ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

When living in Australia, traveling usually plays for many people a great part
one place, Alice Springs, kilometres from anywhere in desert, recognised as it's heart
if you want to see the real Australian Outback this, no doubt, is the place to go
historical sites, attractions, if you want to feel how it used to be many years ago

To arrive in "The Alice', as it is generally known, surprisingly very little hardships to deal with
Alice Springs is the heart and soul of the Australian Outback, there's no denying this
choice of National Parks, Gorges, is, although some distance away, bewildering, to explore
there is Ayers Rock, Kakadu, Kings Canyon, not satisfied with those, there are more

Don't feel like driving, then the Desert Park, Royal Flying Doctor, in town a must see
Reptile Centre, Olive Pink Garden, Pioneer Woman Hall of Fame, all for a small fee
Historic Telegraph Station, museums, displays, history, stories about how it all began
Simpsons Gap, with all these attractions it sure pays to have some sort of a plan

In the space of a few days, you can discover the real secrets of the real Outback
don't have to sit in a 2- or 4-wd half a day in heat, flies, and a dusty bush track
here in one place, The Desert Park, you can learn all about it, in daylight or dark,
showcasing hundreds of plants, animals, occurring in desert and National Park

Explorers wondered how many animals survived in a country that sorely water did lack
the Outback is a big place, variety immense, especially when going off the beaten track
in some museums you can read how people survived and what the had to endure
in most cases it was always a two person effort, when sickness struck, finding a cure

Then there is the Todd River, for hilarious boat races, nearly every year, when it is dry
almost intersecting town, when in flood, to cross it notices tell you do not even try
Alice Springs, full of surprises, maybe isolated to some people, of the beaten track
like so many places in this country, it never fails to awaken the great urge to go back

reading this awakens the wander lust Cas - all your wonderful descriptions stir the urge to travel and join all these grey nomads zipping around the countryside. Oh well keeps Bob in a job

cheers

Maureen

Sounds just like a travel brochure doesn't it? I have some fond memories of the red centre. Good on you Cas.

Heather

Hello Maureen and Heather, This to my mind is what travel is all about, not just mindlessly going from one place to the next and remembering what the pub was like, the shops, the beach and all those things, one has to look behind the scenes and take it all in so when people ask what was it like one doesn't have to be vague but take them there with your memories. We, now we don't travel as much, can relate to almost any TV documentary about Australia for having been there and seen that. The memories are worth it all. thanks for the comment and we shall meet again , cheers, Cas

Don't know what I was looking for but I found this post by the late Cas Van Loon.


Really had a unique style.


Bob

He did - His poems were always so wonderfully descriptive. I think Cas saw with the eye of an artist

Dear old Cas was a friend of mine and I had the pleasure of introducing him at many folk festival poet breakfasts and other poetry events.
His love for this country was overwhelming and although born overseas he was the most patriotic Australian I have ever met.
He loved to read his work in public and used to come equipped with his own fold up music stand.
A good man sadly missed.