Hi Jessie & All~
Finally, a place to talk about one of my favourite subjects: Australia! I am a Canadian woman who met her Aussie soulmate online, married him and moved to this beautiful Island Continent for three years. Now I am back in my own Province and about to send in my application to immigrate as a Spouse to Australia. My husband is still in Melbourne, working and waiting for me. I can't wait to get back!

Your last post was on Australia Day, I see. How are things now in, is it, Brisbane? Do you live in the city itself? What are your contacts with nature and where do you go to rest and rejuvenate?

Please tell me about the season now. Is the weather bringing you rain this first month of autumn?

Canadian Blessings to you
Natural Self

Hi Natural Self

Sorry that I've not responded earlier - I completely missed your post in the forum!

Yes - I do live in Brisbane. In fact, I've lived here since I was 10 (we moved from Ipswich to Brisbane) although my mother and brother now live in Mackay in NOrth Queensland.

Melbourne! Why would you want to live in Melbourne? (she says, showing the natural anthipathy of the Queenslander to anybody not from Queensland <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> )

Unfortunately, we are in the grip of drought at present. Rain is scarce, and when it does come, it's not so much rain as spit. Things in Queensland, especially, are getting desperate, with most of our dams getting towards their minimum level.

The rest of the country is not much better, and all Aussies at present are just praying for rain.

As for my contacts with nature - one of my favorite places within reasonable driving distance is the Hinze Dam in the Gold Coast hinterland. Many tourists never visit this beautiful place - sticking to the actual coast itself. The hinterland is beautiful.

I also love the Roma Street Parklands, in the middle of Brisbane and (of course) the original Brisbane Botanic Gardens (also in the city).

I rarely get to any of these with my work commitments - I work in the suburbs and there is not a park near where I work (however it's nicer working in the suburbs than in the city itself). Fortunately, on the weekends, I often just take a chair downstairs (I live in a block of units) and sit in near the fence usually doing embroidery or crochet and chat to the elderly ladies who live next door.

I hope that your Visa comes through quickly and we see you here in Australia with your Husband.

Blessings on you and yours.

Why would you NOT want to live in Melbourne?! [imageBellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

Hi Elle ~

I envy you to bits! Experiencing Spring in beautiful Victoria!
I've heard rumours of a migrating horde of people moving from VIC to Queensland, especially as winter appraches, but I'm sure that's *just* a rumour! ~ and I'm just pulling your leg...

While I'm still in Canada, awaiting Immigration's decision, I yearn to be there, partaking of the delightful sights and sounds of Nature coming to life... the Kootamundra Wattle, to name but one springtime miracle. I've never seen such a vibrant colour of yellow in my life, and certainly not in Canada. Yes, right now we have deciduous trees clothed in golds, ambers and reds, but it's not a sign of returning life, but rather of impending dormancy and death. I do accept the inevitability of the cycling seasons ... I just wish I were there and not here! LOL!!

I saw for myself that Melbourne, and its whereabouts, are precious jewels with their own special allure. I'm looking forward to moving there ... may it be soon!

What trees grow around where you are? What colours surround you?
Thanks for your positive comment!
Stella

Stella I hope your Visa comes through soon!

It's so beautiful and green here. It was quite dry at one stage in autumn and winter and the creeks and swamps were dry and the lake drawn down - now though we've had plenty of rain and everything is wet and full and the frogs love it. The wattle hasn't flowered just yet. We have lavender in our garden and it's burst out in bright purple flowers. My roses have gone mad after their pruning and are double their height already with dozens and dozens of buds. The ash and beech trees in our garden now have all their bright green leaves.

Well, I can understand coming from Canada, that Melbourne probably feels pleasantly warm to you ;-) It was a beautiful sunny day today, but with a slightly chill wind. But I wore a short sleeved top!

Keep well.

Stella, I hope that you hear about your visa soon! Please do keep us in the loop as to what happens.

Elle - it's always great when Bella gets another Aussie Editor (I remember the days when I was the lone Aussie here). Nice to meet you (and now - back to Melbourne Cup celebrating!

Hi Megan - good to meet you too!

Stella - I thought I'd post some pics of the beautiful Spike Wattle flowers and Hairpin banksias we saw on our walk the other day. I always think the Spike Wattle flowers are the colour of sulphur - they are so bright. Enjoy.

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Wow! I love Wattle - but for some reason we don't get a lot of it in Queensland - the same with Banksias.

I love the Hairpin Banksia because of the beautiful purple bits (I'm a purple girl).

