak: Australia is a leading player in the global beef market, exporting approximately 61% of its total beef production. The country is the second-largest beef exporter worldwide, known for its high-quality grain-fed and grass-fed beef.
Scotch Filet steak: Scotch fillet steak, also known as ribeye steak, is a tender and flavourful cut of beef that comes from the rib section of the animal. It is boneless and is prized for its marbling, which adds juiciness and taste when cooked.

How to cook?......ask Brian (Condobloke)
View attachment 30231


Read More: https://www.tastingtable.com/1920403/australian-dishes-to-try/

What a great post. Brings it all back. I am so happy to be a proud Aussie. Thanks Condo.

 

[KGIII]

I would eat every single one of those things.

Hmm... I sound like I'm fat, but I'm just 170 lbs. That should be right around 77 kg.

 

[Condobloke]

I must admit, I became hungry as I set that post out. The snags started my fall I imagined the aroma of cooking snags, which quickly led to a thought of steak (my favourite food)...and the realisation that I had a thawed steak in the 'fridge, which in turn led to a quick walk out the kitchen to remove said steak from the fridge and place it on the counter to arrive at room temperature.
The rest is history....pic above.
I weigh 79kg

 

[KGIII]

and the realisation that I had a thawed steak in the 'fridge, which in turn led to a quick walk out the kitchen to remove said steak from the fridge and place it on the counter to arrive at room temperature.

I sometimes get steaks that have never seen the inside of a refrigerator. They're from a farm that's maybe a mile away.

So long as you do so within a couple of hours and you cook it properly, it's safe to do -- and delicious.

Where I live isn't really a 'food desert' or anything. We have a variety of food, but much of what is available would fit into what I'll call 'the American diet'. That doesn't mean we're technically wanting, it just means that you're not going to get good 'ethnic' food without driving some distance for it.

At the same time, I know where a good chunk of my food came from. I know how it was raised, harvested, and delivered.

Almost all the meat I eat is from sources I know. In some instances, I may have had a hand in the process. (I also hunt for food.) Even if I have seafood, I personally go to the coast where I have friends who let me buy things like lobster at 'boat price'. We have a lady who makes a variety of cheeses. (I even have a 'pie' lady that makes pies.) We grow a bunch of our veggies.

The only grain that I get truly locally is corn.

We do have some boutique wheat/grain mills. The closest one is not all that close, about 1.5 hours away. Still, I try to use local suppliers as much as I can. The food is usually better and fresher, plus I can help support the local economy.

I imagine that it's similar to some of Australia's ranchers, the ones out there on remote and giant ranches. Sure, they're not getting any Thai food, but they're still eating well. I am not nearly as remote as some of those people are. I can drive to Augusta and get Thai food. Heck, I can fly from Rangeley to Augusta to get Thai food -- as the place is right next to the airport.

Yeah, I suspect it's not too different than what you've got there out on the ranches and in the remote towns.

One difference is that I don't have emu and kangaroo.

I do have deer and moose, plus all sorts of freshwater fish.

 

[Condobloke]

Chicken behaviour the recipe for understanding human social dynamics

While growing up, people didn't make much sense to Summer, but chickens always did. Now, Summer is using what they learnt to help other children with autism understand human interactions.

www.abc.net.au

Summer Farrelly has written a book and developed an animal-assisted learning program to help others living with autism. (ABC News: Amal Wehbe)

 

[KGIII]

I have some chickens. It's a long story. Man, it's a very long story...

Anyhow, we've discussed food in this thread. You've now mentioned chickens.

There's a chicken that I've never seen in real life (and I've seen some fancy chickens). That chicken is this one:

Ayam Cemani - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

They are completely black. Their skin is black, their eggs are maybe black, their feathers are black, etc...

Ayam Cemani - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

From what I know, their bones are just like regular chickens and are not black. I get conflicting results about the eggs being black. There are pictures of black eggs, but some sources say they are normal egg colors.

Some other pictures:

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

They've been imported to many countries, including my own. I don't know if they're in Australia, though they are certainly not native to Australia. So far, I've yet to see one in real life. Assuming I have permission, I'd like to eat one. I would also like to eat their eggs, just to see if they have a different flavor.

It'd also be appealing (to me) to serve these chickens to guests. Imagine being served a black roasted chicken without knowing it was being served.

They're rather expensive.