It is the world's largest monolith rising 318m above the desert floor with a circumference of 8km. It is consideredonce of the great wonders of the world. It is located in the Kata Tjuta National park which is owned and run by the local Aboriginals. The Australian government handed ownership of the land back to the Aboriginals some years ago The Rock is arkose, a course-grained sandstone rich in feldspar at least 2.5 km thick Uplifting and folding between 400-300 mya turned the sedimentary layers nearly 90 degrees to their present position. The surface has then been eroded Depending on the time of day and the atmospheric conditions the rock dramatically change colour, anything from blue to glowing red Many photographers set up for days and record the many changing colors of Uluru yers Rock was named for the Premier of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. It extends down over 3 and a half miles beneath the surface 5. Australian flora and fauna: Golden Wattle Golden Wattle is the floral emblem of australia and is a shrub or small tree out 4 to 8 metres tall. After the seed ling stage. true leaves are absent. their function being performed by phyllodes which are modified flattened leaf stalks lacking leaf blades. The leathery phyllodes are 6 to 20 cm long, broadly lance or sickle-shaped and bright green in colour. In spring large fluffy golden-yellow flower-heads with up to eighty minute sweetly scented flowers provide a vivid contrast with the foliage. The dark brown mature fruit, 7 to 12 cm long, spl its along ne side to rele The largest bird in Austral ia, and second only to the Ostrich of Africa for the world title, the Emu is found across most of mainland Australia. They are huge flightless birds, which can stand up to 1.9 metres tall and weigh up to 50 kilograms Populations of emus have disappeared from the eastern seaboard of Australia and from Tasmania. Two closely related species from King Island and Kangaroo Island have also disappeared. The reduction in numbers being due to the result of overhunting by early European colonists Emus occur in a wide variety of habitats. These include arid deserts, tropical wood lands, temperate grasslands, even to snowline in the Southern Highlands Distribution is controlled by the availability of water which emus need daily access to. Emus eat mostly plant fibre material such as seeds, fruits, newly emerged shoots and tips from grasses and shrubs, and insects when locally available. The stomach is developed to ferment plant fibre to extract the most energy from the tough, wood y material. Emus are typically solitary or gather in small family units. Female emus remain with the male until she has completed laying the clutch of nine dark green eggs. Up to 24 eggs have been found in one nest. Incubation is by the male only who will commence when the last egg is laid. This means that all the chicks develop and
It is the world's largest monolith rising 318m above the desert floor with a circumference of 8km. It is consideredonce of the great wonders of the world. It is located in the Kata Tjuta National Park which is owned and run by the local Aboriginals. The Australian government handed ownership of the land back to the Aboriginals some years ago. The Rock is arkose, a course-grained sandstone rich in feldspar at least 2.5 km thick. Uplifting and folding between 400-300 mya turned the sedimentary layers nearly 90 degrees to their present position. The surface has then been eroded. Depending on the time of day and the atmospheric conditions the rock can dramatically change colour, anything from blue to glowing red ! Many avid photographers set up for days and record the many changing colors of Uluru. Ayers Rock was named for the Premier of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. It extends down over 3 and a half miles beneath the surface. 5. Australian Flora and Fauna: Golden Wattle The Golden Wattle is the Floral Emblem of Australia and is a shrub or small tree about 4 to 8 metres tall. After the seedling stage, true leaves are absent, their function being performed by phyllodes which are modified flattened leaf stalks lacking leaf blades. The leathery phyllodes are 6 to 20 cm long, broadly lance or sickle-shaped and bright green in colour. In spring large fluffy golden-yellow flower-heads with up to eighty minute sweetly scented flowers provide a vivid contrast with the foliage. The dark brown mature fruit, 7 to 12 cm long, splits along one side to release the seeds. Emu The largest bird in Australia, and second only to the Ostrich of Africa for the world title, the Emu is found across most of mainland Australia. They are huge flightless birds, which can stand up to 1.9 metres tall and weigh up to 50 kilograms. Populations of emus have disappeared from the eastern seaboard of Australia and from Tasmania. Two closely related species from King Island and Kangaroo Island have also disappeared. The reduction in numbers being due to the result of overhunting by early European colonists. Emus occur in a wide variety of habitats. These include arid deserts, tropical woodlands, temperate grasslands, even to snowline in the Southern Highlands. Distribution is controlled by the availability of water which emus need daily access to. Emus eat mostly plant fibre material such as seeds, fruits, newly emerged shoots and tips from grasses and shrubs, and insects when locally available. The stomach is developed to ferment plant fibre to extract the most energy from the tough, woody material. Emus are typically solitary or gather in small family units. Female emus remain with the male until she has completed laying the clutch of nine dark green eggs. Up to 24 eggs have been found in one nest. Incubation is by the male only who will commence when the last egg is laid. This means that all the chicks develop and
