Avalook at Australia News

Issue Number 40, 30 August 2003

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ISSN 1443-0797

Editors: Eric Lindsay and Jean Weber
info@avalook.com.au

In this issue...

Dreamtime by Air Expedition - Part 1
Directory of Aboriginal tourism operators
Australian Graduate guide to universities
Bush poetry and yarns
Need help with immigrating to Australia?
Telecommunications datasheets
Australian 2004 calendars now available
Subscription and privacy information

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Dreamtime by Air Expedition - Part 1

We're usually not keen on organised tours, but occasionally something turns up that we simply could not do on our own. This 14-day expedition included stops at several places that require permits or special permission to enter, and some that are only accessible by air.

The expedition was organised by Sydney lawyer and bushwalker David Marks, who has been doing this sort of thing once or twice a year for 20 years. We travelled in two chartered 10-seater Piper Navajo Chieftain aircraft. This is much like a bus tour, but with views from much higher, as well as faster travel, and access to area difficult to reach by land.

The trip was awesome. Words (and even photographs) are not really going to convey the experience, but we'll do our best. For further information about these expeditions, see http://www.dreamtimebyair.com.au/ -- note that the itineraries shown on the website are examples only; each year's trip is somewhat different, and this year's was very different from anything shown on the website.

Our trip report (with photographs) starts here: http://www.avalook.com.au/airtrip2003/index.htm

At the moment we have only the first three days on the website, but we'll be adding more as soon as we have time. (Which may not be until late September, as we'll leaving on a trip to New Zealand on 1 Septemeber.)

Day 1, Monday 11 August, covers Sydney to Arkaroola, South Australia, with an afternoon 4WD ridgetop tour through the arid red ranges of the Mt Painter Sanctuary.

Day 2, Tuesday 12 August, covers Woomera and Coober Pedy, South Australia.

Day 3, Wednesday 13 August, took us to Oodnadatta, the Painted Desert, and Pukatja (Ernabella), all in South Australia.

Continued next issue...

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Directory of Aboriginal tourism operators

http://www.aboriginaltouroperators.com.au/blackpages/blackpages.htm
Includes tour details and communication links. This is part of a site that includes links to other Aboriginal websites, art galleries, and other information. Dedicated to "quality Aboriginal tourism products that reflect a living, unique culture that is both traditional and continuing in contemporary forms".

One link is to the Aboriginal Australia website, which features a collection of 100 Aboriginal artists in 20 new on line shops and galleries: http://www.aboriginalaustralia.com/

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Australian Graduate guide to universities

This website claims to be "a comprehensive guide to universities, colleges and schools in Australia", and appears to be aimed primarily at overseas students. A bit scrappy and disorganised in places (but then, so is the Avalook site, so who are we to complain?), but has a lot of useful information and links. http://www.australiangraduate.com/

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Bush poetry and yarns

From "Chris and The Grey", http://www.bushpoets.go.to

Includes profiles of various poets, some of their poetry, news, and books for sale. A quirky site with lots of interesting information hidden in odd places.

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Need help with immigrating to Australia?

http://www.MigrationExpert.com/
This migration assistance site brings together some useful free information, but is primarily a business that helps you through the migration hurdles. We have no idea whether they can do more for you than you can do for yourself with information available on the Department of Immigration's website, http://www.immi.gov.au/.

We were interested to note that the family visa program includes a category for "interdependent relationships" (defined as involving a "mutual commitment to a shared life together") which include, but are not restricted to, same sex couples, who would not otherwise qualify under spouse or fiancé programs.

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Telecommunications datasheets

Access Communications, http://www.accesscomms.com.au/ausdata.htm gives details of all Australian phone and power plugs, PSTN and mobile communication systems, telephony numbering plans, telecommunications carriers and television systems used within Australia.

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Australian 2004 calendars now available

For a great gift, inspiration when planning a trip, or reminder of past trips you've taken, check out the 2004 Australian calenders available from Calendars.com. Each calendar has 12 beautiful photos. Most calendar pages have an image of the back cover, showing thumbnails of all 12 photos. http://www.avalook.com.au/shop/calendar.htm

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© Copyright 2003 Eric Lindsay and Jean Weber. All rights reserved.

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