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The article offers information on the hazards of using plastic bags in Australia and the initiatives taken to make the world free of the bags. It reports on ignorance by the general public of the environmental toxicity caused by the bags. Australians reportedly use around 4 billion plastic bags in a year and of these, only 2-3% go to recycling bins while rest go to landfill. To produce the 4 billion plastic bags, 784,000 barrels of oil are burnt, adding to damaging greenhouse gas emissions. It mentions ban on the use of plastic bags as the only way to reduce the problem. Many Australian towns have been declared plastic-bag free. Other countries such as China are taking action to get rid of the bags. It discusses eco-friendly alternatives of plastic bags such as paper bag.

Recounts the changes in the Australian currency. History of money in Australia; Details on the process of manufacturing Australian paper money and coins; Designs of Australian money; Information on the electronic payment system Smart cards. INSET: Making money: a noteworthy process..

Focuses on the sugar cane-based paper in Australia. Waste product that is being used as the material for the paper; Description of the environmental systems that the paper mill uses; Information on the annual production of sugar cane.

The article focuses on the hidden security features of a five dollar Australian bill which include the Federation Star with bright flashes of colour around the edge, the red dots that are machinereadable security feature, and appearance of numeral five around the Federation Pavilion.

The article offers information on Australian government's paperwork. It states that Australia's National Archives of Australia (NAA) contains historic records and public service files which are more than 100 kilometers of shelving. It mentions that 80 percent of government agencies want to become digital by 2015. It highlights that more than 200 government agencies make use of 6500 tonnes of paper every year.

The article focuses on the life and achievements of Hubert Wilkins, an Australian explorer, aviator, war photographer, and environmentalist, highlighting his significant contributions to polar exploration, pioneering flights, and wartime service. Topics include Wilkins's expeditions to Antarctica and the Arctic, his role as a war photographer during World War I, and the challenges in preserving his extensive legacy, including the mishandling and destruction of his personal memorabilia.

The article presents information on the evolution in milk containers of Australia depicting technology and a change in lifestyle. In 2011, more than 2.3 billion litres of drinking milk was produced from 1.6 million dairy cows. Disposable cartons appeared in 1960s after the use of bottles. Disposable foil caps came in 1930s. Pasteurisation became a legal requirement in 1940s. Tin or glass billies were used until around the 1930s.

The article discusses the rise of farmers' markets in Australia. Jane Adams, interim chair of the Australian Farmers' Markets Association, first brought the concept back from the U.S., where she'd gone as a research fellow to study markets in the late 1990s. There are now more than 120 in capital cities and regional centres across the country with a combined annual turnover in excess of 40 million dollars.

The article presents information on how and when ice creams came to be introduced in Australia. Australia is the world's third-largest consumer of ice-cream, savouring on average 18 litres each per year, worth $1.3 billion at the till. In 1907, Frederick Peters, an American, began making ice-cream using his mothers recipe in a converted shed in Manly, Sydney in New South Wales and made deliveries in the afternoon by horse and cart. Dry ice, which came along in the 1930s, meant ice-cream could be conveyed over long distances. In the early days, ice-cream was plain vanilla, cut into rectangular slabs about the size of a brick and wrapped in waxed paper. Back then, ice-cream had to be eaten in a sitting because refrigeration didn't become widespread until the 1950s.

The article offers information about two terms related to people living in Australia. The term "Remittance man" refers to the men who were part of rich Australian tapestry in 1800s and early 1900s. The term "Ticket- of-leaver" also known as a paper man, refers to a convict, in Tasmania, who holds a permit that allows him to work privately in a given area, until his sentence is served.

The article reports on the business conditions of the Australian fish industry. As stated, the Sydney's fish market is one of the world's largest central seafood markets. It supplies a huge variety of sea food including fish, squids, crabs, prawns etc. However, it is feared that the country is facing a crisis in its fishing industry due to depletion of predatory fish communities. The industry has witnessed sudden decline in the catch rates of many fishes, including cod, tuna and sharks.

The article focuses on pigeon racing during winters in Australia. The flyers have unique tactics and training for pigeon racing. Jock Gray, who was an officer of Sydney's Leichhardt Flying Club, has old tricks when anticipating the birds' arrival. The concept of pigeon racing came to Australia in late 1980s.