hatch at the same time, usually 56 days from when the male starts to sit. The downy chicks are distinctive in their brown and buff stripes, which gradually fade as they grow and the feathers are replaced. Emus communicate with deep grunts, booms and drumming sounds aided by a large air sac in the throat, which inflates and resonates soune Kangaroos, Wallaroos, Euros, Wallabies, Potoroos, Bettongs, Pademelons Quokkas, Rat Kangaroos The numerous names given to kangaroo-like animals depends to a large extent on their size and where they are found. The biggest Kangaroos are the red and the grey kangaroo. Wallabies and their relatives come next in size, while the smallest is the rat-kangaroo There are about sixty different species of kangaroos. While in general kangaroos are ground-living herbivores, there is considerable variety and some species are special ised. The burrowing Bettong, for example, constructs and lives in the company of others, in a series of burrows forming a warren. Much larger, but also with a restricted range, are the tree kangaroos, which are found in Northern Queensland These nocturnal kangaroos live high in the tree canopy. Their tail is very long and acts as a balanc ing organ. It is not prehensile, but the tip is bushy, and long haired. On small branches, their hind limbs move independently, one after the other; but on broad branches these kangaroos hop in a characteristic kangaroo fashion. The pouch is the distinguishing feature and an important characteristic of marsupials. The young is born in an immature state and crawls or rather pulls itself with its arms into the pouch, where it becomes attached to one of the mothers teats The teat becomes swollen inside the baby's mouth so it cannot be accidentally dislodged. There the baby remains until it matures sufficiently to move around by itself, although it may not be weaned until some time after this event. The larger Kangaroos are in no danger of extinction whilst smaller Kangaroos, which rely heavily on the natural state of the bush for shelter, are much more vulnerable. Some species have already become extinct within the relatively short time since the settlement of Australia just over two hundred years ago Kangaroos usually live in groups. Males are usually larger than females. The largest species are the grey and red kangaroos, followed by the wallaroo or euro. Red kangaroos live in the drier regions; grey kangaroos in the cooler forest, woodland and grassy areas, while the wallaroo lives over much of the continent, from hot to cold especially where there is rocky shelters or thick vegetation in which to hide. The front limbs are relatively short, and are only used for walking at low speed. There are five digits all clawed. The hands are used to dig. scratch, hold vegetation, and clutch opponent in a fight. The rear limbs are very strong and are used in conjunction witI the muscular tail to stand erect, and in high speed locomotion As a Kangaroo bounds forward with a hop of its hind feet, the tail rises and then descends helping to balance the body. In fights with other kangaroos, they will attempt to grasp the foe with their front limbs, balance on their tail and rip downwards into the body of the predator with their strong hind limbs. There are four digits on the hind limb, all with impressive claws ● Focal points:
hatch at the same time, usually 56 days from when the male starts to sit. The downy chicks are distinctive in their brown and buff stripes, which gradually fade as they grow and the feathers are replaced. Emus communicate with deep grunts, booms and drumming sounds aided by a large air sac in the throat, which inflates and resonates the sound. Kangaroos, Wallaroos, Euros, Wallabies, Potoroos, Bettongs, Pademelons, Quokkas, Rat Kangaroos The numerous names given to kangaroo-like animals depends to a large extent on their size and where they are found. The biggest Kangaroos are the red and the grey kangaroo. Wallabies and their relatives come next in size, while the smallest is the rat-kangaroo. There are about sixty different species of kangaroos. While in general kangaroos are ground-living herbivores, there is considerable variety and some species are specialised. The burrowing Bettong, for example, constructs and lives in the company of others, in a series of burrows forming a warren. Much larger, but also with a restricted range, are the tree kangaroos, which are found in Northern Queensland. These nocturnal kangaroos live high in the tree canopy. Their tail is very long and acts as a balancing organ. It is not prehensile, but the tip is bushy, and long haired. On small branches, their hind limbs move independently, one after the other; but on broad branches these kangaroos hop in a characteristic kangaroo fashion. The pouch is the distinguishing feature and an important characteristic of marsupials. The young is born in an immature state and crawls or rather pulls itself with its arms into the pouch, where it becomes attached to one of the mother's teats. The teat becomes swollen inside the baby's mouth so it cannot be accidentally dislodged. There the baby remains until it matures sufficiently to move around by itself, although it may not be weaned until some time after this event. The larger Kangaroos are in no danger of extinction whilst smaller Kangaroos, which rely heavily on the natural state of the bush for shelter, are much more vulnerable. Some species have already become extinct within the relatively short time since the settlement of Australia just over two hundred years ago. Kangaroos usually live in groups. Males are usually larger than females. The largest species are the grey and red kangaroos, followed by the wallaroo or euro. Red kangaroos