Monday, July 25, 2011

Heading south for the winter.

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Some of you, if Australian or living in Australia,
would know or would guess,
that my nickname Tas is due to my Tasmanian origins.

Tassie trip July 2011

I was born in a small town in northern Tasmania
and grew up with no inkling of the ridicule and scorn that the Apple Isle attracted
from the rest of the country.

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Perhaps the first time I recognised that my little state
was a little maligned was when we got left "off the map"
at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games.

(Yes, we are still bitter about that one)

Tassie trip July 2011

When I spent a year overseas as an exchange student in 1987,
I was more likely to be thought to be from Tanzania.
(which is in Africa, in case you didn't know)

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I relocated to Melbourne for university
where, being left handed, Catholic and Tasmanian,
earned me a door note that the Guiness Book of Records was filming.

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Tassie trip July 2011

At my insistance that I was Tasmanian
came the equally insistant (but of course completely wrong) assertion by the mainland students
that I was Taswegian.

Also came every joke ever written about multiple headed, in-bred convicts.
Don't even try.
I have heard them all.

Tassie trip July 2011

Hence I became Taswege.
Then Tas.
Cos we Aussies shorten anything if we can.

(One bright spark even ventured as far as tagging me "Map Of".
Say no more)

Tassie trip July 2011

I haven't actually lived in Tasmania since 1986 now
and nowadays I tend to say that I grew up there
rather than I am Tasmanian.

It would be a bit like me saying that I am still on maternity leave
when I started over 8 years ago
and have a youngest child of 4 years of age.
(Which I do say.
Which my hubby rolls his eyes at)

Or that I am Catholic when I last took Holy Communion nearly 30 years ago.

Tassie trip July 2011
We go back once a year to visit my relatives
but I haven't been there as a tourist since I was a child.

Tassie trip July 2011

Seriously, people, at the risk of sounding like a tourist brochure,
you need to go there and be a tourist.

Tassie trip July 2011

It is stunning, gorgeous and stunning again.

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And it is so compact.
(Northern most tip to southern is 364 kilometres;
west to east 306 kilometres)

Tassie trip July 2011
I think that it is one of the places in the world that offers up
some of the best examples of Mother Nature's work.

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OK so it might be a tad cold at times.
Our family prefers to go in colder months as you only have to pack winter clothes.
If you go in summer, you still have to pack winter clothes as well as summer ones.

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We are going to play tourists for a few years now as we go back to visit family.
This trip we took our kids to places that I haven't been to since I was their age.
Hands up if you knew that Queenstown still has a gravel football oval?


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One day I will search my family tree.

I have always wondered if we came to Tasmania on the upper level of the boat with some social standing
or the lower level as criminals.
I will. keep you posted on my social standing.

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13 comments:

Nikki said...

Thanks for sharing lovely pics and a bit of an insight into the making of Tas. Nice beret, too.

My grandmother was Tasmanian, born of dead-dodgey ship-jumping, Eureka-stockading stock. We could possibly throw a few convicts in there, too.

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

I love Tasmania, it's beautiful, we're just all jealous you're so pristine, wilderness & fabulous down there, don't worry, it's not you, it's us (i grew up in Sydney). My 4 children were all born in Darwin, at least they are considered locals or Territorians (even though we live in Canberra, a different territory).
My favourite place in Tasmania is Bernie, not original as it's popular & obviously gorgeous, but still a stand out. You have everything there, like a compact New Zealand.
Cute nick name, all the ones except 'map of' eeww. Sorry about the map thing, you did say it was produced by Queenslanders, say no more, love Posie

willywagtail said...

Thanks for sharing all these amazing photos. I've just been reading a novel set at the end of the Van Diemans land convict period and had never realised that the island was so tiny yet holds so much. My eldest was hoping to take me there this December but I think we will have to wait for next year. Interesting to see what you come up with about your ancestry. Apparently those descending from convicts were always considered not good enough for the top layers of society. Cherrie

Carolyn said...

LOVE Tasmania- went on our honeymoon there- did the whole state in 1 week.
Your pics look great too.

Lola Nova said...

What truly gorgeous landscape! Thank you for showing us some of the sights!

I had no idea there were so many jokes!

Unknown said...

A great read. I have not been there but wud love to one day.

Tanya said...

Tas, look at those amazing photos- wow, that elephant! I have touristed twice in Tas, but I would love to go again, and again, and again!

Tin Can Daisy said...

I went there as an adult with my Mum and little sister. LOVED the place. It is so beautiful and many of the little towns feel so old world. I hope to go again one day.

becci said...

Gorgeous photos Tas. Sitting here by the fire I'm thinking that maybe a winter holiday in Tassie wouldn't be so bad!

quilary said...

I LOVE Tasmania. One of our best ever family holidays (travelling with 6 children aged 14-4 (and believe me if any holiday was fair to middlin' I considered it a success!!))was to the Apple Isle (is that an ok name to use?). I wanted to pack up the family, get the MaTH to find a job, any job, so we could move to God's own land!

willow and moo said...

I concur. Tassie is awesome. :)

Jo-anne Blossy said...

Those photos look wonderful. I have often thought about going to Tassie for a holiday. Perhaps one day I may even get there.

Kat said...

I am in love with Tasmania. We went there on our honeymoon ten years ago and are just waiting to go back with our kids. My parents lived there for a few years when they were first married and my three older brothers are Tasmanian :) Catholic too!! It's a small world :-) Love the photos Tas - they're stunning!