G’day everyone, it’s me popping into say hello. I’m new to the Australia site and am finding my feet. This site has such a wide range of topics from which to choose, so I know I’m going to have lots of fun bringing new and exciting information to the site.

This week in Australia and all around the world, lovers have been celebrating St Valentine’s Day. Here in Australia we pretty much follow the American tradition of flowers, chocolates or gifts. The cost of red roses sky-rockets at this time of year, and I imagine that is not only in Australia.

I was talking to a florist the other day, and she was telling me that the Valentine’s Day is a very busy day, but the next day, dubbed “Dead Beat Day” is even busier and more financially rewarding. This is because all the dills that forgot their valentines are out to purchase some contrition and get themselves out of the dog-house. The cost of roses increases on dead beat day, of course. That gave me a chuckle.

Here in Australia, we are enjoying a long hot summer and so far have avoided the predicted bush fire season in the south. (There’s no resting though, we still have a two month period of heightened alert). Unfortunately we haven’t avoided the forecast flooding in Southern Queensland and Northern NSW. The floods have been devastating for some of the regional centres such as St George, Roma and Charleville in Qld, and Moree, Wee Waa and soon to follow Bourke in NSW. These flood waters will continue to make their way south down the Darling River and into the Great Southern Ocean in South Australia. It could take months for the waters to finally reach their seaside destination.

To begin my editorship of the Australian site, last week I posted an article on my choice of the best tourist attractions Australia has to offer. It was tricky paring it down to 5, but never-the-less I made the call and if you’d like to know which attractions I chose, here’s the link:
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art63498.asp

We have an Australia Forum which accompanies the Australia site. On the Australia Forum, I have posted a question today to ask readers how they celebrate Valentine’s Day in their country. Please let us know what happens where you live. Here’s the link to that forum:
http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/746322#Post746322

I hope to be able to bring you interesting snippets each week that I have sourced from the internet. I hope you enjoy the browse. Just right click on the link, and click on Open Hyperlink.

Australian News for the Week 8-15th February 2012

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/melbourne-ranked-8th-most-expensive-city-in-the-world/story-fn7x8me2-1226270867159 An article on the most expensive cities to live in the world – Australia appears twice in the top ten – Sydney at seventh and Melbourne at eighth.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-14/footage-gives-fresh-view-of-australia-day-protest/3830222?section=act What caused the protest on Australia Day, involving Julia Gillard (Prime Minister) and Tony Abbott (Opposition Leader) and indigenous Australians from the “Tent Embassy” in Canberra?

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/technology/8210916/wind-powered-car-tested-in-australia A wind powered prototype called The Wind Explorer arrived in Sydney at about 2am on Monday February 13th after travelling more than 5000km across Australia from Perth, via Adelaide and Melbourne, at a cost of just $16.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/in-depth/queensland-floods/hearts-heavy-as-towns-emerge-covered-in-mud/story-fn7iwx3v-1226263189107 more details on the floods in southern Queensland

What happened in Australian History this week:

On the 18th February 1942, Darwin was bombed for the first time by Japanese pilots. Read more here: http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/remembering1942/darwin/

On the 15 February 1942, Singapore fell to the Japanese. This was the beginning of a very sad period of the Second World War, particularly in the South Pacific theatre of war. Here’s a link to more information: http://today.wmit.net.au/?today_entry=958&today_session=73b892fe0693498c11f362de863d80f7

Famous Aussie Birthdays

9th February 1897 – Charles Edward Kingsford-Smith (Pioneer Australian Aviator)
10th February 1944 – Peter Allen (Singer/Entertainer)
10th February 1955 – Greg Norman (champion golfer)
11th February 1937 – Bill Lawry (great Australian Cricketer and chatterbox)
12th February 1959 – Sigrid Thornton (actress)
14th February 1977 – Cadel Evans (Tour de France winner 2011)
15th February 1934 – Graham Kennedy (entertainer)

Quirky Aussie Stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3vBs1Pu208 a funny advertisement about Australian wildlife

http://budgiesareawesome.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/budgerigars-are-still-free.html cute photo of an Australian Budgie

http://sydneynearlydailyphot.blogspot.com.au/2008/01/slip-slop-slap-and-wrap.html A great article about Slip, Slop, Slap – and Australian backyards

Well folks, that’s all I have for you for this week. I hope you have enjoyed this DOWNunder UPdate and I’ll be stopping by again next week.
Till then, all the best and
Cheerio for now

Judie Bellingham, Australia Editor
http://Australia.bellaonline.com

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