I had to photo these conflicting signs on the Decrees Bay Road travelling from Ceduna to the Ceduna Waters housing development. Which speed would you travel at; 100, 80, 90, 180 or 10,080 kilometres per hour?

Although the Ceduna Oysterfest festival started in 1990, this was my first festival. As the name suggests, the event is based on the oyster.

The farming of Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) in the District Council of Ceduna area began in the mid 1980’s and is now practiced in Denial Bay, Murat Bay and Smoky Bay along with other locations across the state. The oysters for this event were supplied by the Zippels of Smoky Bay.

Oysters Kilpatrick, lemon pepper oysters and another variation I don’t recall

The oysters at Oysterfest were delicious although I was surprised that the natural oysters were sold for the same price as the cooked variants ($7 per half-dozen).

From a superficial Adelaideian point of view, besides the limited influence of the oysters, this festival, with its rides, competitions and food stalls, was not very unique. However, I found the community gathering and regional importance of this festival far greater than I’ve experienced in Adelaide. On Sunday I was introduced to a constant stream of visitors who knew my grandparents as we sat in the large marquee. Everybody knows everybody in small towns. I enjoy the anonymity and services of the big city but I also see the benefits of a stronger and smaller community.

Daredevil stunt pilot and former local Chris Sperou performing tricks for the Oysterfest crowd

Young kids in the Farmers Union Iced Coffee holding competition

During the festival a memorial monument in the shape of a lighthouse was unveiled at Pinky Point in remembrance to those who had lost their lives at sea.

Overall I enjoyed the festival and appreciate its role in the region’s renaissance. Aquaculture, mining and tourism are growing alternative income and employment sources for the Far West Coast of South Australia. When I left as a child in the late 1980s, the district was in slow decline due to its reliance on the inconsistent and weather-reliant grain, lamb and wool industries. 20 years later the place is renewing itself.

Some news!

In approximately 2 weeks time I will be moving the almost 3,000km west to Perth, Western Australia, for a new job. I look forward to both the professional challenge and exploring the new surroundings.

Tomorrow morning I will take an 11&1/4 hour bus journey west to Ceduna for a few days holiday. There I will see relatives and eat oysters.

Here is a photo from my last visit to Ceduna in 2006. The signpost is in the town centre, adjacent to the jetty.

Today I took nephew Breandan to see Sturt play Glenelg in the SANFL Preliminary Final at the picturesque Adelaide Oval. After a close start, Glenelg turned on the power and ended up thrashing Sturt by 66 points: 17 goals 17 behinds 119 to Sturt 8-5-53. Glenelg now take on Central District in the Grand Final next Sunday at AAMI Stadium (formerly known as Football park).

The highlight of the day has to be this absolutely spectacular mark taken in the outer:

From a distance, the social trend in Turkey does not look positive. A recent incident in Ankara provides an example of this. A corner store owner, Muslum Goksu, was assaulted and his shop damaged because he sold alcohol during Ramadan (the Muslim holy month – called Ramazan in Turkey).

Modern Turkey has traditionally been tolerant of people who held secular beliefs and did not observe every Islamic tradition. In Mersin I fondly recall buying beers from a veiled woman at the local 24 hour convenience store in the early hours of one Ramadan morning. This freedom of choice is what made Turkey different to almost every other Muslim majority country.

Ever since the AKP came to power in 2002, many Turkish secularists warned of the potential Islamification of Turkey. Slowly but surely their fears are being realised. The sale of alcohol has been banned at venues owned by government controlled companies, Creationism is gaining a stronger foothold and there are reports of official pressure to fast during Ramadan.

Hopefully this trend towards overt Sunni Muslim religiousness is only temporary.

At Dad’s 60th birthday party Saturday he and his 11 siblings were together for the first time in 15 to 20 years (nobody is certain when the last occasion was).

In February 1971 when Dad arrived at Adelaide Airport from serving in Vietnam 10 of his siblings were there to meet him and their photo was on the front page of The Advertiser. To commemorate the reunion, a photographer from the paper took photos at the party Saturday. However, as the story has not been published by the ‘Tiser, I will publish it myself.

Following is the February 1971 picture and accompanying article entitled Family Affair:

The text reads:

National Serviceman Gunner K. E. Taheny, 22, of Edithburgh, Yorke Peninsula, arrived home from Vietnam on leave yesterday to a family greeting that more closely resembled a massed military operation. Gathered to meet him at Adelaide Airport were 10 of his 11 brothers and sisters, aged between four and 20. Pictured advancing in formation at the airport are, from left, Damien, 6, Veronica, 9, Elizabeth, 11, Therese, 15, Francis, 20, Gunner Taheny, Josephine, 17, Catherine, 14, Mary, 13, Eugene, 8, and Maria, 4, all from Edithburgh. Gunner Taheny, who has only a few weeks to serve, said he had been in Vietnam for 12 months, mainly at Nui Dat with the 106 Battery of the 4th Field Regiment. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Taheny, of Edithburgh.

A footnote: the only sibling missing in the photo above was Bernadette, whose boss would not let her take the day off work. I bet he regretted his decision after seeing the story on the front page the next day!

Here are the 12 some 37&1/2 years later:

Hopefully the next time they all get together will be reasonably soon.

Just over 3 months ago I began running regularly for the first time in my post-Little Athletics life. At first I could hardly run 3 blocks without spluttering to a complete stop. Steadily, I built up my stamina and fitness, increasing the distance travelled each day. Soon I was running to Henley Beach jetty and back.

Last month I participated in my first organised event, the 8km at the 4th Joggers World Fun Run. This Sunday I will run the 12km City-Bay Fun Run. I aim to finish in under 60 minutes although my first goal is to complete the journey.

Besides the obvious fitness and utility benefits, the ability to run gives a feeling of freedom and is also fantastic for goal-setting and achievement. To be able to drop everything and go for a run in the evening sun’s glow along the beach is a pleasure.

My future running goals:

2009: complete a half marathon

2010: finish a full marathon

Two negatives of running are the physical wear and tear it causes to one’s knees and ankles and the greater appetite one gets when training. The appetite is normally not a problem except when exercising stops, leading to a sudden weight gain. Once I have completed my first marathon I plan to discontinue running and take on a joint-friendly pursuit, probably cycling. Until then, happy running!

UPDATE (2008/09/23): I completed the 12km run in 1:01:13, finishing in 3125th place. Quite good for my first attempt.

As the post title suggests, Dad was born on 14 September 1948. Here are a few images of him from the vault: