Cricket net

G'day

I have two questions for you all today.

Question 1.
The first question pertains to this week's pictures. How does the cricket net change from Saturday ( tree on pitch ) to Sunday ( no tree on pitch ) ? Did I...................
a. Pay someone to cut up the tree and move the branches ?
b. Get a friend with a chainsaw to cut up the tree and move the branches ?
c. Borrow a friend's chainsaw to cut up the tree and move the branches myself ?

As you will see the net is " netless " for now. I am negotiating with a Brisbane company and have assured Matt and Jen ( who by the way has asked for a cricket bat for her Birthday next Sunday - if you can't beat them............) that it will be up by next cricket season.

Question 2.
Who is Steven Bradbury and why did an article in The Weekend Australian bring up the " Steven Bradbury effect " when discussing Nathan Hauritz, the Australian offspinner ? For a bonus point - name the other players involved.

Australians who receive this email are exempt from this question and should instead answer the question. Who is Kgalema Motlanthe ? No bonus point.
A clue - Steven Bradbury and Kgalema Motlanthe have absolutely nothing in common, or on second thoughts perhaps they do.

I have had a busy week and for the first time in a long time find myself with a desk full of files waiting for letters, scripts and return phone calls. The difference these days is that I will get there when I can within a reasonable period of time as opposed to the demands I was placed under and placed myself under in a previous life. The scars are healing................

Bron escorted her mum down to Sydney on Thursday night - 40 seater Saab Turboprop ..........two engines ! They parted ways on Friday morning with Bron returning to Taree and Pat taking on the 14 hour flight to Johannesburg. We have been able to reflect on their visit and look forward to their next trip. They have promised to return.

On the subject of returns, let's hope the Aussies get to feel how touring teams used to feel when they toured Down Under in the past. Everybody here says that they are rebuilding after being number one for so long..............I remind them of the West Indies although I must admit, their victory and subsequent draw against England have shown what they may be capable of.

Later.

Dylan, Bronwyn, Matthew and Jennifer

PS - today is a National Day of Mourning for the victims of the Victorian bushfires.

Family

G'day,

As I wrote last week's letter I had no idea ( nor did anyone else ) that the bushfires in Victoria would ultimately wreak such havoc and claim so many lives. Despite being about 1200km away from Melbourne, even our community has been rocked and many initiatives have quickly evolved to help both the Bushfire victims and those who have been affected by the floods in Queensland. Aussies are digging deep!

Whilst we have always told you about what is happening in our lives and have informed you of Matt and Jen's successes and disappointments in a matter of fact way, this week was an especially proud one for Bron and me.

Matt was voted in as School Captain of the Primary School of Manning Valley Anglican College . Students from Year 3 to Year 6 vote after nominations have been made and the candidates have made a speech to the pupils, Principal and staff. I am not sure if the staff have a say. Anyway, Bron and I were invited to the school assembly on Friday where Matt was presented with his School Captain badge. He ran the assembly faultlessley, made his pledge in his South African accent and fortunately did not have to swear allegiance to the Aussie cricket team. The role is quite a demanding one and Matt and Jasmin Thompson will be given quite a lot of responsibilty with respect to school affairs.

One of our biggest regrets about coming to Oz was that we were robbing our family of opportunities to see Matt and Jen growing up in their new lives. Bron's parents' recent visit has allowed them to be a part of our family and Pat was able to see Matt receive his special honour on Friday. Brian went back to South Africa 2 weeks ago and Pat returns on Thursday. Their visit has meant a lot to all of us and we will miss them.

Super 14 and hockey season are upon us. In preparation, Matt has selected his Fantasy Super 14 team and I have ordered my Waratahs supporter's gear. As far as hockey is concerned, I have a visit to an Orthotist next week to see what he can do about my troublesome Achilles tendons, Jen is wondering how she is going to fit hockey and dancing in, Matt can't wait although there's still a cricket league to try to win and even Bron is trying to decide whether she should do some coaching or possibly play.

From a rainy and subdued Taree, I bid you farewell until next week.

