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Page 10 of 11
Bonjour tout le monde,
Je suis emballé de vous annoncer que le défi en "Australasia" à très bien
terminer. Merci de vos pensées et votre interêt! J'ai l'intention de faire d'autre voyages pour
la même cause...peut-être L'Europe l'été prochain.
Sincèrement,
Philip Shaw :)
Ce texte n'est disponible qu'en anglais.
End of the endeavour
And the beginning of a new one…
Brisbane was all that people told me it was. Big beautiful and friendly. I
enjoyed visiting “The Valley” where all the serious partygoers go. I also
relished roller skiing along both sides of the Brisbane river although the
surface was inadequate for double polling. August 14th & 15th were my
appointed days here and it was definitely a short-lived visit. Ideally I would
of at least visited the Steve Irwin zoo and a couple of museums, but, time was
pressing me southward. So next was Gold Coast; an international tourist
attraction with numerous middle-eastern visitors making their way around. Lots
of Asians too. Typical were the large families some with three generations
walking side by side shopping and snooping about. Their young ones were very
curious about my roller skiing antics whilst the older ones were a little leery.
I didn’t like Gold Coast because I didn’t fit in. I felt that people were too
serious about themselves and their role as big shot tourists. Byron Bay was a
more down to earth with hundreds of “Backpackers” and easygoing surfer dudes. I
felt at ease and at home here and was glad to spend two days. I was also happy
to spend some money on personal gifts and a nice nights stay in the luxurious
Byron Inn. Plus, the people were friendlier here with lots of smiles and genuine
offers to help. One person told me that there was cultural difference with the
nearby neighbours to the north in Queensland in respect to friendliness. Of
course she was saying that the New South Wales people are more receptive to good
tourism and stewardship but I secretly didn’t agree. I believe that there are
good and bad people in all societies or places and that not one is better than
the other. She did admit that a recent “Queensland” politician was slightly to
blame for the states backwardness. I also believe that our leaders set the tone
for public behaviour. In this respect I also believe Steps should also be taken
by our Canadian leaders with a vocal stance on making tobacco illegal. They must
also go about heightening public health awareness by offering free sports
programs for adults and compulsory ones for youths. Proper nutrition could be
built into the compulsory sports campaign for kids. I would even go as far as to
suggest that certain fast food chains restrain their publicity campaigns and
that they be held accountable for certain obese clients just like bars aren’t
permitted to serve drunk patrons. I would advocate an array of programs where
children get to choose from different sports. These programs would be free and
well planned permitting youths to slowly adapt and appreciate their chosen
sport. These sport programs could be offered in conjunction with schools but I
am talking about extra-curricular activities held outside of academic hours.
Monetary incentives for adults practising regular exercise should be looked
into. Any program that gets people away from the TV or their sedentary lifestyle
into a regular aerobic exercise program.
Coffs Harbour was next, a regional centre for tourism, commerce and industry.
The city and surroundings is home to about 60,000 people and is assessed by
CSIRO as having the best climate in Australia. Coffs Harbour is notable for its
banana and avocado plantations, dairy and beef farms, State Forests, National
Parks and sub-tropical rainforests. This region boasts the most southern pocket
of banana plantations and sure enough the short stocky trees bear the yellow
fruits. Only strange thing is that they cover the fruits with a cloth type of
brassiere. Needless to say I enjoyed my brief 24hr visit here, but had to be
extra precocious roller-skiing the hilly terrain. I also was appalled at the
generosity of the Coffs Harbour Comfort Inn where Michael gave me great
hospitality. Hats off to you and your staff dear Michael!
My next visit was to Port Macquarie. A magnificent surfing beach hugging
quiet rock strewn coves hemmed in by a 5km walkway-bike-path. This was my
favourite place between Cairns and Sydney. Plus, the lively restaurants, cafes
and night-clubs. Wow what an incredible town and surrounding area. Visit www.Kempsey.midcoast.com.au Sunday August 22nd was my last
full day in the land of Oz and definitely a very memorable one. The sun was
warm, the sky was blue and people were cheerfully enjoying one of the first nice
days of spring. In fact, hundreds of people were frolicking around the bike
paths, parks and beaches. I was able to take interesting pictures and leisurely
enjoy my last day down under. Towards the end of my roller-ski I was rewarded
with a dolphin popping in and out of the seawater. Wild birds walking and
straddling by the waters. And huge pelicans too. With their large bulging
throats they remind me of greedy beings always wanting more food. Later that day
I saw a congregation of about 10 kangaroos squatting as they do partly on they
tails and starring emptily. Needless to say wildlife is usually close at hand in
this vast land of Australia and Port Macquarie was no exception. I was
complimented again today as by many Australians before “that I am fit as a Mali
bull” I have seen these bovine beasts and they really look fit. Slender, sleek
and yet muscled strong looking. So it went, that up until the end of the Roller
skiing throughout NZ and Australia I remained not only fit but no worse for the
efforts or the ordeal. 5 ½ months and 9000 kilometres later I remained fit, sane
and thank God safe. I am thankful especially to God for granting me strength,
courage and wisdom. My appreciation goes also to Canadian and American friends
who were helping me from behind the scenes. A big thanks to my parents and my
brother Mike who cheered me on from home. I would also like to thank the many
“Kiwis” and “Ozzies” who offered me help in the form of food or accommodation.
