calm

" A pretty scene fresh water", says the writing in the photo.

Henry HACKER (1876-1973) Henry Hacker Born Walthamstow, Essex, England, son of a surgical instrument maker. Early experience at British Museum. Arrived in Australia late 1890s and went gold prospecting and insect collecting in WA, SA, and NQ, often traveling long distances by bicycle. Supplied Coleoptera to many Australian taxonomists. Fought in Boer War 1900-1901. Farmed on Mulgrave River in NQ 1909-10 and was a neighbor to butterfly collector, Conrad Kelsall. Sold 6000 Coleoptera to Berlin Museum in 1910. Appointed insect curator at Queensland Museum 1911. Magnificent collector with great knowledge of habits and life histories. Built the QM research collections and made links with taxonomists around the world. Developed QM's public displays of insects. Skilled insect photographer. Published mainly on Hemiptera and Hymenoptera. Joined many of Perkins' UQ field trips. Seconded in 1929 to the Dept. of Agric. and Stock insect collection and served there until retirement in 1943, working 1-2 days per week at QM. Kept bees at his Herston home and became apiary inspector at the time of the foul brood outbreak in 1931. In retirement sold an extensive collection of Hemiptera to American hemipterous, Carl Drake, whose collection went to the Smithsonian. Hacker was a founding member of the Entomological Society of Queensland in 1923, serving on the first Council for 11 years, President in 1934, and Honorary Life Member from 1943. Source: www.esq.org.au/archive/HIstoricalPages/HackerH.html

If you’re visiting the Cairns and Port Douglas region in summer, you absolutely must check out some of our freshwater swimming spots as well as the iconic Great Barrier Reef. These are where the locals go to cool off and some, like Mossman Gorge, receive large numbers of tourists too. Families visit these jungle swimming holes because they are widely considered safe, there are no crocodiles or marine stingers here, (we hope!), and they are stunningly beautiful. Swimming in crystal clear, freshwater, deep in the jungle rainforest, surrounded by fish, is a bucket list experience. A series of photos and brief words about some of the swimming holes, waterfalls, and swimming lakes near Port Douglas and Cairns, the Daintree and Tablelands, in Far North Queensland Australia. Source: worldtravelfamily.com/fresh-water-swimming-spots-around-c...

good one

flic.kr/p/nHV1oy And here's an old postcard I have of the same place.

Wow, bet there were a few injuries here! Health and safety would go crazy with this today. Looks like fun though. I never knew this existed and have walked the Whitley Bay coastline many times.

RIVER FISHING: 8 GREAT SPOTS TO FISH NEAR BUNDABERG 1. Burnett River The Burnett River begins at Burnett Heads and meanders its way through the countryside, passing the town of Bundaberg before heading inland. It offers a smorgasbord of fishing options and can be fished from Ben Anderson’s Barrage to its mouth at Burnett Heads. Popular Bundaberg fishing spots to try to include Skyringville, the North Wall, Kirby’s Wall, Strathdee’s Rocks, Splitter’s Creek, and the Town Reach. Bream, whiting, and barramundi can be caught throughout the year, and in colder months the river produces tailor and blue threadfin salmon. The mouth of the river is also a haven for tuna and mackerel, and the north wall for bream, whiting, flathead, and Moses perch. 2. Burrum River The Burrum River offers fantastic fishing and crabbing opportunities. Fish species commonly caught here include bream, black bream, whiting, estuary cod, and flathead. Mud crabs can be found all year long, while prawns, barramundi, and mangrove jack are usually seasonal. It’s easy to find the best spots — the main access point to the south is at Burrum Heads and from the Bundaberg side, Walker’s Point at Woodgate. When temperatures start to rise, keep your eyes peeled for both jacks and barra as they love warm water. 3. Kolan River There’s something for everyone at Kolan River, which is popular with local fishers as well as those who love boating and kayaking. The small mangrove-lined tributaries hide cod, mangrove jack, black bream, and mud crabs, while the broad, shallow sand flats offer whiting and flathead. 4. Elliot River The Elliot River is popular with both fishermen and swimmers and is a pristine waterway with crystal clear waters covering white sand in its lower reaches. The river has a healthy supply of whiting and flathead, and as you venture upstream, you can encounter mangrove jack, barramundi, cod, and lots of other estuarine species. The river also offers passage to the sea and is a popular launching spot for anglers wanting to fish the offshore artificial reefs located a few miles from the mouth of the river. 5. Baffle Creek As one of Queensland’s few remaining undisturbed coastal rivers, Baffle Creek is a pristine river system surrounded by rainforests and lots of wildlife. At 35 kilometers long, it’s bigger than any other estuary in Southeast Queensland and ideal for those who love boating, canoeing, and of course fishing! In terms of a possible catch, you’ll be spoilt for choice here. From tailor, queenfish, trevally, bream, salmon, and whiting to perch, flathead, barramundi, cod, and more! If you’re after bream, whiting, flathead, flounder, or sole, try the extensive sand flats. If you’re a barra chaser, check out the rocky areas down from the mouth of the river. 6. Pancake Creek and Middle Creek For years these creeks have been popular destinations for anglers in the Bundaberg area and beyond. At Pancake Creek, there are fantastic angling, spearfishing, and snorkeling opportunities. There are also endless opportunities for families, with a coral reef at the mouth of the creek. The oyster-encrusted rocks are bream magnets, but you can also catch tarwhine and flathead here. With favorable weather, consider fishing the rocks and headlands offshore that offer a variety of reef fish. To access Middle Creek, there is a ramp where you can launch a boat with a four-wheel-drive at all but low tide. A higher tide is needed at Pancake Creek to make the trip safely. Care should also be taken to avoid the rocks and shallow sandbars scattered throughout the entire system. 7. Lake Gregory Lake Gregory is one of two main freshwater reservoirs within an hour of Bundaberg and is surrounded by beautiful native trees and a shoreline filled with green lily pads. In terms of good fishing spots in Bundaberg, it is stocked with bass and saratoga, but before throwing in a line, you’ll need to pay a small fee for a compulsory license. These can be found at most of the region’s tackle shops. It is one of the healthiest bass systems in the area with great catch rates year-round—bass half a meter and larger are regularly caught. 8. Lake Monduran Located 20 kilometers north of Gin Gin, Lake Monduran covers over five thousand hectares and is home to catfish, bass, and some of the best barramundi fishing in Australia. In fact, it was the site of the 2010 world record barra catch—a monster that weighed over 44 kilos! Although the dam was devastated by flood events in 2011 and 2013, stocks are slowly being replenished, and anglers are now landing numerous (and sizeable!) fish in a session. Source: www.almactrailers.com.au/news/blog/river-fishing-great-sp...