Tag Archives: Australia

Puffing Billy Steam Train Film and Photos

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Puffing Billy is the name of a narrow gauge steam train service based in Victoria, Melbourne. The restored steam engines, carriages, tracks, and station are beautifully maintained.

We recently visited Puffing Billy when Megan’s parents came to visit for the weekend. We caught the metropolitan train from Southern Cross to Belgrave. A short walk from the station is Puffing Billy’s dedicated station. We opted for one of the shorter trips, Belgrave to Emerald. The journey on Puffing Billy lasted one hour with a few stops along the way.

During the journey I took some footage and photos. A short film and a selection of photos appear below.

Puffing Billy sitting at Belgrave Station

Puffing Billy sitting at Belgrave Station

Puffing Billy conductor waiting at Belgrave Station

Puffing Billy conductor waiting at Belgrave Station

Puffing Billy carriages at Belgrave Station

Puffing Billy carriages at Belgrave Station

Puffing Billy steam envelops the vegetation

Puffing Billy steam envelops the vegetation

Puffing Billy Preservation Society sign

Puffing Billy Preservation Society sign

Puffing Billy steam engine

Puffing Billy steam engine

Film and photos of the Great Ocean Road

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Megan and I spent yesterday sightseeing along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. Our stops included Torquay, Bells Beach, Apollo Bay, and the Port Campbell National Park.

I had my camera on hand throughout the day and came away with great footage and stills.

Watch the High Definition (HD) edition of the film on YouTube.

Below are photos from the day.

Melbourne in the early morning

Melbourne in the early morning

Beach, Great Ocean Road

Beach, Great Ocean Road

Great Ocean Road

Great Ocean Road

Apostles, Great Ocean Road

Apostles, Great Ocean Road

London Bridge, Great Ocean Road

London Bridge, Great Ocean Road

Waterskiing on the Yarra River

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This afternoon Megan and I visited Melbourne’s annual Moomba Festival. Yesterday’s storm made the Yarra river’s banks muddy and slippery, but did not appear to reduce the crowds.

Carnival ride, Moomba Festival, Melbourne

Carnival ride, Moomba Festival, Melbourne

Carnival ride, Moomba Festival, Melbourne

Carnival ride, Moomba Festival, Melbourne

I put together a short film of the waterskiing on the Yarra River. This is my first film experimenting with Garage Band. The result is not what would I like but I learnt a lot.

Watch the High Definition (HD) edition of the film on YouTube.

Photos from the day after Melbourne's hail storm

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Twenty-four hours after the hail storm, Melbourne appears mostly unaffected by yesterday’s spectacular weather. The signs of yesterday’s flash flooding in the city centre are minimal.

Flood damage in a Melbourne shop.

Flood damage in a Melbourne shop.

Walking through the central business district this afternoon, I noticed the stairs near Elizabeth Street/Bourke Street still sheltered hail storm ice hidden from the sun.

Leaves caught in railings.

Leaves caught in railings.

Stairs leading down below yesterdays flooded street.

Stairs leading down below yesterdays flooded street.

Ice remains protected from the sun a day later.

Ice remains protected from the sun a day later.

Ice remains protected from the sun a day later.

Ice remains protected from the sun a day later.

Hail storm in Melbourne caught on film

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This afternoon an unexpected hail storm hit Melbourne. Megan and I were lucky enough to be inside at the time. I grabbed the camera and we joined others in the building’s lobby to watch the storm build.

Watch the High Definition (HD) edition of the film on YouTube.

The thunder storm that followed lasted for most of the afternoon.

Hail storm, Melbourne, Australia

Hail storm, Melbourne, Australia

Chunk of ice from the hail storm

Chunk of ice from the hail storm

Hail storm, Melbourne, Australia

Hail storm, Melbourne, Australia

Update

The day after I ventured out into the city and took photos showing the remaining piles of hail ice.

This short film has appeared in the Slovakian Pluska.sk, the Australian Herald Sun web sites, and has accumulated a handful of YouTube honours:

  • #25 – Most Discussed (This Week)) – Travel & Events – Australia
  • #84 – Most Discussed (This Month)) – Travel & Events – Australia
  • #11 – Most Viewed (This Week)) – Travel & Events – Australia
  • #37 – Most Viewed (This Week)) – Travel & Events – New Zealand
  • #69 – Most Viewed (This Week)) – Travel & Events
  • #68 – Most Viewed (This Week)) – Travel & Events – Mexico
  • #84 – Most Viewed (This Week)) – Travel & Events – Hong Kong
  • #10 – Most Viewed (This Month)) – Travel & Events – Australia
  • #19 – Top Favorited (This Week)) – Travel & Events – Australia
  • #52 – Top Favorited (This Month)) – Travel & Events – Australia
  • #31 – Top Rated (This Month)) – Travel & Events – Australia

Finding a Civil Celebrant in Australia

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Earlier this year I married Megan. As part of our wedding planning we needed to find a celebrant outside of our home state. We knew the location of our wedding but finding a civil celebrant by location proved difficult.

To make our search easier, I cobbled together a map of civil celebrants in Australia, organised by state.

Maps showing Australian Civil Celebrants

Maps showing Australian Civil Celebrants

The link above leads through to a mash-up of celebrant listings from the Australian Government’s web site and Google Maps. The data is frozen as of April 2009, but that should be recent enough to get you started.