A Tourist at Home

October 1, 2013
by Rodney Olsen
3 Comments

EH

When was the last time you were a tourist in your own town?

On Sunday afternoon my family headed into Kings Park to enjoy some live music from Adam Hall.

After the concert we took the opportunity to wander around taking photos of the wildflowers and then a few shots across the city.

Yesterday I went cycling with a group of friends and we ended up riding along the coast through Warnbro and back up to Rockingham. It’s so beautiful through there but it’s been so long since I’ve enjoyed the sights of the area. It’s so close and I really should take the time to visit more often.

How about you? Are there places that you only visit if you have interstate or overseas visitors with you or do you do some touristy things from time to time? Is it about time you played tourist in your own city?

If I were to visit your corner of the world, what would you take me to see?



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Gnomesville

January 17, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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Do you believe that gnomes are magical creatures? I’ve got to wonder if they have magical powers after visiting Gnomesville a few days ago. Why else would I be drawn to wander around in searing heat looking at thousands of gnomes?

Located by the roundabout at the junction of Wellington Mill and Ferguson roads, Gnomesville is the magical home to over 3000 Gnomes who have migrated there from all over Australia and around the world.

Plan to spend a few hours wandering through the villages and glades full of playful, naughty and sentimental gnomes climbing logs, hanging out in trees, playing cricket, even flying planes! You’ll enjoy the clever Gnomish puns and who knows, you may decide to return to contribute a Gnome of your own. Don’t be tempted to take home a souvenir, however, as Gnoman legend has it that bad luck will surely follow! – Ferguson Valley Website

We had a few days holidaying in the Ferguson Valley before I returned to work and part of the visit to our state’s south included a visit to Gnomesville. It’s a strange and wonderful place with many gnomes telling stories of those who have placed gnomes in the past.



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Take a Break for Australia

June 9, 2011
by Rodney Olsen
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It would seem that Australians are a disgrace when it comes to taking annual leave. That’s according to Federal Tourism Minister, Martin Ferguson, who is telling us that we have too much annual leave stored up and that our bosses should be encouraging us to take more short breaks.

Apparently a lot of young Australians are hoarding leave to take extended holidays overseas. Mr Ferguson wants us to take short breaks within Australia. Well, of course he does, he’s the Federal Tourism Minister.

We need to be encouraging Australians to take not just long holidays, but to take that long weekend in Tasmania, that mid-year break in north Queensland, that three or four day holiday.

I like the idea of more short breaks. I like the idea of extended holidays, both in Australia and overseas, but until I have the money for all these wonderful holidays, I’m likely to stay home. If Mr Ferguson wants to slip me a few dollars I’d be happy to holiday all over Australia.

Mind you, I’m rather interested in one comment the Tourism Minister made.

We’ve got to change our own mindset and get people to realise that a short break is as good as a long break and encourage people to actually have a holiday in Australia.

A short break as good as a long break? Really? OK, here’s the deal. If anyone’s willing to fund a long holiday for me and then a short holiday, I’m prepared to carry out research on that statement. I will give solid evidence on which is best or if they’re both the same.

So what about you? Do you stockpile holidays? Do you prefer holidays in your own country or overseas travel? Are you finding it harder to afford any kind of holiday? I’d love you to leave a few comments.



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Talking to Tim Fischer

August 2, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
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Tim Fischer, AC, has served Australia as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and the chairman of Tourism Australia. He’s authored books on a variety of topics from East Timor to trains.

In July 2008 Tim Fischer was nominated by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as the first resident Australian Ambassador to the Holy See since 1973, when diplomatic relations with the Vatican and Australia was first established.

He’s currently back in Australia and yesterday he visited the Benedictine Community at New Norcia in Western Australia to deliver an address which touched on a variety of issues including the forthcoming canonisation of Mary MacKillop.

I spoke to Tim Fischer on the phone this morning during my radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM. You can hear out conversation by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

I asked him about his address at New Norcia titled, “Representing ‘Australia Unlimited’ at the Holy See: From Religious Freedom to Food Security” as well as the connection between faith and politics and whether he was missing politics during the current federal election campaign. I also asked about his love of trains and what train journey’s he had taken in Europe.

Tim Fischer has a fascinating mix of interests so it’s always interesting to hear from him.

[audio:http://mpegmedia.sonshinefm.ws/feeds/MOR080210_0943.mp3]

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