Even on my last night in Sydney I was well received. This endeavour would not
have been possible without the co-operation and the help that I had. Thanks to
your help, many have been influenced by the “Quests” message of “Smoke less,
exercise more and eat sensibly”
This successful endeavour and its countless experiences has forever committed
me to promoting health awareness. For me this may be the end of the Australasia
but it is the beginning of some other future mission. As Malaysia flight 122
hurtles west towards home I know that one-day I will be travelling to another
land with a similar message. May my preparations prove worthy of another trial.
May I one day be up to the challenge. And remember; you too can make a positive
difference in this world!?!
... Fin du voyage en Australie.
L’Australie
L’Australie est situee entre l’ocean Indien et l’ocean Pacifique. Son
littoral est baigne par de chaudes mers tropicales, tandis que l’ile de
Tasmanie, au sud, est entouree d’eaux plus froides et houleuses. Sa cote
nord-est est protegee par la plus longue barriere de corail du monde, la Grande
Barriere, qui s’etend sur 2027 kilometres du nord au sud.
La cordillere australienne, don’t la partie sud est appelee Alpes
austarliennes, se dresse parallelement a la cote orientale. Le fleuve le plus
d’Australie, le Murray, don’t le principal affluent est le Darling, prend
naissance pres du mont Kosciusko.
L’interieur de l’Australie, compose du Grand Desert de Victoria,
du Desert de Gibson et du Grand Desert de sable, est principalement une region
sauvage presentant un paysage d’affleurements rocheux, de puits salants, de lacs
asseches et le long de la Grande Baie australienne, de basse terres (plaine de
Nullarbor). Les deserts sont bordes de regions de broussailles, de savane, de
forets tropicales humides, de prairies temperees et de forets tropicales
humides, de prairies temperees et de forets d’eucalyptus. Les habitants
australiens arbritent de nombreuses especes d’animaux et d’oiseaux que l’on ne
trouve nulle part ailleurs sur la terre : les koalas, les kangourous, les
diables de Tasmanie et les ornithorynques.
La grande majorite des Australiens vivent dans les grandes villes des cotes
est, sud et sud-ouest, ou la temperature est agreable et le sol fertile. Partout
ou la nature le permet, l’interieur du pays, ou outback, est occupe par
d’immense ranchs a bovins et moutons ou par des mines.
Les habitants premiers issus des premiers Australiens sont appeles
Aborigenes. On compte diverses cultures et langues aborigenes dans les
differentes regions d’Australie. Les habitants de l’ile du detroit de Torres,
dans l’extreme nord, appartiennent quant a eux a un autre groupe ethnique
apparente tres ancien. Les Aborigenes, passe maitres dans l’art de la survie
dans le desert, ont ete victimes de la persecution et de la violence dans les
annees 1770. Ils ont ete exclus de la nationalite australienne jusqu’en 1967.
Aujourd’hui, les Aborigenes ne representent plus qu’environ 1% de la population.
Ils sont confrontes a de nombreux problemes economiques et politiques, et
revendiquent aujourd’hui la possession de leurs terres ancestrales. Depuis
quelques annees, on enregistre en Australie et dans le reste du monde un grand
regain d’interet pour leur culture et leurs traditions. La grande majorite des
Australiens sont d’origine anglaise, ecossaise, irlandaise ou galloise.
L’anglais est parle dans tout le pays, mais avec son propre accent et de
nombreuses expressions regionales. Depuis 20 ans, l’Australie est neanmoins
devenue une societe beaucoup plus multiethnique, a la suite de l’immigration de
Scandinaves, Polonais, Hollandais, Allemands, Italiens, Grecs, Libanais,
Indiens, Chinois, Thailandais et Vietnamiens.
De nombreux Australiens sont passiones d’activite et de sports en plein air
tels que le tennis, la voile, la natation, le surf, le cricket, le rugby et le
football australien. Depuis quelques annees, des villes telles que Sydney et
Melbourne sont devenues des centres artistiques. Bien que 85% des Australiens
soient urbanises, pour la plupart dans les grandes villes modernes du littoral,
il existe toujours une grande fascination pour le folklore et les traditions de
l’outback (l’interieur du pays). La vie dans les regions isolees est souvent
difficile. S’il y a un accident dans un ranch eloigne, les medicins doivent
parfois s’y rendre en avion. Il arrive qu’un professeur donne des cours a des
eleves se trouvant a des centaines de kilometres, par liason radio
bidirectionnelle.
Courtoisie de Phil Shaw et l’Atlas encyclopedique du Monde.
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