Circus Loritz..Out of Africa

The circus is in Hervey Bay. We went to the 7.30 Session on 30 January.

Tickets were booked and collected after 6.30. There was hardly anyone there at that time except the bats that flew overhead in ever increasing numbers.
At 7.15 they opened the entrance, and we walked through the tent to the main ring, which by 7.30 was fully occupied.


The Show Started.
The theme was finding a lost girl in the jungle and acrobats and dancers kept up a strenuous and lively dance and routine that had everyone watching with interest.

View the photos by clicking the image below...
http://picasaweb.google.com/Ladymaggic/CircusLoritz#

It was young, lively, colorful and full of action.

Circus Loritz

Water Violets..Hottonia Palustris

white waterflowers, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

In the centre of the waterlily leaf was this little white flower.
It looked like a waterlily in the way it came up, and it may have been a miniature waterlily...same growth pattern...

Hottonia palustris (Water Violet)
An old-fashion water garden plant that is commonly seen in European water gardens. Green submerged or emerged deeply divided leaves. Attractive small pale violet to white emergent flowers during the warmer months. Simply beautiful. Rare.
http://www.watergardenparadise.com.au/deepwaterplants.php

 

 

Waterlily cream..Nymphaeaceae

Waterlily cream, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

Nymphaeaceae (pronounced /ˌnɪmfiːˈeɪsiːʔiː/) is a name for a family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called water lilies and live in freshwater areas in temperate and tropical climates around the world. The family contains 8 genera.

There are about 70 species of water lilies around the world. The genus Nymphaea contains about 35 species .

Water lilies are rooted in soil in bodies of water, with leaves and flowers floating on the water surface. The leaves are round, with a radial notch in Nymphaea and Nuphar, but fully circular in Victoria.

Water lilies are divided into two main categories: hardy and tropical. Hardy water lilies bloom only during the day, but tropical water lilies can bloom either during the day or at night, and are the only group to contain blue-flowered plants.

Water lilies can be fragrant, such as Nymphaea odorata.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaeaceae

Waterlily and Leaf...Nymphaea Caerulea

Waterlily, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

Nymphaea Water Lily...a purple waterlily

Nymphaea caerulea has a long history of use, dating back thousands of years. A current use for the dried flowers is to soak a few in red wine overnight, strain and drink in moderation. The effects produced are evidently relaxing, sedating and produce a feeling of contentment. The flowers are also used in smoking blends or smoked alone.

The word Nymphaea is from a Greek word nymphaia meaning water nymph. Both the rhizomes and seeds can be eaten. Now a naturalised water plant in NSW and QLD, N. caerulea (also known as N. caerulea ssp. zanzibarensis) has replaced the native Nymphaea gigantea which is now considered locally extinct in SE Qld due to sedimentation and increased disturbance in waterways. It still occurs in tropical parts of Australia.

 
Care and cultivation Seed can be sown in spring and during summer (September-January). Finely sieved clean loam soil without any organic matter or fertiliser is best. Seed should be sown thinly, covered lightly with soil and then plunged into shallow water, no deeper than 2.5 cm, and placed in a sunny position. Germination should take 3-4 weeks The seedlings will look like fine grass at first, developing true leaves later. When the first two or three floating leaves appear the seedling should be pricked out and planted into individual containers and immersed back in the water. They may be submerged into deeper water and larger containers as they grow and lengthen. (taken from www.plantzafrica.com).

http://www.herbalistics.com.au/shop/product_info.php?products_id=228

 

Bargara Beach ...Video

Bargara Beach, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

We stayed at Bargara Beach after visiting the turtles at Mon Repos.

In the morning we walked to the beach for a swim.
It was rocky, and also high tide at full moon time. The waves were very fast and the beach was very beautiful. The water was wonderful. There were other swimmers also enjoying the water in the early morning.

