Newcastle, Australia


 Kangaroos, wallabies, wombats and koalas were the featured animals at Blackbutt Reserve.  We hiked through a rainforest with giant trees and I just couldn't help myself, I had to hug an elegantly tall illawarra flame tree.  While on our hike, we encountered a flock of lyrebird echo high in the trees that look somewhat like blackbirds.  The remarkable quality about these birds is their ability to mimic the cry of a baby, which we heard numerous times when I mimicked them.

Newcastle is an old (for Australia) steel and coal town.  With many new veins in the countryside, the Newcastle shipping port exports the largest amount of coal in the world.  

After lunch at a Mexican restaurant, we walked through Newcastle by their scenic harbor to Artisanal Cellars where I enjoyed a wine tasting with Charle the shopkeeper and Edgar Vales, the vintner/owner of Vales Wines.  I enjoyed a new wine for me called fiano which is like sauvignon blanc only different.  Fiano has the same fresh acidity of sauv blanc but a bit more texture and richness.  Hunter Valley is the nearby winemaking region. 

Vegetarians beware.  You may neither want to read the remainder of this paragraph nor view the next photograph as I do not wish to offend you.  The pool grill on the ship featured an Australian BBQ Bush Night so I tried the kangaroo, crocodile and emu.  Do not mix your meat, mate, it doesn't settle especially well.

Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport is a novelty song from the 1960s.  It peaked as the number one song in Australia in 1960 and at number three in the U.S. in 1963.  It was sung by Rolf Harris and produced by George Martin for the U.S release.  I couldn't help but remember and play this song on youtube after seeing the indigenous Australian animals.  The lyrics below are best appreciated if you play the song on youtube while reading the lyrics.

There's an old Australian stockman lying, dying
And he gets himself up onto one elbow and he turns to his mates
Who are all gathered around and he says
Watch me wallabies feed, mateWatch me wallabies feedThey're a dangerous breed, mateSo watch me wallabies feedAltogether now!
Tie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo downTie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo down
Keep me cockatoo cool, CurlKeep me cockatoo coolAh, don't go acting the fool, CurlJust keep me cockatoo coolAltogether now!
Tie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo downTie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo down
'N' take me koala back, JackTake me koala backHe lives somewhere out on the track, MacSo take me koala backAltogether now!
Tie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo downTie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo down
And mind me platypus duck, BillMind me platypus duckAh, don't let 'im go running amok, BillJust mind me platypus duckAltogether now!
Tie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo downTie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo down
Play your didgeridoo, BluePlay your didgeridooAh, like, keep playin' 'til I shoot through, BluePlay your didgeridooAltogether now!
Tie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo downTie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo down
Tan me hide when I'm dead, FredTan me hide when I'm deadSo we tanned his hide when he died, ClydeAnd that's it hangin' on the shed!Altogether now!
Tie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo downTie me kangaroo down, sportTie me kangaroo down





Comments

  1. Bill & DebraMarch 30, 2025 at 8:58 AM

    Happy to learn and see that you are enjoying your visit down under and we look forward to photos of Ruth Ann in her new attire. Believe it or not, on Opening Day while at Mellotone for lunch, I was sipping a glass of Fiano. What a fun coincidence? Maybe we were sipping at the same time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Randy and Ruth AnnMarch 30, 2025 at 5:06 PM

      That is amazing! We have experienced so many coincidences with you. We were destined to become friends.

      Delete

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