****URGENT ALERT****

Massive flooding in Australia has affected the areas of Queensland and New South Wales. Thousands of people are being forced to leave their homes and several wildlife populations are at risk of starving, losing their homes, and/or drowning. The floods began in mid-December with a massive storm that threatened the entire eastern coast of Australia. As rains continue, the rivers are swelling excessively. Recovery will take weeks, if not months.

Trapped Albino Kangaroo 

Beware of the Crocodiles

Animals in the Queensland Floods

Until the Cows Come Home

Snakes! Snakes! Everywhere!

 

Australia

Capital: Canberra

Latitude = -35.3081, Longitude = 149.1244
Lat    = 35 degrees,   18.5 minutes   South
Long = 149 degrees,   7.5 minutes   East

Australia is not just a country, it is also a continent!  Located right next to New Zealand, it is about the same size as the United States.

Most of the people live on the Eastern coast, between Cairns and Adelaide.

 

Environment: Conservation Efforts and the importance of the land.

 Australia is home to many thousands of animals, plants, and aquatic life. Many of these species can only ever be seen in Australia, such as the duck-billed platypus, the kookaburras, the kangaroo, and the much-loved Koala bear.  

The people of Australia take a lot of pride in their land. Because of this, attention has been drawn to several of the environmental issues facing the nation. These include water scarcity, climate change, deforestation, and mining. Droughts have been bad for animal and plant life. Water is limited on the continental island, and land has been destroyed for resources. 

To help fix these problems, Australians make every effort to improve Australia each day. It is believed that 99% of the population recycles. Signs are posted everywhere to remind people to take shorter showers, turn faucets off when brushing their teeth, and to clean up their own litter.

Conservation efforts of Australia will help fish species like Nemo’s family, animals like the kangaroo, and plants like the eucalyptus trees that koalas eat, to stay alive! Without such great efforts to save the natural environment, Australia may end up being a very unhappy and empty place. 

 

Australian Money Facts 

Like New Zealand, Australian money is very colorful!  They are also different sizes.

It is also waterproof because it is made of plastic!

 Aboriginal Vocabulary:

Theme: Nature

baduwater
bamalearth
barabung, minyimulungdew
baragulaflood tide
birrungstar
burra, garrayura
sky
danagalice
duruga
falling star
garagurucloud
gibastone
gurawind
gurbunyfog
guwarahigh wind
guwingsun
marri yanadafull moon
mungilightning
murungalthunder
walan, banarain
warriwul.Milky Way
yanadamoon

 

 HISTORY: Aboriginals and Europeans!

The First "Australians" 

~Aboriginals were the real founders of Australia because they came to this land over forty thousand years before European people discovered it.




~ Aboriginals believe that spirit beings lived on earth during the Dreamtime (Creation Period), which occurred before the arrival of human beings.  The spirits are said to be strongest where they influenced the earth such as in the trees, the hills, the mountains, the rivers, etc.



~Today, the aboriginal people are a minority in Australia, but their influence is still apparent in place names and the ever-growing attempt to preserve nature by the Australia government.

 

EUROPEANS & AUSTRALIA

~ In 1770, Captain James Cook, an Englishman, sailed along the eastern shores of Australia mapping the territory for the first time. The British shortly after claimed the territory.


~The British decided to use Australia as a prisoner colony. From 1788 to 1868, about 160,000 convicts were sent to Australia. What happened to them when they got to Australia depended on their skills or education, how they behaved themselves, and some luck.

~In the 1800s, gold was discovered and soon mining became very popular as people raced to find a fortune. Overall, six colonies were created between the 18h and 19th centuries. In 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia was born. 

 

 NOTABLE THINGS & KEY FEATURES 

 Great Barrier Reef –

 The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the world! It is a natural reef that is approximately 2300 KM long and can be see from outer space! On the reef there are: 1500 Species of Fish,  400 types of coral, 4000 breeds of mollusks, 500 varieties of seaweed, 200 bird species, 1500 different types of sea sponges,  and 6 varieties of turtles!(Taken from Lonely Planet Australia-2007 edition)

Koala Bears are not actually bears at all. They are marsupials. With a brain the size of a walnut, Koala’s are mostly seen lounging about in the eucalyptus trees of Australia. They eat gum leaves, which are extremely toxic. Therefore, majority of the koalas energy is spent  on detoxifying its food. Because of this, they are extremely lethargic and often have a spaced-out look about them.

More commonly known as Ayer’s Rock, Uluru is a large rock located in the middle of Australia. It is 348 meters high and is 3.6 KM long. If that does not sound impressive…it is believed that 2/3 of Ayer’s Rock can’t be seen yet as it’s still in the earth buried! Surrounding Ayer’s Rock are several sacred sites from the native’s and their ancestors.

Kangaroos are the national symbol of Australia. Like the Koala Bears, these guys are also marsupials! They are seen hopping about freely through the bush at speeds between 13 mph and 44 mph! They’re biggest predator right now….humans. Kangaroos are often hit by cars and are even being harvested for their meat now!

Australian Facts:

People drive on the right side of the car, and the wrong side of the road.

Vegimite is a favorite to put on sandwiches in Australia and is said to ward off mosquitoes with its high concentration of Vitamin B.

Flying foxes are prominent in Australia and can be seen hanging from trees around the country in flocks. 

Australian Movies:

Where the Wild Things Are

Ghost Rider

Crocodile Dundee

Finding Nemo

The Rescuers Down Under 

Famous Australians:

Keith Urban

Nicole Kidman

Hugh Jackman

Steve Irwin 

Princess Mary of Denmark

 
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