Note: this was posted on 16 Feb 2011, after cyclone Yasi. 2024 Feb 9 – I’ve added a few notes/made some adjustments after cyclone Kirrily. There is very little publicly available Australian information on what trees withstand cyclonic winds well and which don’t. This is despite copious studies being made of areas hit hard by cyclones – […]
Fiona Lake Blog
Which trees survive cyclones? How do you help trees withstand cyclones?
February 9th, 2024Rural photography competitions can help foster a thriving rural photography scene – but most don’t
September 7th, 2020After running rural drone or photography workshops I’m usually approached by at least one parent asking whether their daughter, who is really keen on photography, should pursue a career as a photographer. (And yes, virtually every time it has been daughter, not son.) If I say ‘yes go for it’ (as many other photographers do) […]
Ugg boots – be careful you’re buying genuine Australian owned & manufactured
June 22nd, 2019*Please note – the main story below was written in 2009. Some of the links may be broken but they will be left as-is because they contain the original addresses for the reference information & quotes used. Some other links were updated in June 2016; when Deckers yet again launched legal action against an Australian […]
Meat eating is good for human health & livestock can be good for the environment
January 25th, 2019Below are a variety of research/study sources from around the world plus some well thought out personal opinion pieces that refute misinformation portrayed as truth by those intent on eradicating all meat from the menu. Please note more references are added to this blog post as they are discovered, and sometimes links to articles may be broken, […]
Just how much does the weather affect our behaviour and outlook?
March 10th, 2017Earlier this week, I completely lost my mojo. There was no obvious explanation for it. Had I just scoffed six roast chickens? Run a marathon? Been up all night? No to all of the above. The only reason I could think of was the weather. This wet season has been a particular disappointment – usually […]
Many of our top 100 chief executives are from regional Australia
September 11th, 201421% of Australia’s top 100 chief executives were born in regional Australia, according to the “Pathways to CEO” research undertaken by the University of Sydney Business School. It is discussed in today’s Sydney Morning Herald and more on the research will appear in the Australian Financial Review’s “Boss” magazine. When overseas-born chief executives are removed […]
Cyclones and natural disaster insurance
April 11th, 2014Cyclones (hurricanes) are just a collection of storms that have got organised into a circular movement (due to the earth’s spin) with a falling central air pressure that is sucking in moist air from the surrounding area. Big tropical storms form over warm sea temperatures, during the ‘wet’ or ‘monsoon’ season, when air humidity is […]
Australian decentralisation – lip service
November 13th, 2013I just did a little regional/capital city cost-of-living comparison test. Entering your postcode into a certain bed retailer’s website brings up the price locals are charged. The average mattress (not a bulky bedframe, just a mattress), costs Townsville customers $200 more than a Sydney resident. Are these mattresses made in Sydney? Maybe they are – […]