Bargara is a 13 kilometre drive through lush sugarcane fields from Bundaberg. It is a popular seaside area which harbours a peaceful and relaxed community ideal for family holidays away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Bargara boasts two open surf beaches and two still water swimming areas.
Nearby, the Mon Repos Turtle Rookery provides a fascinating look at the endangered sea turtles during the nesting and hatching season from November to March. Turtles often nest at Bargara on Kelly's, Rifle Range and Nielson Park Beach offering a special summertime experience for beachgoers.
http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/destinations/bundaberg-coral-coast-and-country/places-to-visit/bargara/index.cfm

 

Turtle Hatchlings at Mon Repos

hatchlings at Mon Repos, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

One day old turtles, called hatchlings, were rescued from a nest that had hatched. The hatchlings were displayed to the tourists, and released to walk the beach to the water, where they swam off....to swim around the world until they reach the age of 30 years, when they mature, and if female, return to this very beach to lay their eggs.

This is a fascinating story, as researchers really have not been able to exactly know where the turtles have gone and whether they survive.
One turtle, tagged and released 30 years ago, returned and laid her eggs, giving the researchers their first information about the maturity age, as well as the information that they return to their birthplace to lay their eggs.

Survival rate is estimated to be 1 in 1,000, which holds little hope for this tiny turtle who started his massive life journey right here. He will have to avoid being dinner for birds and fish, as well as other dangers that lie ahead.

We wish him well in his great trip around the world.

 

I touched his flipper...and he is very strong.

Those tiny flippers walk him down the beach, into the sea and then he has to swim the currents and battle his way to Coffs Harbor where they know they will go.

The hatchlings are all tagged and labeled.

Turtle at Mon Repos

Leatherback turtle, originally uploaded by Ladymaggic.

Display turtle at the Information Centre at Mon Repos.

The information Centre at Mon Repos was informative and interesting.
Details of the turtles and examples were on display
This was a real turtle displayed laying eggs.

 

Turtles mature around 30 years of age.

They have multiple partners and mate a few times. They store the sperm until they are ready to lay their eggs.

When they are ready, they return to their birthplace and lay up to 200 eggs.

The eggs are from the multiple partners, so the hatchlings from one nest can have more than one father.

 

This was a tagged turtle released from here that has returned to lay her eggs at her birthplace.

Loritz Circus...Out of Africa

http://www.loritzcircus.com/loritz/index.php?page=home



For the First Time Ever in Australia The Royal Kenyan Acrobats will perform breathtaking feats.

Watch in amazement as 7 year old Americus (NZ's got talent finalist and also featured on the Oprah show) as one of the most talented kids in the world, Hula Hoops around the ring in a performance of Elegance and Perfection.  It will bring
tears to you eyes.
 
This is an exciting new Circus with thrilling World Class acts.
Compelling entertainment for the whole family. Don't miss this once in a lifetime spectacular.

Bookings by telephone on 0439 CIRCUS (247 287) or you can visit our booking office on site at our current venue

*BOOKING LINE: 0439 CIRCUS (247 287)

Bargara Turtle Viewing at Mon Repos and Kelly's Beach Resort

Kellys Beach Resort Bargara Beach Coral Coast Bundaberg Queensland Australia

That is our motto at Kelly's Beach Resort. A stroll along the beach could be an ideal start. With kilometres of sandy beaches to explore and your entire holiday ahead of you, there's plenty of time to discover how wonderful life can be away from the everyday hustle & bustle of office & home.

Kellys Beach Resort on Channel 9's Weekend Extra.

Kellys Beach, a short stroll from resort

Views at Bargara

Kelly's Beach Resort is wonderfully located just one block from Kelly's Beach, the main swimming beach in Bargara, so you have the benefit of being close to the beach and being off the main road, so you are not listening to cars screaming past while you are trying to unwind.

