Matthew & Patricia's Wedding

Well the main reason that I was back in Melbourne was to catch up with all my family at my cousin Matthew's wedding last Saturday. It is fabulous because he married a Columbian - you can imagine how rapt we all are to have a South American in the family!! Actually Patricia used to be one of the spanish teachers at Lyceum Language Centre where I worked in Melbourne so I was able to catch up with some of the spanish teachers too.









(Grandparents and some cousins at the wedding.)

A friend from Townsville's sister happened to even be marrying them - small world!
It was a beautiful sunny day and the serice was held at the Mounth Martha Uniting Church then followed by the recption at a nearby winery - Mooroduc Estate. They had guests from interstate, Japan, NZ, South America and even France! It was lovely to see all my relatives. Even got to do a bit of salsa and merengue afterwards.




My family at the winery (Nicky hates photos.)

University of Melbourne Graduation

I just got back from a fleeting visit from Melbourne where on Thursday night I finally graduated!

Now if I didn't get in contact with you while I was there - I do apologise - about an hour before I was supposed to be at Union House, my back pack was stolen from Melbourne Central which amongst other items included my mobile and graduation outfit.....
I will update people via email with my new mobile once it's sorted out.

Hamilton Island Race Week 2006

So I somehow I ended up sailing in the Hamilton Island Race Week 2006!!!!!

Check it out at http://www.hiyc.org.au/

I went with a good friend from uni whose Dad owns a boat - The Major.

I also caught up with the Zoe guys (usual boat that I sail with but they are way too good for me to crew with in serious racing!) over dinner on the Sat night in their 5 star house that they'd rented for the week.

It was an amazing weekend where we saw turtles and even whales from the boat. I went snorkelling in Catseye Bay and saw plenty of fish over the sponge gardens, some corals and even a stingray buried in the sand. Evening were spent at the Hamilton Island Yacht club where there were great bands. And to top off an incredible weekend I even met an amazing guy.

(Fireworks at the Yacht club with Michelle in the foreground).

Friday nights in Townsville

Friday night drinks at the Rhino bar with triathlon friend Laura from Darwin (far left) and another army girlfriend in John's (the boyfriend of Laura who is currently in East Timor) platoon.

Then it was off to latin dancing at Hog's Breath Cafe for a lombada lesson but I only stayed for the individual bit because there were too many girls.

Then it was off to a house party jammed packed with french and latinos at JCU studying of course either marine biology or at TESAG. The french guy from sailing and his Columbian house mate invited me - it was their french house mate's goodbye. Anyway as Townsville JCU international student parties go, people you know are bound to turn up. Also they are bound to know each other from other random connections - it's a very small world up here! The party was flowing with beer, red wine, rum & lime, chechetta (spelling?), some south american dessert with savory biscuits sticking out of it and authentic spanish/latin music with people crammed precariously onto the balcony of the old Queenslander that overlooked the city and marina. When 2am approached I thought that I'd really better leave if I was ever going to make it to surf club training in the morning!

Bike lovers see if you can beat this one!

This is Pia & Ty's front room.................no room for Pia's bike it has to go in the spare room.

Pia's boyfriend Ty is in the army and just returned from Afghanistan so apparently now there is another one to add to the collection.

Despite moving in with Ty and having full reign of the house in every other capacity, she is not permitted to ride any of Ty's precious bikes.

The room also contains a string of shoes to match and his medals.

Rex

So I happen to be sleeping above the only indoor swimming pool in Townsville..........................

This is the lovely Rex who did live below us but moved out this weekend to be close to his wife in hospital who has Alzheimer's Disease - heart breaking for him.

I managed to get a quick pic with him and his beloved pool where he swam with his wife each morning. He used to teach swimming at the Tobruk pool and was a lifesaver up here. He did a lot for the community.

He was also very passionate about his garden and the tropical plants that surround our appartment are evidence of his work. He reminded me of my wonderful grandaparents.

Townsville Running Festival

(Kerryn just before giving the presentation)

(Uni friends)

Well anyone who runs was out last Sunday and that included Commonwealth Games marathon winner Kerryn McCann who I got to register along with her sister and husband that won the 10.5 km! They were all really lovely.

Some of the Tubruk squad swimmers.

No Pia did not do the run in her bikini - they were about to go canoeing.

Me sprinting crazily to the finish line!

Zollis

The reknowned Zollis for latin dancing the first Friday of every month is soon to close so that meant a night last Friday night.

It's the drawcard for all the international students in town so I caught up with some french friends .

Cowboys match

Well I finally made it to a league game. Nic got me in for free as she had to take some listners and I saw the match with Laura and her visiting sister and friend from Darwin.