live in the drier regions; grey kangaroos in the cooler forest, woodland and grassy areas, while the wallaroo lives over much of the continent, from hot to cold, especially where there is rocky shelters or thick vegetation in which to hide. The front limbs are relatively short, and are only used for walking at low speed. There are five digits, all clawed. The hands are used to dig, scratch, hold vegetation, and clutch an opponent in a fight. The rear limbs are very strong and are used in conjunction with the muscular tail to stand erect, and in high speed locomotion. As a Kangaroo bounds forward with a hop of its hind feet, the tail rises and then descends helping to balance the body. In fights with other kangaroos, they will attempt to grasp the foe with their front limbs, balance on their tail and rip downwards into the body of the predator with their strong hind limbs. There are four digits on the hind limb, all with impressive claws. ⚫ Focal Points:
1. AUSTRALIA'S STOLEN GENERA TION---Aboriginals Recommended websites: http://www.aboriginalaustralia.com/ http://www.crystalinks.com/aboriqinals.html The literal translation of the word 'Aborigine' is: the people who were here from the beginning. It is not synonymous(doesn,'t have the same meaning), as the word indigenous as this means originating in an area(latin: indigena=in(in)+ giner(b born) in a particular place There is no written record regarding prehistoric Aboriginal Austral ia. Knowled ge of the past is found in archaeolog ical evidence and Aboriginal oral trad itions which have been handed down from generation to generation Therefore using reliable dates derived from archaeolog ical ev idence. theories of the initial colonization of australia have been determined Prior to colonization which began in January 1788, the Australian Aborig ines lived a lifestyle based on their Dreamtime beliefs. They had survived as a race for thousands of years and their lifestyle and cultural practices had remained virtually unchanged during that time. We refer to this as the trad itional period However colonization imposed changes on the Aborigines as people who lived in areas that were being settled by the europeans, were forced off their land as towns and farms were developed We identify the period in which the changes took place, as the historical period. The sort of changes that took place usually commenced with explorers entering the area of a tribe and being challenged by the people for trespassing on their land. The Europeans often(usually) responded by shooting at the people. Many were killed. When settlers followed the explorers and began felling trees and build ing farms, they restricted the ability of the aborigines to move freely around their land. They also destroyed their traditional food sources These changes took place throughout the continent at different times. They began in the Sydney and Parramatta districts from 1788; in the Cowpastures( Campbelltown/ Camden )area from the early 1800s and in the Illawarra district from 1815. Gradually but with increasing speed colonization spread throughout the entire continent The settlers had arrived in this country to build a new life for themselves and their families and had 'no time for the dreamtime. In other words most were not interested in the affects colonization was having on the aborigines. In fact they were often
1. AUSTRALIA'S STOLEN GENERATION ---Aboriginals Recommended websites: http://www.aboriginalaustralia.com/ http://www.crystalinks.com/aboriginals.html The literal translation of the word 'Aborigine' is: the people who were here from the beginning. It is not synonymous (doesn't have the same meaning), as the word 'indigenous' as this means originating in an area (latin: indigena = in (in) + ginere (be born) in a particular place. There is no written record regarding prehistoric Aboriginal Australia. Knowledge of the past is found in archaeological evidence and Aboriginal oral traditions which have been handed down from generation to generation. Therefore using reliable dates derived from archaeological evidence, theories of the initial colonization of Australia have been determined. Prior to colonization which began in January 1788, the Australian Aborigines lived a lifestyle based on their Dreamtime beliefs. They had survived as a race for thousands of years and their lifestyle and cultural practices had remained virtually unchanged during that time. We refer to this as the traditional period. However colonization imposed changes on the Aborigines as people who lived in areas that were being settled by the Europeans, were forced off their land as towns and farms were developed. We identify the period in which the changes took place, as the historical period. The sort of changes that took place usually commenced with explorers entering the area of a tribe and being challenged by the people for trespassing on their land. The Europeans often (usually) responded by shooting at the people. Many were killed. When settlers followed the explorers and began felling trees and building farms, they restricted the ability of the Aborigines to move freely around their land. They also destroyed their traditional food sources. These changes took place throughout the continent at different times. They began in the Sydney and Parramatta districts from 1788; in the Cowpastures (Campbelltown / Camden)area from the early 1800s and in the Illawarra district from 1815. Gradually - but with increasing speed colonization spread throughout the entire continent. The settlers had arrived in this country to build a new life for themselves and their families and had 'no time for the Dreamtime'. In other words most were not interested in the affects colonization was having on the Aborigines. In fact they were often