Our guides will be walpiri in the south with the lady gouldian finches and I forgot the name of those near Darwin. We will be with people from the Queensland conservatory, the Sierra club, and the Australian version of the department of the interior.
I've had a lot of contact with the Walpiri people although I lived to the west of their country just over the WA border: my memory is that they're mainly tall, proud, warm & friendly if they like you, distant and unhelpful if not. In case no-one tells you, direct eye contact is considered rude. as is trying to hurry them: they've survived in this country for at least 40,000 years, they're not in a hurry even if you are and don't take kindly to loud, arrogant or pushy people. Ask clear questions and wait for the answers for as long as it takes. IF they seem to ignore a question or comment and gaze off into the distance, it almost always means you're trespassing on some secret knowledge they won't pass on, but are usually too polite to say so.
I hope your employers realise that they need to send mixed gender groups into Aboriginal communities, because men and women have distinct and often separate fields of knowledge?
You live in Western Australia. Wow dream of mine to run amuck and just do free and open research on any flora only found there. I believe Western Australia has a callistemon species who pollen is known to induce queen bees to procreate more. This will be amazing if proven fact with apiary populations dying worldwide. For those who do not know callistemon it is grown worldwide under the name bottlebrush.
Not now, I lived over there for a few years in a remote Aboriginal community. Yeah, callistemon is very common in all parts of Australia and I've planted a few in my time, including a couple where I live now in the mountains in Victoria. It's a great plant for attracting birds because lots of different species love the nectar. One big tree planted before I moved here is right next to my house so I can sit in my living room and watch the different birds.
Isn't callistemon native to Australia? Do you mean it's now grown elsewhere much as our eucalyptus trees are? I know a friend of mine who went to the US years ago got into arguments with locals who insisted the bluegums were native to California, and also that the koalas in the zoo were really called "huggin bears" when they're not even bears to start off with .....
Thanks mate! Glad to help now my health doesn't permit to travel outback any more.
Oh, one last thing, if you can get down to Uluru (white name Ayers Rock) jump at it. I've only got there once and as well as knowing I was pretty much in the centre of Australia, it felt like the centre of the world to me - a very powerful and beautiful place and it does look just like the pictures except it is HUGE
I also heard Alice Springs is a nice city. Right by Uluru. If I had independent funding I'd focus solely on Australian botany. It truly has evolved some of the most amazing plant life.
Callistemon is definitely native Australia. The green flowered variety from the blue mountains is stunning to me. It attracts hummingbirds for miles in the Americas.
That Californian was mistaken. In fact California is trying to get rid of them. They are beautiful but they are destroying the native chaparral ecosystem, and coastal scrublands.
The other half of the people from my group will be going to Tazmania to try and find vectors and insects to control the blue gum from literally taking over California. We will be helping you with lantana, and the notorious prickly pear cactus and you are helping us control the blue gum. It's a nice effort from both of our countries to help instead of be at odds. I know I'm going to love it.
Pleased to be able to help, except it's making me nostalgic for the outback! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful enriching time, I envy you. It would be great to hear how you get on, either on this forum or privately but I'm not sure how to do that unless one of us puts our email address on here for all the world to see? Maybe you know?
My employer is having me travel to Darwin Northern Territory
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Our guides will be walpiri in the south with the lady gouldian finches and I forgot the name of those near Darwin. We will be with people from the Queensland conservatory, the Sierra club, and the Australian version of the department of the interior.
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Ellenna
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I've had a lot of contact with the Walpiri people although I lived to the west of their country just over the WA border: my memory is that they're mainly tall, proud, warm & friendly if they like you, distant and unhelpful if not. In case no-one tells you, direct eye contact is considered rude. as is trying to hurry them: they've survived in this country for at least 40,000 years, they're not in a hurry even if you are and don't take kindly to loud, arrogant or pushy people. Ask clear questions and wait for the answers for as long as it takes. IF they seem to ignore a question or comment and gaze off into the distance, it almost always means you're trespassing on some secret knowledge they won't pass on, but are usually too polite to say so.
I hope your employers realise that they need to send mixed gender groups into Aboriginal communities, because men and women have distinct and often separate fields of knowledge?
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Andurlittledog2
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You live in Western Australia. Wow dream of mine to run amuck and just do free and open research on any flora only found there. I believe Western Australia has a callistemon species who pollen is known to induce queen bees to procreate more. This will be amazing if proven fact with apiary populations dying worldwide. For those who do not know callistemon it is grown worldwide under the name bottlebrush.
--
Ellenna
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Andurlittledog2
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Not now, I lived over there for a few years in a remote Aboriginal community. Yeah, callistemon is very common in all parts of Australia and I've planted a few in my time, including a couple where I live now in the mountains in Victoria. It's a great plant for attracting birds because lots of different species love the nectar. One big tree planted before I moved here is right next to my house so I can sit in my living room and watch the different birds.
Isn't callistemon native to Australia? Do you mean it's now grown elsewhere much as our eucalyptus trees are? I know a friend of mine who went to the US years ago got into arguments with locals who insisted the bluegums were native to California, and also that the koalas in the zoo were really called "huggin bears" when they're not even bears to start off with .....
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You are intelligent, know your facts and a true breath of fresh air. If all Aussies are like you I'm going to love it there.
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Ellenna
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Thanks mate! Glad to help now my health doesn't permit to travel outback any more.
Oh, one last thing, if you can get down to Uluru (white name Ayers Rock) jump at it. I've only got there once and as well as knowing I was pretty much in the centre of Australia, it felt like the centre of the world to me - a very powerful and beautiful place and it does look just like the pictures except it is HUGE
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I also heard Alice Springs is a nice city. Right by Uluru. If I had independent funding I'd focus solely on Australian botany. It truly has evolved some of the most amazing plant life.
Callistemon is definitely native Australia. The green flowered variety from the blue mountains is stunning to me. It attracts hummingbirds for miles in the Americas.
--
Andurlittledog2
8 years ago
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That Californian was mistaken. In fact California is trying to get rid of them. They are beautiful but they are destroying the native chaparral ecosystem, and coastal scrublands.
The other half of the people from my group will be going to Tazmania to try and find vectors and insects to control the blue gum from literally taking over California. We will be helping you with lantana, and the notorious prickly pear cactus and you are helping us control the blue gum. It's a nice effort from both of our countries to help instead of be at odds. I know I'm going to love it.
Thank you for that information. Yes the group is around 25 mostly half and half gender wise. This is just wonderful to know. Thank you so very much.
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Ellenna
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Pleased to be able to help, except it's making me nostalgic for the outback! I'm sure you'll have a wonderful enriching time, I envy you. It would be great to hear how you get on, either on this forum or privately but I'm not sure how to do that unless one of us puts our email address on here for all the world to see? Maybe you know?