It certainly was an experience with cheerleaders and where along with beer, Budaberg rum is sold at the grounds.

Emma's road trip in FNQ

I managed to be actually free when Emma and her friend hit Townsville for a couple of hours sunbaking at the Strand in their whirwind tour of the Far North Queensland coast from Brisbane.

Was awesome to see her and she is just as passionate and full of energy as ever!

(No photo due to camera being repaired but maybe one from Emma to come?)

Concerto competition

Nic compared the vocal and concerto competition so I got to go for free which included drinks afterwards with the finalists!

That meant I had a lot of fun tracking down and holding people chatting so Nic could do a line up of interviews - so much fun!

Got to meet some amazing musician (though not as amazing as you Rochelle!!)

One guy from Sydney is a pianist then a speed skater in his spare time that almost went to the last winter Olympics but got a back injury - how incredible is that?!!

Magnetic Island Swim

When I heard about the Maggie Island swim, I knew I just had to do the relay swim so rounded up a team: Spike's Angels........and we had an absolute ball!!!!

Pia & Collen got really into it making us a team flag and team stubby holders in the team colours of hot pink, yellow and royal blue.

Friday night was the boat draw at The Brewery and afterwards we got supplies.

Saturday we the big day: We swam in a shark cage 2km each of the 8km to Maggie Island and did a time of 2 hours and 5 mins which we were stoked with! (Pia & Colleen are gun swimmers and Spike is a surf boat rower for Arcadia).


I was a tow boat spotter for the solo swimmer on the way back then we had drinks at the Picnic Bay Surf Club with all the swimmers and some of my friends who came down to see how I went.
Pia, Collen and I went for dinner on Palmer St that night to celebrate then we are were suddenly stuffed.

Sunday was the presentations at the Brewery and our team came 4th.

Colleen went all out so we even have a CD of photos and DVD to go with it!

The Strand Open Water Swim Series

Well after about 3 months of not being able to swim in the pool due to skin reactions (I think caused by the pH which is influenced by the levels of sunlight)....I was not feeling myself at all and determined to get back into squad training. I bought myself some antihistomines and made it through the last session with some of the Australian swim team training alongside. They did the trick and I haven't looked back.

When stinger season finished, we started open water training sessions on Saturday mornings with coffee afterwards of course.

There are heaps of fast swimmers up here and I'm actually in the slow lane. Two are currently off at the World Masters in San Francisco and Jemma at the age of 20 swam the English Channel and at 21 just completed the Catalina Channel in the US. Nic of course did the interviews (nothing to do with me - she's the one they call. She interviews the Cowboys and has interviewed Cathy Freeman too plus others.)

So we all knew he was dead set fast and hot...... but what I didn't know till two days prior to leaving to compete in Hawaii was that for the last 3 months we've had a water polo player in the Australian team training with us! When I found out this, of course hooked up an interview with Nic. He said that he was nervous - very cute.

We had the Strand swim series which consisted of 2.5, 2.5 and 5km open water swims. The challenge wasn't the distance but swimming with the knowledge of Townsville closest to the largest tiger shark breeding ground in Australia. I actually came 3rd in my age group category which is more a reflection of the lack of people that swum in the category.

After the 5km swim we all went for champagne at the C-Bar overlooking Magnestic Island......with sun sparkling down, I thought life can't get any better than this!

Then came the Magnestic Island Swim.........................

Hinchinbrook Island [15th July 2006]

Well I still didn't have my camera so I will have to get pic's from Gill & Tom for this one.......

[photos to come] This is my tri training friend from work Gill.....I think she got me employed based on my CV as we have so much in common!!



It was amazing day trip where a group from GBRMPA and Reef HQ went to clean up Hinchinbrook Island. At the same time we got to walk from one side of the island to the other through rainforest and I swam in what was paradise-like Getaway style waters. We ended up sipping drinks by the resort swimming pool and in the middle of winter I even got a bit burnt on my back.

We saw turtles, dugongs and even a croc - right near Port Hinchinbrook!!!!

Trinity Beach [7th-8th July 2006]

Road trip to Cairns with my friend from church Anna. We stopped for lunch at Mission Beach.

On the way out we even saw a Cassawory on the road!!!! It even came up to our car to say hello. However it was just at this moment that my camera had to pack it in so unfortunately pic's of the road signs will have to suffice (no wonder there are road kills if they meander the roads like that!) Anna got some pics so I may be able to add one later.......

Also I had a pic or Anna and I at the beach but see dosen't like it so I won't put it on the web.

Anna then dropped me at Trinity Beach where I met up with Carrie, Michele and Prue from my tri club back home. I sat waiting for them in this goovy bar by the sea that had these two footy players from Dromana of all places playing top 40 hits on acoustic guitar. They were actually really good and had me singing along!