Right now, in Brisbane, we're wanderig over the annual carpet of Jacaranda flowers. They may not be a native Aussie plant, but they certainly do typify a lot of Australian towns in the Spring and summer!

Hi and Happy Holidays!
I have finally received my Spouse Visa for migration to Australia!!!!! I am in absolute bliss, but holding back some for when I do get back with my husband! ;o) Ny planned trip is for mid-January, when both the airports and the plane fares are not so crazy.
We won't be living in Melbourne, thankfully, as I am not a city girl, but in one of its suburbs, so my husband can be close to his work. I too will be able to work and I'm looking forward to starting my own herbal business.
The Wattle flowers were just lovely, Thanks to whomever posted the pics! I can't wait to see them in person. The Jacarandas must be just about over now and the Poincianas blooming, too. Ah, I have so much to look forward to!

Many blessings from a snow-covered, cold Canada
Stella

That's fantastic news Stella! Congratulations!

Will you be west or east? I'm in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne. It's beautiful here at the moment. I'll post some more flowers for you soon.

Hi Elle ~
For the immediate future, we'll be living in the south-west, in Hoppers Crossing. But in the new year, we haven't decided yet. Our long-term goal is to buy our own bush block and build a house. But not just any house, you can be sure of that! <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
I'd love to see more pics of flowers, trees, any aspect of VIC that you can post. I CAN'T WAIT TO GET THERE!!
My Passport came yesterday and I've sent it to be stamped with my brand-new Visa! Won't be long now.....
Cheers!
Stella [color:"brown"] [/color]

Here are some pics of the Black Wattle and red Bottlebrush:

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Hi Australia ladies -

I too miss Australia...I am from the States and studied in Australia during my junior year of college - I lived in Brisbane off Margaret St. and absolutely loved everything about the city - especially getting to ride a ferry to and from school - UQ - each day (I do miss the City Cat!).

I am hoping one day to go back and live there at least for a little while - I really do miss it and the wonderful people that I met there.

I also miss the kangaroos... <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Brisbane is a great city - the River City. The ride on the City Cat Ferries up and down the river is no doubt the cheapest and most pleasant ways to see the Brisbane River. Not a bad way to travel to Uni.

Right now the weather is perfect. The weather is warm, but not too hot. Great beach weather. There are still some Jacarandas in bloom - and there are carpets of purple flowers underneath.

What did you like about the Brisbane lifestyle? Sydney is well known overseas, but when travelling, I found many people in the U.S. and Canada had never heard of Brisbane and Queensland?

Do you think that is changing?

Wow, what did I love about the Brisbane lifestyle?? What didn't I love??

The thing I loved most about Australia in general is how wonderful all of the people were. In my first week traveling in Melbourne, I got sick and needed to go to the doctor and four people stopped me on the street and asked the lost American if I needed help! I even had someone sit next to me on the tram and tell me exactly where to get off, how much money to put on my card, etc. Everyone was so laid back and so kind by nature.

In terms of Brisbane, I loved the different neighborhoods - I lived in the city, about four blocks from the CBD, but I loved St. Lucia, Chinatown, etc. I loved the shopping, the restaurants, and I also loved how NON-touristy it was.

I think you're right. Not many pepole know of it, and those that have heard of it probably wouldn't stop there amidst their travels.

I also loved how close it was to so many things: the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Great Barrier Reef, etc. I wouldn't trade my time there for anything (or anywhere!) else...

I don't know if the knowledge of Brisbane is changing, but I know my university and others had large programs at UQ, so maybe it is slowly gaining some international recognition.

Where in Brisbane are you? Have you always lived there?

I live on the Sunshine Coast, but have also lived in Brisbane, other parts of Queensland and overseas.

I love to travel anywhere and everywhere, both overseas and in Australia, but it takes a bit to beat the Queensland weather, and laid back lifestyle.

Did you know the Sunshine Coast Uni has kangaroos on the grounds? Tourists expect to see kangaroos everywhere they go, which is not the case at all, so seeing the kangaroos so much at home there is pretty cool.

Great to hear you are spreading the word about Australia in the Northern Hemisphere. Uni student exchange programs are pretty popular and of course, tourism is booming.

I LOVE the Sunshine Coast!! I went to Noosa three times and wanted to go back a fourth - what a beautiful place. We went to the Noosa Nature Park (I can't remember what it was really called) and hiked in that area. One of my favorite places in all of Australia was on that hike - It was called Hell's Gates - an overlook down on some cliffs and the ocean rising up on the shore...I absolutely loved it and can still feel the wind and visualize being there!

I definitely do my part in spreading the word in the Northern Hemisphere - I tell everyone I can about how wonderful Australia is and how positive my experience was there!