Dylan, Bronwyn, Matt and Jen

Greetings from Taree ( current temperature 37.5 Deg C - not as bad as Dubbo at 44 Deg C )

While the Aussie cricket team might not be on fire, the state of Victoria where bushfires have been raging for a couple of weeks, certainly is ( 55 burning, 10 of which are out of control as I write ). It has been estimated that the fires have claimed up to 40 lives, towns have been razed to the ground and livestock losses have been significant. There are also many fires burning in New South Wales but Victoria has been particularly hard-hit. While all of that is going on, the Northern Territory and North Queensland have been ravaged by floods.

Well, we are now a two beagle family. Jen and I travelled up to Armidale yesterday to fetch Holly. We left Taree at 6 o'clock and got back at half past 2 in the afternoon - 8 hours of driving on Thunderbolts Way - what a cool name for a road. Wait for it.................Captain Thunderbolt was a bushranger who terrorised the region ( gold-rich ) in the 19th century. He had an aboriginal wife and apparently kept his promise to her that he would never shoot anyone. He was supposedly killed by the police in 1870 although rumours abounded that he in fact escaped and nipped over to California where he continued his craft.

Today's picture was taken on the way back and my only regret is not having taken it on the way up when the light was much better. The picture is taken looking west over the Barrington Tops, our very own World Heritage Site. We haven't spent any time up there but I think we should. It is quite a popular camping destination but I reckon we'll be on the lookout for a good Bed and Breakfast.

Armidale is North West of Taree and is Australia's highest cathedral city at an altitude of around 1000m. The traditional owners of the land are the Aniwan ( Anaiwan ) people and it was first " settled " in the 1830s. It is home to the University of New England which has a recently established Medical School and also has a couple of well known and highly regarded Boarding Schools. It is also clearly the Beagle Breeding capital of New South Wales.

Matt and Jen have settled into school with their new teachers, I have reset my tempo and have been working hard, Bron and her mum have continued to spend each waking moment with each other and Tessa now has a partner in crime.

Later.

Dyl, Bron, Matt and Jen

Australia Day

G'day !
- never " G'day mates / friends / buddies / bru ".............just " G'day ", as my Australian Cultural Adviser, Dave Scarlett has informed me.

Whilst this photo wasn't actually taken on Australia Day ( 26th January ) it was taken from the Apartment block where we stayed over the long weekend and from where we did witness a spectacular fireworks display over Darling Harbour ( in picture ) on the night of the 26th. For those of you who don't know Sydney, we are looking over the Pyrmont Bridge facing East over the city. The Sydney Tower is prominent and the Harbour Bridge is out of picture to the left. Bronwyn's parents ( Brian and Pat ) arrived on Christmas Day and we took them down to the Big Smoke to show them around. Gee, it's been fantastic to have had them around and I've enjoyed a long break from work......I know, I know - you're wondering how much work I've been doing anyway and did I really deserve a break?

" Australia Day " commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet to Australia in 1788. Although they had actually landed at Botany Bay on the 20th ( I think ) January, Captain Phillip sailed up the coast in search of more suitable ground and stumbled across Sydney Cove which he promptly claimed for the British crown. For the most part it is a day of massive celebration around Australia. However, not everyone is thrilled and many Indigenous people call it " Invasion Day ". It has been interesting to see an attempt at reconciliation on a different continent and quite frankly the ratio of Indigenous to non-Indigenous is the difference. I honestly do believe that an attempt is being made to right the wrongs of the past and for the first time on Monday night I heard the first verse of " Advance Australia Fair " sung in the language of an Indigenous Nation. I have also read, but not witnessed that a minority of Australians treat Australia Day as a " Day of Exclusion " of other minority groups. Needless to say, they get a lot of attention.

Hey - how about that cricket ? Matt, Brian and I went to the first 2 days of the Sydney Test and to the Melbourne ODI. Bron, Matt and I were back at the SCG on Friday night. We have really enjoyed watching the tight contests unfold ( at decent times of the day unlike most of you )and we have enjoyed catching up with Mickey. I have won a few bets ( mostly beer from Dave ) but have remained humble.

Yes, I'm back - like stokies, bell bottoms, paisley and The Proteas.

From a hot Taree where we are ready to get stuck into what will almost certainly be a challenging year - more about that in the weeks to come.

Dylan, Bronwyn, Matthew and Jennifer