It was fabulous to the the girls and their appartment was just amazing overlooking the sea, included a spa and even decked out with sulptures etc. It was great catching up, having coffee and a swim at the beach.

Prior to this it was emails.................

*********Okay from here on it's actual Blog posts!*****************

So much has been happening over the hols. It's been so much fun!! I've only been working full time at GBRMPA and they've even extended my contract twice now but that's meant that I've just been able to do fun things on the weekends and get into some training sessions.

Anyway I've taken the hols as an opportunity to see a bit more of the region and do some fun events. I will try and give you some snap shots.....speaking of which, I had camera dramas and my camera was off at repairs at various events so I will work with the pic's I've got.


This is a pic of Reef HQ next to GBRMPA. AKA view from the cafe that we have access to!

Exams finished! [29 June 2006]

Hello everyone,

Well I have finally finished exams and am on break!

My parents were up and I showed them briefly around Townsville then we went to Magnetic Island where I showed them my surf club's beach where Mum & I went snorkelling. We also went to the market and I even fitted in some study prior to my final exam which I came back for. I then had to work and on the Friday afternoon we then headed up to Hinchenbrook where we stayed in a resort - amzing place - a suburb in the middle of no where with mansions lining the streets next to a marina and opposite the island. We then went to Cairns to visit my cousins, see the marina, night markets and a bit of the World Heritage Wet Tropical Rainforest. On the way up we passed through Innisfail where I took pic's of houses with no roofs and on the Saturday night I met up with a guy from work and some of his friends and ate crocodile (a bit like checken but chewier).

I'm now back but working full time - at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority!!!!!!!!!!! I am absolutely stoked - it's a dream come true. I keep having to pinch myself. I'm not doing anything that challenging - updating the Climate Change division's EndNote library and it's only a month contract. But it is interesting for me - getting the low down on where all the most important articles related to reefs and climate change and getting to work with some of the experts in the field in the world. Plus everyone seems to be into sports and the marine environment - so I'm loving it and feel so at home.

I'm still working at the consultancy and the council said I could go back to them when I finish but I'm just waiting to see what doors will open up.

I hope that you're all well.
I will try and do a few more individual emails soon.

Love, Mel.

(Innisfail - see shops/houses with roofs still in need of repair.)

Daina's visit [2 June 2006]

Hi everyone,

Well finally some photos of Townsville – thanks to Daina’s visit!

She came up on a work trip and it was fabulous to see her. My first visitor in Townsville although I sadly missed Danielle from my surf club back home who was up when I was in Sydney. We went to the Strand (the beach here) where the national outrigger comp. was on (see funny looking boats). There were teams from all over like the Whitsundays and even the Cook Islands.

In the pictures you can see Magnetic Island in the background. The picture of the house isn’t mine – it’s just that Daina wanted a pic of Castle Hill. However my place is at the bottom.

In other news of mention – we have had lots of athletes up here. Karen that won the women’s marathon at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games was up to open the running festival and came to our training session on Tuesday nights! The Australian swim team was up here – unfortunately mainly while I was in Sydney but I did go to training where they were training alongside us at the Tobruk Pool!! Craig Stevens, Ky Hurst and the male long distance swimmers were at Tobruk while the others swam at Long Tan (Grant Hackett was on Nic’s plane up from Brisbane! Sadly Ian Thorpe was there while I was away.) I also went to my surf club’s anuual dinner where I met the national iron man Shannon Eckstein and World Champion ski paddler Nick Crilley. The last two were really arrogant - absolute tossas (from surfers so maybe that’s why?). I was most impressed by the marathon runner Karen.

The surf club was a great night for meeting everyone. I met some great people including the only other girl in her 20’s and she’s fabulous – totally down to earth, also studying and enjoys the training and comp’s. Also XTCers will find this funny - guess who the door prize?!!

Anyway it’s exam time now do I’d better get back to it……..

Mel.

NSW trip [22 May 2006]

Here are some pic's from my work trip the the NSW coast.

I stayed with my Aunty and Uncle (see pic below of us out to dinner on the last night at Circular Quay, Sydney) on Rose Bay, Sydney. My Uncle is the principle of Scott's College - so they have a lovely house but are moving at the end of this year so I was very fortunate to go now!

The pic's of the surf beach are in Newcastle - Linda I was thinking of you!

Pic's from the plane are the domestic flight I took to Merimbula then hired a car and did three back to back interviews in Bega then back to the airport with 20 mins prior to the flight leaving. The only airport I've been to where it's okay to arrive 5 mins prior to the plane departing. See pic of wooden sign demarking airport where the check in and cafe is the size of a public toilet block.

