dalhousie

I read this site daily but don't often post. My husband is a luthier and specialises in lutes, rebecs, baroque violin, psaltery, considered early music instruments all built in Australian Timbers but I also I know a little about the classic musical instrument situation in Australia and it’s not so good as it was some years ago and a lot of luthiers are making ends meet doing repairs and stringing bows. Most new violins were supplied to the school orchestra and beginner market but the Chinese have over the past ten years, refined their instruments and today you can purchase a reasonable violin for $300 and a rather good violin for under $1000. So I would suggest you perhaps give your idea of making violins/fiddles a great deal of consideration. I do think however you will have a much better chance of success making guitars, they are a personal and individual buy not a school body purchase. As someone stated in an earlier post a lot of instruments made here are in native timbers so there may be a bit of a learning curve in getting to understand the Australian timbers though I am sure you will find someone who will point you in the right direction. You can still buy European Timbers but they can be expensive. The foremost guitar manufacturer in Australia is Maton Guitars www.maton.com.au I don’t want to sound defeatist, there definitely will be work around for good guitar makers but just wanted to let you know some of the problems you may encounter. If you need info on Australian Timbers let me know my husband is very knowledgeable and there will be sites on the net giving some detail. Here are a couple of blogs/sites you may find interesting: Robert Deitrich is a friend who makes instruments in Geelong (Robert was greatly affected by the upswing toward Chinese imports he hasn’t sold a violin or cello for three years!!!) http://middlething.blogspot.com.au Also if you Google Australian guitar builders/makers it will give you an insight into the industry in Australia. Big long sorry, hope its helps a bit

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/3726692.html This was an article on on the ABC website. I'm not too flash with the internet and I hope this works. I don't post too often but read the site everyday, and it is disheartening to read some of the rather silly complaints and negative posts on here, and I've lived here for over 50 years

I don't know what my scrip is, only know it is multi focals very strong and I need the lens to be specially cut?? and coated (or whatever they do to them) otherwise they would look like milk bottle bottoms, I buy best quality frames. I attend a local optometrist at the Westfield shopping centre in Geelong and they cost approximately $A1000 or so but I get two pair of glasses for this, either two pair of mult- focals, or one multi one prescribed lens sunglasses etc. Private Health Covers gives me approx $250 rebate. Eye test is free. Usually re-do my specs ever three to four years. The second pair frames are not quite so good a quality but the lens are the same quality. My husband recently had mild cataracts removed - and at the same time - micro lenses inserted in his eye. Operation was done with a Private Melbourne eye specialist in half day surgery. One eye one month then the other the following month. Private health cover covered most of the costs. We paid $250 excess. Easy no pain or complications. dalhousie

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/restaurants-and-bars/chefs-hat-winners-20100831-148o7.html A wild card "Laksa King" in Flemington dalhousie

There are a number of countries where people living in the UK during the mid 80's are not allowed blood donations. I think this answer from a website explains it clearly. "The group of people you are talking about are allowed to give blood in the UK, but not in some other countries such as the US. In the UK we figure that people here have already been exposed to plenty of prions (the infectious agent that causes mad cow disease) during the 80s and 90s, so it's not that much of an extra risk for them to get a blood transfusion from another British person. But people in countries that didn't have much BSE, such as the USA, have not been exposed to the disease in the same way that British people have. Therefore if they have a blood transfusion from a British person, there is a miniscule but real risk that they could be exposed to prions for the first time. Places like the USA are not prepared to take that risk. As far as I'm aware, 3 people in the UK have caught mad cow disease (it's called vCJD in humans) from having blood transfusions from an infected person. The important thing is that the person who donated the blood was fine at the time they gave the blood - the blood and other tissues are infectious before the person gets ill. Diseases caused by prions can have very long incubation periods, i.e. it may be decades before someone shows any signs. And I think vCJD has occured in a vegetarian girl - prions are very infectious and you would only need sloppy food production in a factory somewhere to contaminate other foods." dalhousie

The move is a big deal for you and your family, but be aware to the average Aussie it's no deal at all. Immigrants arrive by the 1000's each year, most settle, some don't. So don't think your "special" and that people will be even vaguely impressed that you've made the big move. It's up to you to fit in with the Aussie way of life, if's not for the Aussies to fit in with you. May sound harsh, but it's a fact. dalhousie

some excellent mountain bike riding in the Otway ranges: Forrest Mountain Bike Trails - Official Site Parks Victoria: Great Otway National Park page Old Beechy Rail Trail - Bicycle Victoria dalhousie

