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 Frog Operas and Reptile Portraits

Again last evening, the sound of steady rain lulled me to sleep, as did soothing melodies sung by frogs ensconced in our yard. I’ve identified only three frog species  – green tree frog, orna...

Rain and the Northern Lights Film Festival

In early afternoon, I walked in the rain, thunder rumbling from within dense, pale cloud above. Schoolboys cycled furiously past me, squinting against the slanting downpour that covered the parkway pa...