North Queensland vs. the Yukon Territory

In the new light of 5:20 a.m., I strode toward the Sunrise Shopping Centre and its red metal Australia Post box to mail a pair of  letters to Canada. Milky-blue, cumulus clouds billowed high to the s...

John Howard and ‘Lazarus Rising’

After two weeks and many nights of lengthy rest since my surgery, I reverted to rising at 5 a.m. this morning to greet the day before being embraced by Townsville’s stalking, sultry heat. For my...

Aussie Avian Portraits III

In still-dim light just past dawn, I cycled the parkway to Aplin’s Weir, revelling in my freedom of motion and in the chorus of birdsong awakening the city of Townsville. Magpie geese honked nas...

Aussie Avian Portraits II

This evening, as the light of day withdrew, an Australian magpie sang its mournful carol, bush stone-curlews wailed their despairing cries on the golf course, and flocks of little corellas nagged and ...