Went to church with my cousin Richard and his lovely wife Trish - the same church that they got married in one year ago.

Have more news and pic's of Townsville but will have to do that in a later email,

Mel.

Townsville Aquathon 26/2/06

Hi everyone,
Well I'm finally about to send some pic's of what I've been up to since I arrived in Townsville.......starting with this one I found from the
www.townsvilletriathlonclub.com.au website of the results & pics from the aquathon I did on the first Sunday I arrived!
I said I was going to take a break from doing races but somehow I got talked into it......ok so it wasn't that hard. Well I came second for the longcourse females....but then again there were only two of us so that also qualifies as last! Well it was a good way of getting to know people & that was the start of my sailing invite.
I've just been in a crazy zone that included a work trip to the NSW coast so will fill you in on the next email.
Hope you're all well,
Mel.

HAPPY EASTER [13 April 2006]

HAPPY EASTER!

I actually have to be very boring this Easter planned as I have several essays due coming up. However I did have an awesome night last night - I finally took up my offer to go sailing!

I met a professional sailor at squad. He's about to fly to New York to do the last leg of the Volvo race: New York - England - Sweeden. He gave me the number of someone to crew for - turned out to be the club's commodere (I don't know how you spell that!) I seem to have been busy each Wednesday night but finally rang this guy up and went sailing last night - Dad you would have loved it! There was a boat full of people which made it heaps of fun - even a french guy (these French are everywhere up here!) Up the front of the boat, the bow, you could almost imagine that you were in an IRB going over waves (I mean just almost.) They're keen to have me as a regular so I'd love to, but have to be careful not to over commit myself up here in usual typical Mel-fashion.

In other news I got an email re my new job (will still be working for Thuringowa City Council too). Unfortunately I won't be going to Victoria which I find bizarre because I thought they employed me based on my research on the dairy industry that I conducted while at Environment Victoria. Anyway it now looks like I'll be off to Sydney and south NSW to cover the interviews required there. It will be between April 26-May 12th so that's why I'm going to have to do some serious intense work getting my essays together and it will be exam period when I get back.

So I apologise in advance if you don't hear from me as it looks like the next 6 weeks will be flat out but fun too!

I hope you have a good break.

Love, Mel. xxoxx

Cyclone! [22 March 2006]

Well the news from Far North Queensland this week has definately been Cyclone Larry!

Thank-you for all the lovely phone calls, texts and emails - yes I'm fine....it was an experience though................

My housemate Nic is a broadcaster for ABC who were obviously key in tracking the cyclone's progress up here so our place was all ready for the cyclone to hit and any associated power failures with tape on windows, supplies of candles, torches, battery operated radios, tins of baked beans, bottled water and everything in the centre of the room taped down and bagged up. I was taking it all as an adventure and she was a bit concerned that being from Melbourne I didn't grasp the concept of a cyclone and that I might be scared when it hit so found someone for me to stay with (while she did all night coverage). Thankfully I got out of that by staying at Kath's which was fun (also from Melbourne - Nic would have had a heart attack to know that we didn't even tape all the windows). We were severly disappointed at the lack of action in Townsville without even coconuts flying as they had done in the tropical depression I'd experienced in New Caledonia (& no such luck as going nightclubbing with Australian swimmers from the AIS either - all in Melbourne this time!)

So it was just a lot of rain & wind in Townsville. A tragedy for many people in Innisfail though, many of whose houses were destroyed.

It did mean that uni was closed and my exam was postponed to the following day.

For those who know my cousin Stephen in Cairns, he called me the following day and they were all fine up there too.

In other news, that night I went with Kath to an army dinner. For those who know Bren, Kath's fiance, he gets back tomorrow - Thursday (she's been counting down).

So my first experience of an army type function up here and they were actually really interesting people. I'd expected war stories discussing various types of weaponary or something or no interest to me but actually it turned out that a lot of world politics was discussed. They'd just got back from Iraq with the main aim of their mission to provide protection to the Australian Embassy in Bagdad. So they'd had lunch with Alexander Downer and been witness to some of the AWB fiasco. Cool hey and they're fans of Nic's so we're all hoping to hook up an interview for Bren on ABC re his experiences in Iraq when he gets back!

She's also interesting in interviewing all those PhD students I've met so I'm going to be Nic's story spotter as I always seem to come across interesting people - so I think we could have a bit of fun!

Anyway that's all for the moment as Cyclone Wati seems to be travelling along the coast and heading north of Cairns so no more action likely.

I hope you're all well and enjoying the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Love, Mel. xox

Tropical Mel