WIMBORNE INFANT SCHOOL

(If you want to see more precisely where Gerry lives, click on the map of Victoria. This will open a new window. If you want to see more of Victoria - a large place! - try this - enough links to keep you surfing for hours - if you are that way inclined.)

• Southsea in WW2
• Life at WIS
• Bombs in Southsea
• The sky is bigger in       Australia
• Wombats in the yard
• A friendly koala
• Oz. Glossary
• School without a       classroom
• Finding things
• Highlands morning..
• Joy of living in the
bush..
• Animal Rescue..
• I want to be a
       fireman..
• Take this to heart..
• Bushfire..
• Quick v. fast!!

LIVING HISTORY

Gerry Martin used to attend Wimborne Infant School but has lived for nearly forty years in Australia. By chance he found our site on the Internet. He offered to email us some of his experiences. We think they are fascinating ...and look forward very much to the next episodes.

EPISODE 4 - The sky is bigger in Australia

Now! Are we all sitting comfortably? My impressions of Australia in the time I have lived here.

If you wish to settle here you need an unflagging sense of humour and be prepared to adopt as far as possible the way of life that Australians have created for themselves. Allowing for the vast area we call home, the climate, cultural and religious differences are huge compared with the UK.

Though opportunities for employment are better, as long as you are willing to try any work and approach it from the " I will give it a go!" angle. Australia is very cosmopolitan. Melbourne has the largest population of Greeks in the world next to Athens for example.

Be prepared for the vastness of Australia. The sky is bigger. The sun is hotter. Trees and shrubs tend to be more blue than green. The wind is windier. The landscape can change in minutes from a harsh white/yellow colour to a most beautiful fawn/russet colour. The aroma of eucalypt is ever present.

I think the most amazing thing to me is the sudden unexpected changes in the weather. ie; 2pm…North wind of 30 mph….41°C!! 2.10pm…South wind 50mph. 18°C.! Decisions. Long johns, or shorts?

Now I`ll get to the nasties!! I`m sure we have the largest collection of biting insects and animals in the whole world! Not many people are bitten though.

There are the Funnel web spiders. The most beautiful looking Red back spiders,Huge Huntsman, and wolf spiders, and of course the White tailed spider. All of which I may add make a habit of knockin` the old man off at a certain time and devouring him.. Feminists will love that bit!!

When stung by the "Stingers" (particularly unfriendly jelly fish), you have just minutes to apply pints of vinegar otherwise the coma takes over. (I could never figure out why Queenslanders always took bottles of vinegar to the beach with them. Thought they just liked it on their chips!!)

Of course you will know of our famed salt-water crocodiles (Dundee!)

Bloomin` big sharks that (oz.."Take you")

And snakes. Black,Brown,Tiger,Copperhead, One thing you do learn is to make heaps of noise when walking through the Bush. That, apparently!!!!! frightens them away, so a professor said. They buried him last week! - ONLY joking!)