LIFE GOES BY AS IN SONG . . .

Do you ever think about the people you meet
wondering what in their life has come their way
their life, like yours, rolls by, perhaps not as sweet
is sorrow or happiness their company every day?

Cheer up those in sorrow, help in grief or pain
be a ray of sunshine, hope for those with fears
comfort them with your strenght to start, again
brighten up their sadness, leave smiles, not tears

Think happiness, try some laughter, wherever you go
fed up with life, downhearted, troubles never end
add up all that is happiness, not sorrows, see it grow
life's road is sure to turn, maybe better around bend

Come to thinking, it always is much, much harder to be a kindly, caring, cheerful soul, than deal in misery
money, you may not have much, treasures may be few
to make life a little easier, always take the happy view

Life goes by, as in a song, listen carefully to its tune
to make the world a better place, know what to do
close ears to hurtful words, to happiness be not immune
try and do to others, as you would like they do to you

COUNT YOUR SUNNY HOURS . . .

Do you think your life is dull, wonder what to do
somehow a ray of inspiration seems to come through
ever counted the moments of gladness as life goes by
you'll find that dull moments disappear from your sky

Think of a rainbow, when times are dull, in pouring rain
soon all its joys, like those colours, will return again
you'll once again be happy, sadnesses will roll you by
before you're aware, again there is plenty of blue sky

Maybe you've had a very happy day, hope it is true
did you share with others, or kept it for just selfish you
life is not always leading along a sunlit path all the while
try and do share it with others, it will make them smile

Life is not a game of chance, nor being ruled by being smart
success, happiness, require that we work at it very hard
drifting on life's ocean, without a hand upon the helm
you and only you are to blame when troubles do overwhelm

Many things make people happy in this world of ours
life's not all that bad, when counting your sunny hours
sometimes it is not easy to face each day with a smile
cheerful words, gesture, may, maybe not, help in a while

LIFE's ROLLERCOASTER . . .

Traveling through life with it troubles and care
of life's travail we will never ever be fully aware
creating moments of sadness, happiness, despair
keep looking on the bright side for all that is fair

Try spreading sunshine, laughter, sing a song
your moments of unhappiness won't last long
seek out those that are far worse off then you
let them share your happiness, excitements too

A happy smile, kind word, at the right time and place
when was it last that you saw their happy face?
it is not always what we want in life we do find
on life's rollercoaster, to your fellow humans, be kind

Only once will we pass through our mortal life span
life is only too short, do the best for your fellow man
not spreading sadness, happiness, that's what counts
happy moments, not sad ones, will always rebound

Petty, stupid things, are those that really irritate
resolve starting each and every day with clean slate
for when you keep up that moaning and groaning
surely you always will reap what you have been sowing

THE REAL MEANING OF THE SEASON . . .

Now is the time of year of family and friends we do think
of resolutions we made last year, it went in an eye blink
acknowledging it as a time of remembering our joys, grief
setting aside all hurtfull things, maybe revive religious belief

The real meaning of the season, the fellowship we've had
family get-togethers, bringing joy to those who are sad
no better occasion, opportunity to care for one another
making efforts to re-unite family, some will say why bother

From experience all the unhappiness many of us know
loneliness, anguish, festering hatreds, don't let it grow
many reasons we must now try, from our lives to erase
evaluating in Spirit of Season, make it a better place

Maybe adopt an orphan, visit stranger, offer some hope
visit a hospital, goal, help a charity, plenty of scope
think about those at sea, loved ones in lands war torn
turning our lives around, stop those treating us with scorn

For all the world's woes, we'll never find a sure-fire cure
the less there is in our lives, more pleasant it is to endure
we are given another chance...... don't let it just slip by
if a year from now we are no better off, at least we did try

The TANAMI DESERT and FOSSILLISED RIVERS

The Tanami Desert, an ancient landscape, spinifex, termites abound
it is hot, dusty, it appears that not a drop of water could be found
surface indications are also very misleading at first observation
there is plenty of water in fossilised rivers in underground locations

In the days of Gondwana land, not so long ago, it was a muddy swamp
dripping rainforests, flowing rivers, places dinosuars used to tramp
over millions of years, swamp dried up, river sediment became sand
climatic elements also also shaped vegetation, wild life on this land

Termite mounds provide strong clue to existing water underground
in places very small, where water levels are high, the bigger mound
another clue are juicier than normal desert plants of The Tanami
profuse low shrub, tall spinifex, thick, lance-like leaves trust to sky

Vast reservoirs of salt water, underground, from explorations, is known saltier than the sea, needs expensive treatment, to get plants growing
along river valleys, groundwater closer to surface then anywhere else
finding fossillised rocks, Aboriginal paintings, variety of animals tells

Less than half of species survive, due to changing climatic shock
extinctions dramatic, cruel, after white men introduced his stock
disappeared: little-, hare-, nail-tailed wallabie, bandicoot, kangaroo rat
never to come back, after man, in 150 years, has destroyed habitat

Mountain Scenery Unsurpassed . . .

From many parts of Eastern coast, Glasshouse Mountains are intriguing sight
vulcanic narrow spires, others massive rounded bluffs, mysterious in any light
the history of them as diverse, colourful as the beautiful natural scenery
that's what, in 1770, Capt. Cook, when sailing past in HMS Endeavour, did see

Formed from lava plugs of old vulcanic cones, over time eroded away
along line of an old rock fault which did erupt in Australia's very early day
local Aboriginal legend of Dreamtime has it about Beerwah, the mother
her son Coonowrin, Glasshouse peaks, used to throw fire sticks at each other

First white inhabitants who shared their life with Aboriginals were castaways
not knowing that not far away there was a penal colony at Moreton Bay
looking for a better life it became the home of numerous convict runaways
those that could'nt take the "living hell", that had to be endured, every day

Timber getters arrived, using rivers, lakes, floating out huge logs of Cedar
followed soon by those looking for rumoured gold, travelling from afar
with the coming of the railways, towns founded as ports, now bypassed
some of them became ghost towns, now river trade had gone, didn't last

Others grew slowly into resilient, sleepy holiday places over the years
with plenty of innovative opportunity for the future, vibrant, no fears
the hinterland, rich, varied, producing many tropical fruits, sugar cane
scenic attractions, climate superb, a place well worth visiting again