Colac is the service centre of the Western District farming mostly dairy, but recently some vineyards and and olive groves have sprung up - as well as potatoes . It is in easy access to the Otway Ranges and all its beauty. I live in Lorne but shop in Colac, service is friendly, even though I am not a local, there are three good supermarkets, Safeways (Woolworths) Coles and Aldi, and other smaller shops, plus lawyers, accountants etc in all a well rounded little town. House prices are reasonable, not sure of the better parts but near the botanical gardens or the lake or the hospital area I would think would be considered "better" . Not sure about the schools though, There are both public and private schools in the area. It has a good library, sporting facilities and entertainment complex. It is one hour from Geelong, one hour from Lorne and the same from Apollo Bay. Two hour drive to Melbourne, two hour drive to Warrnambool. There is a train service to Geelong and Melbourne but not sure of the frequency, and I am unsure of the public transport in the area. If you do not want to live in Colac suggest you look at some of the smaller villages around. Birregurra 15 minutes drive on the Geelong side. or Camperdown which would be a half an hours drive further up the Warrnambool Highway. Other places if you wanted acreage, would be Bambra, Deans Marsh, Forrest, and Gellibrand too but they are actually in the Otway Ranges, lovely spots, but you would have to be bushfire aware there. I wouldn't call Colac a "beautiful" town, but it's not ugly either. A peak period hardly exists - perhaps on a Saturday morning shopping. A good place to get a start in Australia I would say. Suggest you check out Colac Otway Shire Council Home Page Contact me if you need specific information. dalhousie

Belmont is a great area, close to Geelong, first settled in 1950's, excellent amenities good houses. The only problem I can think of with Settlement Road is it is a very very busy multi lane highway from Grovedale, Torquay etc. into Geelong. The traffic is always steady and can be heavy at times, but saying that rush hour in any Geelong area would probably only last about an hour tops and it has eased off a bit since the Melbourne/Geelong bypass road was opened. Also parts of Settlement Road nearer to Geelong are taken up with some new car yards, mostly upmarket ones, Mercedes etc.. Torquay Road is an extension of Settlement Road, it also has a few showrooms, furniture, bathroom fittings that kind of thing along one side of road all of them presentable. Torquay Road is again very busy traffic wise. Use Google maps and find the streets you are interested in and then go to "street view" this will show you the houses in the street, street-scapes parks etc. The pictures have been taken only in the past couple of years so they are quite accurate Very best wishes with move to Geelong please do not hesitate to contact me if you need assistance at all Cheers dalhousie

I hope this helps, if you need any further information just let me know. If you use “Maps” and Google “East Geelong” you will see areas shown: East Geelong, Thompson, Newcomb, and Breakwater. These areas are what I assume would be called “lower middle class areas” (sorry I have trouble with identifying the “class” system, I’ve been in Australia too long) The area near the Geelong Hospital and between Ryrie Street - Portarlington Road and Bellarine Street can be very expensive and up market. Drive to Geelong under 10 minutes If you Google Highton you will see that Highton, Belmont, Grovedale and Waurn Ponds are all pretty close to each other. Good shopping complexes, schools, good libraries, medical, child care and sporting complexes. This area appears very popular with new British immigrants and it has some superb houses in nice streets. Drive from Geelong under 15 minutes If you Google Geelong West, you will see that it is close to Manifold Heights, Herne Hill, Drumcondra and Newtown. Geelong West is within easy walking distance of CBD, and old area - once again old houses being renovated and upgraded. Good little shopping centre, restaurants, speciality shops etc, I lived there myself for some years before moving down the coast. Manifold Heights and Herne Hill were developed around the late 50’s early 1960’s. some nice 50’s to 70’s homes there. Drumcondra can be quite expensive as it is close to the beach. A little bit exclusive as it is only a small area. Newtown is the old and to some extent still is the “posh” area of Geelong. The colleges: Geelong College, St Josephs College, Sacred Heart College and Geelong Grammar have campuses here. A lot of lawyers, bankers and medical specialists live in Newtown. Drive to Geelong under 10 minutes dalhousie

I have sent you a PM. dalhousie

These are some of the reasons I have voted Labor as they : Withdrew Australian troops from Vietnam and ended conscription of Australian youths. Introduced the Commonwealth Land Rights Act, which gave Indigenous Australians freehold title to traditional lands in the Northern Territory and the power of veto over mining and development on those lands. Dissolved the White Australia policy and expanded Australia’s program of immigration. Increased the aged pension. Introduced the Racial Discrimination Act. Greatly increased the rights for women and minority groups in Australia. Legislated for a universal public health system known as Medicare. Reformed Australia’s industrial relations, trade and fiscal systems, opening Australia to competition on the world stage. Created the Prices and Incomes Accord with the trade union movement to reform the economy whilst maintaining Australia’s high standard of living. Intervened in Tasmania to protect the Franklin River from damming, transforming the way governments perceived environmental issues. Played an activist role in foreign affairs, including a major role in ending the apartheid regime in South Africa. Led international efforts to protect Antarctica from mining and exploitation. Reformed the tertiary education system, making it accessible to many Australians. Introduced the Sex Discrimination Act and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, providing security for women in the workforce and paving the way for further anti-discrimination legislation. Set Australia on the path towards reconciliation with its indigenous population. Promoted the cause of Aboriginal land rights and reconciliation Introduced Australia's national superannuation scheme which has secured retirement savings for millions of Australians and is recognised as one of the best savings schemes in the world. Created Australia's first national training authority ensuring greater consistency in Australia's skills qualifications and assisting to modernise the economy. Recognised native title through the historic Mabo legislation. Pushed for a republic so that an Australian could become the head of state and Australia could continue down the path of an independent nation. Improved Sex Discrimination provisions Boosted legislative protections for Australia's unique endangered species dalhousie