Point Vernon Beach and Boat Ramp

South Sea Islanders originally settled the area which is now known as Point Vernon in Hervey Bay. They were known as Kanakas and were 'blackbirded' (captured and sent to Queensland to work the sugar cane plantations). The Polsen Cemetery and a monument are reminders today of the tragic role they played in Queensland history. That sets the scene historically. Today there are more pleasant reminders, such as the turtle hatchery, fishing at Gatakers Bay (also home of a delightful restaurant set right on the coast, in a plant nursery).

Just off the shoreline is a coral reef, popular with those who fancy a spot of snorkelling. An osprey family offers thanks to the local council for the construction of a tower for nestings.

It is here where the 13 kilometres walking/cycling/wheelchair waterfront track starts, ending up at the southern beach community of Urangan.

Eli Waters Lake with Waterlilies

Eli Waters is a modern suburb at the outskirt of Hervey Bay.
There is a lake that runs behind the shopping centre between Xavier College and the Estate behind.
This is home to a host of waterlilies....blue, white, pink and red....and many waterbirds, some who migrate from overseas to visit the lake in seasons.

The lake is covered with weed which makes it look like a swamp rather than a beautiful lake.
I am sure it also harbors many mosquitoes in the stagnant areas.
However, the waterlilies are very beautiful....

Water Lettuce..
The pond is also full of water lettuce....A free floating aquatic plant. Often escapes from aquaria. Looks like a very small open leaved lettuce or cabbage. Leaves pale green. Spreads from stolons which form numerous 'daughter' plants. It has a dense fibrous root system. Very quickly forms dense masses.
Problem: Mats can choke streams. Spread very rapidly and can deoxygenate the water, resulting in fish kills. Water losses increase due to transpiration. Creates a haven for mosquitoes.
http://www.fncw.nsw.gov.au/noxious/w1.html

Pialba Pier Hervey Bay

Pialba Pier is located right where there is a great Public Beach edged with tourist facilities and picnic areas.
It is the only beach access for wheelchairs.
However, the wheelchair access is closed because the lower section has been damaged.
It has been like this for 18 months..despite many attempts by the public to get this opened for the access of elderly walking to the beach, as well as wheelchairs. Seems strange that Council, who has many plans for attracting tourists, fail to attend to a simple matter like this. All it needs is a continuation of the track, which currently stops midair....we were able to jump down to the sand, butthis would not be easy for older less mobile people.

Its an interesting pier.

Whoever designed it did not really consider the use of a pier.
It looks attractive, and one can casually stroll to the end and back.
Next to the Pier was a boat hire place, now changed to a Restaurant which also hires some water craft.
The story goes that Council did not want the Boat hire there, and chose to have the Restaurant.
Maybe that is why they built the pier so boats could not tie to it, moor and have access to the pier.
You can see by the watermark where the water reaches the pier at High tide, and low tide there would be just sand.

There is no ladders or any other access to the pier from the water.

Young people jump off the pier to the water below...a dangerous feat when the water is shallow

The pier needs some mooring posts and ladders for boat access, and the wheelchair and elderly walkway fixed so it can be used, and the area would be wonderful.

Howard Station

Howard is the station where trains from north Queensland go through to Brisbane.
Its a very small station.

Nestled in the hinterland of Hervey Bay is the lovely historical village of Howard. Serviced twice daily by the 'Tilt Train,' Howard is an easy 15 minute drive to Maryborough, 25 minutes to Hervey Bay and 20 minutes to the beaches of Toogoom and Burrum Heads.

Howard has several buildings of historical significance including a beautifully restored Queenslander offering guided tours and Devonshire Teas. Howard's small museum tells of the coal mining and farming history of the area and includes war memorabilia. Country markets are held in Steley Street on the first Saturday of every month and there are a couple of great swimming and fishing spots to enjoy on the nearby Burrum River.

Bargara...Turtle Viewing at Mon Repos ..Turtle Information

http://www.kellysbeachresort.com.au/downloads/Turtles.pdf