Australia on fire reporting

https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2020/february/1580475600/bronwyn-adcock/living-hell

Living Hell.

The fires are still burning ... Kangaroo Island is aflame

Bushfires in my State of New South Wales, Australia.

We have had continuous bushfires in my State and Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland since Mid October, 2019. Our governments both Federal and State have only now (New Years) named it a National disaster. 

Our Prime Minister and our NSW Emergency minister thought it would be ok to holiday overseas while our country burned. our state minister is still absent holidaying in the UK and our PM only returned because he was getting bad press. 

We have a mountainous range that runs the full length of the East Coast from Victoria through New South Wales to Queensland and all along it is in flames. 

The bush fires have generated their own weather system with lightning strikes adding to the destruction.

Putting my superannuation to work after my retirement this year. I have been making final preparations for my 26 day trip to America with my eldest son, this has been a long anticipated trip back to the States from the last time I was there in 1999. Got some quotes from several travel agencies and ended up going with the first agency I approached.  I will be leaving Sydney, Australia on the 21st September and arriving back home on the 16 October. 

First stop Los Angeles CA, then off to Las Vegas continuing to Orlando via Houston, then to Washington DC and finallyon the 6 October up to New York to attend NY Comic Con. Leaving NY to fly to Los Angeles for a 2 day stopover then the long haul down to Sydney. The trip first involved 7 plane flights but I have reduced it down to 5 with a bus trip from Anaheim to Las Vegas and a train journey from Washington DC to New York.

About a month ago, I was chatting with my elder sister, Cathy when she invited me to join her and her husband on a cruise. They have been on about 6-8 cruises and each time have invited me along. I last went on one 40 years ago : ).  So I, once again, am dipping into my superannuation. A little stressed to be spending so much money after being on a tight budget most of my life but you only live once and while my health is good. Party time.

I will be flying over to Perth, Western Australia on the 27 October to join a Northern Australia Sea Princess cruise leaving on the 29 October -and arriving in Brisbane, Queensland on the 13 November which just happens to be my birthday. Staying a couple of days with nephews family before flying down to Sydney, NSW then a 100km rail trip north to the coastal town where I live. The Sea Princess port of calls will be Perth, WA then Geraldton, we then head further north to Lombar in Indonsesia, down to Darwin, Northern territory and the top of Australia and down to Port Douglas, Queensland then onto Brisbane. 

I have been going on extra long walks with my dog, Barney to build up my stamina. When I return hope to have lots of photos and memories. 

Family History.

My daughter, Natalie wanted to know why my grandfather, a Ryan changed his surname to Ryall and then 40 years later it was changed back to Ryan.

Name was originally Ryan. There was a tragedy when Ted's brother Hugh and 2 others were swept away in a flooded river when they tried to cross it. The people on the bank held Ted back from following to save his brother. The year was 1908. (Ted's father, Thomas died a year later). Ted's mother, Charlotte had trouble with understanding that Ted was there but hadn't gone into the river to save his brother. I would say Charlotte (Tot) was suffering from post traumatic stress (had 7 of her children die up to this time) rejected Ted's excuses and he left for Queensland after his father's death. Next heard of in Gordonvale, Queensland about 1910 with a name change (never legally). 

Trying now to map his journey from Orange, NSW to Gordonvale, Qld. It is funny that without this tragedy I would not have been born and related to the wonderful Thumm family. 

REFERENCE NSW School Holidays 2012
Term 1	Friday, 27 January 2012	-	Thursday, 05 April 2012
Autumn Holidays	Friday, 06 April 2012	-	Friday, 20 April 2012
Term 2	Monday, 23 April 2012	-	Friday, 29 June 2012
Winter Holidays	Monday, 02 July 2012	-	Friday, 13 July 2012
Term 3	Monday, 16 July 2012	-	Friday, 21 September 2012
Spring Holidays	Monday, 24 September 2012	-	Friday, 05 October 2012
Term 4	Monday, 08 October 2012	-	Friday, 21 December 2012
Summer Holidays	Monday, 24 December 2012	-	Monday, 28 January 2013