Tassie On My Mind, October 2011
- inspiring, winning, innovative, leading

Welcome to the October 2011 issue of Tassie On My Mind, a free monthly newsletter keeping you informed of the latest news on what makes Tasmania such an attractive travel destination.

Inspiring, winning, innovative, leading - these are just some of the words that can be used to describe the Tassie champs that have emerged lately.

Tasmania itself is an international star in its own right.

Read on to see what I mean...

This issue:

  • Inspiring
  • Winning
  • Innovative
  • Leading
  • Tasmania an international star again

Plus... your chance to be a part of tasmania-attractions.com!


Inspiring

I'm describing Rob Pennicott.

Why inspiring?

Mr Pennicott, his co-skipper Mick Souter, and cameraman Zorro Gamarnik have just completed traveling around the Australian coast in 2 dinghies. The purpose of the journey was to raise awareness of, and funds for Rotary International's Polio Plus Campaign. The campaign aims to rid the world entirely of polio.

This is the first-ever circumnavigation of Australia and Tasmania in an outboard-driven boat.

When his journey brought him into Hobart, Mr Pennicott had this to say:

"It's a really humbling experience to come home to this. There is nothing like a Hobart welcome..."

So far Mr Pennicott, who also runs the award-winning Bruny and Tasman Island Cruises, has raised about $276,000.

According to Mr Pennicott, millions would have been raised, if the rest of Australia had donated as much as Tasmania.

As you can see Tasmanians are inspiring too, not just Mr Pennicott and his team.

For a chance to make your own contribution, and to find out more about Mr Pennicott's efforts, visit the Follow the Yellow Boat Road website.


Winning

Which Tasmanian is a winner this time?

I'm speaking of Robert Geale who has successfully defended his IBF world middleweight title at the Derwent Entertainment Centre in Hobart.

30-year-old Geale took on 37-year-old Nigerian-born American Eromosele "Bad Boy" Albert .

I'm not a boxing fan but apparently there was a moment when the 2 competitors hugged in a gesture of sportsmanship before the 12th and final round. I think that's brilliant!

Albert praised Geale saying "He is a pretty tough fighter, he boxed very well."

Geale was thrilled to be competing in front of his home crowd. His first win of the title took place in Germany.

"Five thousand screaming Tasmanians is better than 5000 screaming Germans, I can tell you that," Geale commented.

What's next for Geale?

"I've set my goals even higher now. I want to challenge the really top guys," he said.


Innovative

Whether it's about fighting to save the Tasmanian Devil from extinction, or helping visitors get the most out of the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, we have Tasmanian innovations to be thankful for.

Devils Advocates
University of Tasmania zoologist Menna Jones, Menzies Research Institute associate professor Greg Woods and Anne Maree Pearse from the Save the Tasmanian Devil Program were part of a team of five awarded the Sherman Eureka Prize for environmental research carried out to fight the extinction of the Tasmanian devil.

The best part is:
"It really puts the spotlight on the conservation issue we have with devils and the quality of the research we are doing, and it will make it easier to get funding to continue", as Dr Jones put it.

As UTAS Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Paddy Nixon said,
"This is a classic example of how the University of Tasmania leads the world in critical conservation research".

Hopefully we will be able to find a way to beat the deadly Tasmanian devil disease.

Iphone app wizz kid
Twelve-year-old Sebastian O'Halloran of New Town has developed an Iphone application to help visitors get information on the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. No other botanical garden is offering this at present.

Certainly for me, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens showcases the beauty of nature and also has historic significance. I think I would benefit from using Sebastian's iPhone app myself!

Sebastian has developed other iPhone apps. For more information, visit the Tas Apps website.


Leading

How does Tasmania lead Australia?

In so many ways.

But this time I've referring to Tasmania having more recreational cyclists than anywhere else in Australia.

97,000 Tasmanians ride a bike at least once a week, but 78 per cent cycle for fun, not transport, according to an Australian Bicycle Council survey.

Personally, I really do wish it would be easier for many more people to ride bicycles as part of their daily lives. Being able to ride to/from work every day would be terrific.

I did consider it for myself once but in the end found it was too difficult, due to the lack of cycling pathways between home and my workplace. I am not one of the more experienced bicyclists around and don't like the idea of trying to share roads with heavy vehicular traffic.

Here is why I would welcome more cycling for all of us:

  • healthy exercise
  • better for the environment
  • less road congestion and noise
  • less money spent on petrol

Let's hope governments do more about cycling infrastructure so we can move forward!


Tasmania an international star again

How so? I'm talking about the movie The Hunter. Starring Willem Dafoe, it is the biggest movie made in Tasmania. It was shot entirely in the island state.

The movie also stars Sam Neill and Frances O'Connor.

Many Tasmanian buildings and landscapes are featured in the film, including:

  • Hobart's Grand Chancellor Hotel foyer
  • Moonah Primary School
  • Loggers Pub at National Park
  • Westerway Petrol and General Store
  • Mount Wellington
I first heard of the movie while watching ABC's At The Movies on TV. On the programme both presenters awarded it 4 out of 5 stars.

I'm a fan of Tasmania (of course) but also of Willem Dafoe and Sam Neill. I have enjoyed the performances of both actors in many films over the years. I look forward to seeing The Hunter soon.

What about you?...

Well that's it for this issue.

Two upcoming events have caught my attention:

  • Tasmanian Ballet Company presenting two of the most well-known Tchaikovsky ballets - Swan Lake Act II & Aurora’s Wedding from Sleeping Beauty
  • Royal Hobart Show celebrating Tasmania's agricultural industries and our favourite pets - cats and dogs
Catch them if you're in the area!

See you in November!


To contact me, click here.

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