Buderim Forest Falls

North of Brisbane, hidden quite well is the Buderim Forest Waterfall. As the name suggests, the falls is just outside of Buderim but needs some navigation from your smart phone to find. The signage is non-existent and without google maps you may find yourself before you find the falls.

The parking is plenty and a boarded walkway takes you most of the way, with a rocky path taking you the rest of the way to the falls.

The walk gets cooler as you move into the forest proper, and the colours becoming much darker with glimpses of vibrant reds.

You will hear the falls before seeing them and there are some nice water pools as you get closer to the major waterfall. The falls are very popular with families and teenagers making the short walk to ge to the main falls.

Hervey Bay Morning

Hervey Bay, located on the southeast coast of Queensland Australia and lying just off the magnificent Frazer Island, the largest sand island in the world, is a popular vacation location for those in the know. Nestled against a protected bay on the edge of the Coral Sea, Hervey Bay is slow to awake with only the first sun rays and one single lit window watching my approach.

  

The sand, a cast iron grey, holds it's shape as I pass, resilient before the coming day and rising tide.

Turning away from the brightening sky I caught the jetty at the western end of the beach folding out into the calm water, appearing to sneak away from the disappearing moon.

But it's inevitable that the white light fills the day and brings the bay to life.

And the bay has the last word.

Roger Knox - Stranger In My Land

Roger Knox - 'Stranger In My Land'

Aboriginal country music legend Roger Knox has just returned from a busy tour of America promoting he’s new album “Stranger In My Country”. The album is made up of songs by legendary Aboriginal artists found on the ‘Buried Country’ album released in 2000. The 14 day tour encompassed San Francisco California to Chicago Illinois and Madison Wisconsin saw Roger perform at the best shows with some of the biggest names in America folk and country music. One of the highlights of the tour was performing at the Hardly Strictly Blue Grass music festival where Roger joined 80 bands to perform to over 750 000 music fans over three days. The festival held in the Golden Gate Park San Francisco was an eye opener for Roger where he got to perform on numerous occasions at the festival. 

Roger toured with Jon Langford and the Sadies and alternative country artist Sally Timms just to name a few. The new album came about from a yarn between Jon and Roger at the Tamworth country music festival three years ago. Jon Langford had heard of Roger Knox and was keen to meet the musical legend. They discussed country music in Australia and how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have become big fans of the genre. Roger says “Us mob here in Australia have a strong affiliation with country music and we’ve found country music as a way to tell our stories”. Roger explains how the legends of Aboriginal country such as Dougie Young, Harry Williams and Vic Simms were pioneers that never received the recognition they deserved, and with this album Roger hopes to raise the profile of Aboriginal music to the world.

Roger with the 'Buried Country' book.

“Over here our mob love us but to get on main stream is difficult, so we mostly go unnoticed but overseas there seems to be more acceptance of our music. My stories as a writer and artist are in your face but true, and in America my music was well received” Roger says.

The album “Stranger In My Country” was produced by American label Bloodshot and has performances by American artists including the Sadies, Jon Langford, Kelly Hogan, Tawney Newsome, Bonnie Prince Billy and Charlie Louvin is set to be released later this year.

Nights On Fire

4am in the morning with the mode of transport being a loaned pushbike with semi-flat tyres. The morning was cool with the breeze against me as I rode the main street towards the edge of town. Two souls drifted passed me and it didn't seem unusual at that time of the morning. As we passed seemingly unnoticed to each other, the pre-dawn was starting.

I moved out past the edge of town with the night getting thicker and the nerves sharper with an effort I listened to the surrounding darkness for noises that may not be natural. Eventually I became use to my surrounding as my efforts to control my breathing outweighed any eerie feelings I had.

Looking up the road to the "look out" I realised the effort was too great so I dismounted and  walked the 1km towards my goal. On my way I found this tree standing before the lights of Tennant Creek. Looking at the result, I liked the way the light was pouring out into night sky.

Further up the hill looking over the landscape, the bush fires prominently lighting the horizon. The only noise was the wind moving the grass and leaves with the only noticeable living things were me and a bat. Which gave me a start when it came for a closer look. 

It was a peaceful feeling awaiting the dawn with the wind building from the desert country as if announcing the suns imminent visit. And lighting a new day for Tennant Creek.