What I may miss more than anything else is the Southern Cross - I loved seeing the stars in the Southern Hemisphere so much!!

Sounds like you need to come back and visit soon!

If you want to truly experience the night sky with the Southern Cross and the Milky Way, next time you come, head out to the bush. When there is no interference from street and house lights, the night sky is just amazing.

Rural areas are good for viewing, but the absolute best experience if you get the chance, is looking up in the still night of the outback - no traffic noise, no lights - just you and the night sky. It's something you will always remember.

That makes 3 of us in Queensland - and all within a couple of hours of each other!

I'm in Brisbane - I know that the Bus Travel Editor is also on the Sunshine Coast (are you still?)

We really should get together sometime! I'm happy to take a trip up to Noosa for the day!

Yes, I am finally back in my SoulHome, the great Oz-Land! It's the Autumn equinox today, a nice semi-cloudy day, with + 21 C temps. Makes me want to go out and plant something!
Thanks for the nice pics of my fave flowers, everyone! And thank you again for sending me your kind thoughts while I was endeavouring to move back here. My husband and I are in absolute bliss to be together again after a two-year separation.
This is also the day that a cyclone is hitting the north Queensland's coastline. I hope everyone is well, having been evacuated before it hit.
The Commonwealth Games are in full swing, with so many Australians winning Gold that I suggested they be renamed the "Australian Games"! Hurray for Australia..and Canada, too!
Blessings to all
NaturalSelf

Yes i DO need to come back and visit (and very soon or I may go crazy!!)

I have actually been to the bush...My last trip of my travels was from Darwin to Alice Springs and then the surrounding tourist attractions of Uluru, Kings Canyon and The Olgas.

So amazingly beatiful - funny you should mention the night sky from the outback because I was just telling someone about it a few days ago - how you have never experienced stars until you are, quite literally, in the middle of nowhere. When I was traveling, I had trouble telling people where my favorite travels took me...But the Outback experience (sleeping in swags under the stars for 10 days) was among the neatest experiences of my lifetime...

I've just got back home to Melbourne from a wonderful holiday travelling around the south-eastern corner of Australia - and look at how many Aussies and Aussie-lovers have arrived on the forum! This is wonderful, Megan, Stella, and I were getting lonely here!

Stella, I'm so delighted you're finally over here and doing well. All the best.

Wonderwoman, we had beautiful wild, but friendly, kangaroos at two of the campsites we stayed at - one set we could actually touch the female and her almost grown joeys. We were more careful with the male. It was magic - they are such beautiful animals. My hubby managed to get a wild kookaburra perched on his hand! He has such a way with animals. We also got to touch a wild female brushtail possum with her (almost teenage, I would say) baby on her back. I know I keep saying these are wild animals, we couldn't believe it - it's just that they get so used to people (and unfortunately food, which is not always good for them) at the campsites.

We celebrated my birthday in Sydney in style - my hubby took me out to a great restaurant (called Doyles - highly recommended if you're ever in Sydney) on Circular Quay overlooking both Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. I spent most of the night moving my eyes back and forth between the two views and it was so spectacular. The food was divine too - Tasmanian Salmon, mmm.

And we travelled home inland via the mountains - first the Blue Mountains and then the Snowy Mountains (where there are several ski resorts, but we went in early autumn, so no snow, and far cheaper!) We also went to the Jenolan stalagtite caves, also amazing.

I am so jealous to hear about all of your wonderful travels. I have a friend going to work in Perth for a couple of weeks, and he's making some stops on the east coast before heading back here to the states. I'm so anxious to go back, but unfortunately have no idea when I'll make it...I'll settle for listening to everyone's wonderful experiences to hold me over for a while...

Then, of course, there is the woeful lack of proper sustenance for Aussies overseas.

How on earth are Aussies expected to cope without their correct and regular doses of Vegemite and Tim Tams?

I have a good friend living in Toronto, who has found a tiny shop that occasionally has a packet of Tim Tams (she doesn't ask where they get them from. but just blesses whoever it is provides them). My brother and his partner are going to Canada for christmas this year (his partner is Canadian) and they're visiting Toronto on the way to Montreal. Guess what they're taking for my Aussie mate!

Mmmmmmm, Tim Tams.... *drool*

I miss Australia and I haven't even been there!

LOL.

I'll tempt you across with a Tim Tam.

(Bite opposite corners off, dunk in coffee, and suck the coffee up through the Tim Tam...)

And you're still thinking, what the hell's a Tim Tam?

