Shirley Futch Plaza ~ Computer Training Center: January 2016

Australia

Australia is a country, and continent, surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. Its major cities – Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide – are coastal, but its capital, Canberra, is inland and nicknamed the "Bush Capital." The country is known for its Sydney Opera House, Great Barrier Reef, the vast Outback (interior desert wilderness) and unique animal species including kangaroos and duck-billed platypuses.

Canberra - (16 hours ahead of EST)
Current Temperature: 95 day time high, 65 nighttime low. Rainy.
Current Time: 5:15pm Thursday January 21st

Other area of Australia:
Kingston (GMT+11)
Lord Howe Island (GMT+11)
Adelaide (GMT+10:30)
-1 day Perth (GMT+8)
-1 day Christmas Island (GMT+7)

Round trip plane ticket to Canberra: $2,689, 27h, 40m

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT AUSTRALIA

Eucalyptus Tree:
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia

Wattle Tree:
It grows to a height of 8 m (25 ft) and has phyllodes (flattened leaf stalks) instead of true leaves. Sickle-shaped, these are between 9 and 15 cm (3.5–9 in) long, and 1–3.5 cm (1⁄2–1 1⁄2 in) wide. The profuse fragrant, golden flowers appear in late winter and spring, followed by long seed pods.

Platypus:
The platypus, also known as the duck-billed platypus, is a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Wikipedia
Scientific name: Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Conservation status: Least Concern
Lifespan: 17 years (In captivity)
Clutch size: 1 – 3
Higher classification: Platypus
Gestation period: 12 days

Echidna:
sometimes known as spiny anteaters. the only living mammals that lay eggs. Their diet consists of ants and termites, but they are not closely related to the true anteaters of the Americas.

Kangaroo:
Kangaroos have large, powerful hind legs, large feet adapted for leaping, a long muscular tail for balance, and a small head. Like most marsupials, female kangaroos have a pouch called a marsupium in which joeys complete postnatal development. The Australian government estimates that 34.3 million kangaroos lived in Australia in 2011.

Koala:
It is easily recognisable by its stout, tailless body and large head with round, fluffy ears and large, spoon-shaped nose. The koala has a body length of 60–85 cm (24–33 in) and weighs 4–15 kg (9–33 lb).

Wombat:
Wombats are short-legged, muscular quadrupedal marsupials native to Australia. They are about 1 m in length with small, stubby tails. There are three extant species and they are all members of the family Vombatidae. Wikipedia
Scientific name: Vombatidae
Speed: 25 mph (Maximum, When threatened)
Higher classification: Vombatiformes
Mass: 44 – 77 lbs
Gestation period: 20 – 21 days
Length: 3.3 ft.

Emu:

The emu is the second-largest living bird in the world by height, after its ratite relative, the ostrich. It is endemic to Australia where it is the largest native bird and the only extant member of the genus Dromaius.
Scientific name: Dromaius novaehollandiae
Conservation status: Least Concern (Population stable)
Mass: 79 – 88 lbs
Higher classification: Dromaius
Length: 5.7 ft.
Rank: Species

Kookaburra:
terrestrial tree kingfishers of the genus Dacelo native to Australia and New Guinea, which grow to between 28–42 cm (11–17 in) in length. The kookaburra's loud call sounds like echoing human laughter. They are found in habitats ranging from humid forest to arid savanna, as well as in suburban areas with tall trees or near running water. Even though they belong to the larger group known as "kingfishers", kookaburras are not closely associated with water.

Thylacine:

was the largest known carnivorous marsupial of modern times. It is commonly known as the Tasmanian tiger (because of its striped lower back) or the Tasmanian wolf.[6] Native to continental Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea, it is believed to have become extinct in the 20th century. It was the last extant member of its family, Thylacinidae; specimens of other members of the family have been found in the fossil record dating back to the late Oligocene.

The thylacine had become extremely rare or extinct on the Australian mainland before British settlement of the continent, but it survived on the island of Tasmania along with several other endemic species, including the Tasmanian devil. Intensive hunting encouraged by bounties is generally blamed for its extinction, but other contributing factors may have been disease, the introduction of dogs, and human encroachment into its habitat. Despite its official classification as extinct, sightings are still reported, though none has been conclusively proven.

Surviving evidence suggests that it was a relatively shy, nocturnal creature with the general appearance of a medium-to-large-size dog, except for its stiff tail and abdominal pouch (which was reminiscent of a kangaroo) and a series of dark transverse stripes that radiated from the top of its back (making it look a bit like a tiger).

Great Barrier Reef:

The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven wonders of the natural world, and pulling away from it, and viewing it from a greater distance, you can understand why. It is larger than the Great Wall of China and the only living thing on earth visible from space.

Great Victoria Desert:
It is about 163,900 miles in area. 435 miles from west to east - it is the 3rd largest desert in the world
CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF THE GREAT VICTORIA DESERT

Mackay:

CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT ABOUT MACKAY

Bowen Mango

Lamington
Lamingtons are little sponge cakes coated in chocolate and grated coconut. A traditional Australian treat that appeals to most. Any firm type of plain cake can be used: butter cake, pound cake, Madeira cake or genoise sponge. Note: desiccated coconut is a slightly dried shredded coconut--not sweetened.

CLICK HERE FOR A RECIPE FOR LAMINGTONS

Top End:
CLICK HERE TO LEARN ABOUT THE TOP END

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF THE TOP END

The Kimberly:
The Kimberley is Western Australia’s sparsely settled northern region. It’s known for large swaths of wilderness defined by rugged mountains, dramatic gorges, Outback desert and isolated coastal sections. The mostly unsealed (unpaved) Gibb River Road runs 660km through the heart of the Kimberley, leading to Windjana Gorge National Park, which has towering limestone cliff walls and pools where freshwater crocodiles gather.

CLICK HERE FOR A SLIDESHOW OF KIMBERLEY

Katherine Gorge:
Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge) covers a vast area of escarpment country, including 13 gorges carved from the ancient sandstone country. Explore the world-famous park and gorge country on foot, by canoe, boat or helicopter.

CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES OF KATHERINE GORGE

Sydney:

Sydney Opera House:
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney, Australia, identified as one of the 20th century's most distinctive buildings.
Address: Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Construction started: December 5, 1958
Opened: October 20, 1973

Uluru:
Uluru, or Ayers Rock, is a massive sandstone monolith in the heart of the Northern Territory’s Red Centre desert, 450km from the nearest large town, Alice Springs. It’s sacred to indigenous Australians and believed to be about 700 million years old. It’s within Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, which also encompasses the 36 red-rock domes of the Kata Tjuta (colloquially “The Olgas”) formation.

Gold Coast:
The Gold Coast is a metropolitan region south of Brisbane on Australia’s east coast, famed for its long sandy beaches, surfing and elaborate system of inland canals and waterways. It’s also home to the Dreamworld, Sea World and Wet’n’Wild theme parks. Inland, hiking trails crisscross Lamington National Park’s mountain ridges and valleys, home to rare birds and rainforest.