Playing Catch up

It’s been a while since I’ve last written! Where has the time gone! I went on a field trip to the Port of Brisbane for one of my classes, to the ANZAC Day Parade, and Buddha’s Birthday Celebration.

The purpose of the Port of Brisbane trip was to look at coastal development and I was very impressed with the extensive planning and use of “green” design to make their operations more sustainable. The main attraction is the 1.7km extension of land they are in the process of making using dredge material from the channel through Moreton Bay to the Port. The expansion project uses the material from maintenance dredging. Maintenance dredging is done to maintain the necessary depth for ships in the channels before arrival at the port, and at the actual port along the wharves and jetties. Rather than dumping the material back at sea, the port is using it for the expansion project. Using maintenance dredging material only, the whole expansion is projected to be completed in a 15 year time span. The annual maintenance dredging for the Port of Brisbane is about one million cubic meters of sand, and with a plan to use that material for the port expansion the need to dump it back offshore, or find another suitable location on land has been eliminated for the time being. The port was previously located in several areas further upstream along the Brisbane River, but with the foresight of the growth of the area the main shipping operations were moved out to the current location at the Fishermans Islands. This movement has allowed for a more controlled and well planed facility with greater environmental protection plans and land use which was thoroughly explained to us by the Port’s Environmental Manager who then gave us a tour of the facilities.

ANZAC Day, April 25^th, is similar to Memorial Day in the States. ANZAC is an acronym for Australia New Zealand Army Corps. ANZAC day is held in both Australia and New Zealand on the anniversary of the first major offensive to use ANZAC troops on the shores of Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915. The parade held in downtown Brisbane featured veterans marching from(as you probably guessed) Australia and New Zealand, but also British, Polish, Japanese, and an American Legion group to name a few. There were also quite a few US Army vehicles(with “Caution Left Hand Drive” signs on them) which were used as rides for many of the eldest in the parade. ANZAC Day starts with sunrise services, which started at approx 4:30 am and I thus opted out of, as well as some ANZAC biscuits as a snack. As for the story of said biscuits, some say that they started as biscuits made by the Troops in the trenches with provisions they had at hand to relieve the boredom of their battle rations. And some say they came about due to resourceful of the women on the "home front" in an endeavor to make a treat for their loved ones that would survive the long journey by post to the war front. Where ever they came from, they aren’t bad, especially with some milk.

Buddha’s Birthday I stumbled upon after seeing a movie. I was enjoying an ice cream while walking to the ferry terminal when I noticed the lights and music from the celebration on the opposite side of the river. Curious, I walked across the bridge and explored the festivities. I didn’t actually see much in the way of celebrating Buddha’s birthday. There were many tents with people selling souvenir type items and various foods, as well as a mini climbing wall and a Ferris wheel. Unimpressed by the lack of actual celebrating Buddha I went to the nearest ferry terminal and as I was waiting for the next ferry arrived there was an impressive fireworks display and I had a perfect viewing spot. So, I watched the fireworks and minutes after it ended the ferry came and away I went. In reading online later I found out the traditional events of “washing” Buddha and others happened during the day, so I missed it.

Well, I should have more on my live aboard trip and the Story Bridge climb posted soon.