Today is the 12 month anniversary of Australia's worst fire catastrophe ever. Saturday, 7th February, 2009, with the temperatures reaching 46 degrees in areas of Victoria, over 600 fires were fought, some caused by lightening strikes and sparks from downed power poles , high winds carried others at a terrific pace, of course some joined up, and man played his part as well, with a couple being deliberately lit.
4,500 Firefighters from all over OZ, and very soon NZ, USA and Canada fought from every angle.
Many stayed to defend their own property - though few were rewarded.
2,029 homes were burned, along with 430,000 hectares of prime land, forests and National Parks
HOWEVER, the human death toll was the major disaster - 173 people lost their lives, with another 414 being injured.
It has been estimated that over 11,000 grazing livestock were burned.
These cattle were saved, but have no food.
Kid's toys were burned
This little bloke is trying his hardest to understand his loss.
And this young lass has planted some flowers in the ashes of her garden
Nature starts her work very quickly
This is a photo of a couple back on their property some months after it had been destroyed by these fires, yet so quickly "brushed up" by nature again!!
TODAY, many memorials have been held to remember those who perished and suffered, and the work still to be done to re build these small towns, but from what I have seen today - "The Spirit is Strong!". It also seems that all the financial help from Australia and around the world has been managed and distributed extremely well - (my understanding from many of the interviews and reports!)
Today is the 170th Anniversary of the signing of the "Treaty of Waitangi " between the Maori Chiefs (the traditional land holders) and the Pakeha (in this case the colonial powers from the British Crown) at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands in 1840.
On the Gold Coast there are two huge celebrations being held, one today at Southport, and the other tomorrow at Cararra - literally thousands turn up for these events. A little bit of trivia - Kiwis top the list of immigrants to the Gold Coast, in fact 50 percent of all New Zealanders moving to OZ live up here. Just hope the weather holds out for both these celebrations - 
The next visit to Waitangi was some decades later in November 2006 (this time via automobile), when Frank and I rented a Bach up at Russell in the Bay of Islands - we spent quite a bit of time touring the Northland - truly gorgeous. 
We don't have long now till we fly to Wellington on March 22nd, then up through the Hawkes Bay area for a week, onto Whakatane on the Coromandel with Col and Den for Easter then up to Auckland. Home on 8th April. Really looking forward to catching up with everyone and touring more lovely parts of NZ!
Obviously something's happening!
They're rollin!
Back on our beaches - they swim in the hundreds, with tenticles of multiple sizes -can go up to 10 metres, and 
A typical line up of the Blue Bottles and Blue Buttons on our beaches - on a bad day!
These pretty critters have a more powerful and deadly sting than the bluebottle or the blue button, why - because they are their prey - they have some incredible way of storing the venom from the others and can consume their entire organism. They normally float around (upside down) on top of the ocean, and come ashore at the same time, or shortly after the blue bottles are washed up. So not wise to play with these at all!
This little one was not perturbed about the storm coming in!
Black clouds and all
So many teams of Nippers - they start at Under 6 years - I am sure the little one on the left is under 3!
