Arms And The Man

Ned Kelly, The Trigger-Happy Bushranger

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

This figure of the infamous bushranger (that’s Aussie-speak for “outlaw”) Ned Kelly stands tall over the Victorian town of Glenrowan and is an integral part of local folklore. During a long interstate drive on Friday 5 June, I pulled off the Hume Highway and literally parked under the statue.

I quickly shot some silhouettes of the famous figure before heading to a local cafe for breakfast. About 45 minutes later, the sun had shifted to my advantage, but I still had to work the angles to get the statue against a patch of blue sky.

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Winter Blossoms

In Full Bloom, Despite The Morning Frost

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON

On Friday, while doing a major highway drive into the bush (aka the Outback) I decided to pull into Glenrowan for breakfast. Not far from where the giant statue of the infamous bushranger (aka an outlaw) Ned Kelly stands in the town, I found Linda's Billy Tea Rooms and thought that would be the ideal place for breakfast.

I was right! Not only did Linda herself cook me a huge plate of eggs, bacon and sausages (and a very genteel pot of tea), she was also quite happy for me to wander around and take some photographs.

In her back yard I found this huge flowering shrub that was absolutely covered in clusters of miniature pink-and-white blossoms. Because it's winter here, and because I could not identify the flowers, I had to march back inside and seek her guidance. Turns out the shrub is called jade.

Just as I was about to turn away, I heard a distinct buzz - see if you can spot the bee in the image below.


Visit Luiz Santilli Jr for the home of Today's Flowers.