I took American Airlines to Los Angeles and flew Qantas down to Sydney, Australia. We crossed the equator and international date line at about the same place. I got a motel and took a train to Sydney Harbor. I saw the Opera House, Harbor Bridge and The Rocks (Old Town).

My purpose in going to Australia was to see the southern stars and constellations. Monte Wilson of the Astronomical Society of New South Wales picked me up at the motel. We drove through the Blue Mountains to Wiruna, their Dark Sky Site about 3 hours northwest of Sydney, for the South Pacific Star Party (SPSP).

I was lucky. The weather was great all 3 nights. I got to stay in the house, referred to as the "White House" because they let Americans stay there. There was a couple named Tom and Lucy from Texas who proved invaluable. Lucy actually grew up in Louisville around the Bardstown Road area.

I saw the southern stars. I saw the Southern Cross and the Coalsack next to it. I saw the Magellanic Clouds. They were fainter than I thought. I saw the bright stars Canopus, Alpha Centauri and Achernar.

Tom kept finding galaxies and nebulae in Tony Buckley's 20 inch. We looked at Jupiter and Saturn. Orion was upside down. Scorpius got straight up in the sky. The hub of the Milky Way in Sagittarius was high and prominent. I looked into our galaxy's thickest part, something I only saw along the horizon in the early 1960s.

The constellations were abstract. To trace out even Argo and Centaurus would have taken more time. Seeing Scorpius overhead is what stayed with me, that and seeing Scorpius and Orion in the sky at the same time.

It turned out that the southern sky is more glorious than the northern because you also get the bright winter stars you see here.

I was impressed at how close Canopus is to Sirius and how the Southern Cross is not all that far below Scorpius.

Treasurer Max Gardner drove me back to Sydney. He took me to his fabulous home and showed me some of the city. Sydney is beautiful. They drive on the left side. We crossed The Harbor Bridge.

Max explained that Australia is part of the British Commonwealth, that the Queen is the head of state. Australia is a constitutional monarchy.

I noticed a book about Alaska in Max's bookcase and wondered if that would be my next venture.

Crossing the Pacific again, I noticed how close we came to Hawaii.

I arrived back in Nashville. One week. Sydney is halfway between the equator and the south pole.

zzzzzzzzzzz

Has he gone yet?

We drive on the left in Melbourne too <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I'm glad you liked our stars Jim. The only thing not as spectacular down under is the Aurora Australis compared to the Aurora Borealis. Not that I've seen either.

FC be nice! <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

No, he's Texasdave on methadone. He's even started calling gay people perverts (marriage amendment thread). I don't like him.

Oh man! Not again.

Sorry FC. I'm going to hibernate. Tell me when winter's over.

Its the twilight zone!!!! lol.... Spookey!!!!

hI there Stella

so you are moving to hoppers crossing? Well you will be practically around the corner from me,Congratulations and I hope you like it here. I imagine it will be a bit of a culture shock for you but there is so much to see here.

From Hoppers crossing You are just a short drive from one of the seven wonders of the world here,
The magnificent great ocean road - I hope you get a chance to see it sometime soon - it is so beautiful.

Australia is a great place to see the southern constellations.

I have no clue who or what texasdave is.

He was a naughty man who frequented this forum and shared your views on homosexuality.

Well you know what they say about people who talk that way about gays..... Reppressed feelings perhaps <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Wow - you are making me homesick. I'm from Adelaide but living in Dallas Texas. My husband would love to move back with me one day but I'm not sure if he would be able to get a job there or how the VISA process works? Does anyone know how hard this is?

Hi DaniChonody,

Nice to meet you I was born and bred in Adelaide. Going back there for a holiday next Feb.

Jobs are not easy in Australia, especially as you get older. Do not know about visas etc but why not find out from the Australian Embassy.

Dani - did you get married in the US or in Aus, and how long have you been married? If you still have your Aussie citizenship, your hubby would have to apply for a Spouse VISA. You will need to provide proof of your relationship - cards you've sent each other, correspondence addressed to both of you, lease/mortgage/utility bills in both your names, etc.

In some cases this type of VISA can be a two-stage process - temporary residency followed by permanent residency after two years, followed by citizenship after another two years.

If you have been married for more than 5 years, or if you have been married for more than 2 years and have children together who are still dependent on you, then it is likely that the temporary requirement will be waived and a permanent VISA granted from the start.

Under both temporary and permanent spouse VISAs, your husband would be entitled to seek permanent employment and claim Medicare benefits.

This link will give you more information: http://www.immi.gov.au/migrants/partners/spouse/309-100/index.htm

I would like to see the southern constellations again.