The article discusses issues related to recycling in Australia. According to a Hyder Consulting report "Waste and Recycling in Australia," nearly every Australian household recycles 95 per cent. Reverse Garbage saves more than 12,000 cu. m from landfill each year. Reverse garbage industry has a turnover of almost 1 million dollar, which is reinvested into reuse products. The report stressed on the need to improve reuse and recycling rates for concrete, roofing materials and timber.

The article discusses AG's archives are a treasure trove of scientific illustration and botanical and zoological art.

The article offers travel tips to Carnarvon Great Walk in Carnarvon National Park, Western Australia; mentioning six days travel route and recommendation, along with suggestions on what to bring for the trip.

The article offers information on the Walls of Jerusalem National Park as one of the most qualified World Heritage sites that is located in Tasmania. It mentions that the national park is one of the main properties protected within the Tasmania Wilderness World Heritage Area and encompasses 15,800 square kilometers. It cites the amenities of the national park, which include alpine lakes, dolerite peaks and ancient pencil pine forests.

The article discusses the social aspects of possums in the cities and suburbs and them being treated as pests and vermin. It mentions that little has changed in the treatment of possums by the 21st-century Australian urbanites as they are still considered as annoying pests. It cites the economic importance of possums as their skins are exported from Australia and is marketed in London, England and New York.

In this article, the author focuses on the impact of various introduced species like rabbits and foxes to the Australian shores. Topics discussed include presence of congenial climate and substantial trade links in the Australia, subtropical climate of southern Florida weedy Australian umbrella trees and she-oaks flourish, and trade of diet of dried animal skins for textiles done by Australian carpet beetles.

The article discusses how passengers journeying to Australia by ship in the 19th century, things like rough seas, rats and drunken outbursts were daily realities. Topics discussed include how these raucous voyages also involved dancing, theatre and wildlife spotting in order staving off the boredom as they waited for a glimpse of land.

The article offers information on Australia's National Archives of Australia, which maintains government records. It states that the Federation Gallery at the Archives is open to public for few days a year. It mentions that it will conduct the exhibition "Design 29: Creating a Capital" in 2013, which will show architectural work of Marion Mahony Griffin.

Profiles Australian microbiologist Frank Fenner. Educational background; Awards received; Details of his involvement in the World Health Organization smallpox-eradication program.

The article presents author's views regarding eating insects and its growing popularity. Topics discussed include insect meals offered by Stanley Street Merchants, a bustling pop-up restaurant in the inner-city suburb of Darlinghurst in Sydney, Australia, services by Noma, the Copenhagen-based restaurant and a report titled "Edible Insects: Future Prospects for Food and Feed Security" by United Nations.

The article discusses the need to preserve national parks in Australia. Topics include views of Dr Euan Ritchie, an ecologist at Deakin University in Melbourne, on the impact of the rise of environmentalism on preserving special places, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (lUCN) World Parks Congress to be held in Sydney, New South Wales.

The article focuses on how a group of people completed Australia's first modern hot-air balloon flight. At the University of Sydney, they had cut out 28 sections of Mylar, a form of plastic polymer officially known as polyethylene terephthalate and taped them together to form the envelope. They had named their craft, was equipped with an onboard burner. This was Australia's first modern hot-air balloon.

The article reports that the Australian scientists are uncovering the truth about mysterious creatures. Recent figures suggest there are at least 15,000 of these enigmatic marine mammals. Similar to many herbivores, dugongs cope with this difficult-to-digest plant matter with a very long, bacteria-filled intestine. There's a common assumption that dugongs are strict vegetarians.

The article offers information on certain best known of Australia's "exotic" words whose origins remain much a mystery.

The article presents statistics on the litter found on Australian beaches on Clean Up Australia Day 2009.

The article offers information on the organization Could Croup that works towards raising awareness for Australian birdlife. The organization was established by English ornithologist John Gouldin in 1973, with the name Could League of Bird Lovers. By 1930, the organization had infiltrated schools nationwide, offering a pledge and certificate to encourage children to care for birds. Gould Group chief executive officer Ann Maree informs that the organization was Australia's first environmental program that led the federal government to implement legislation regarding the protection of tracts of land for animal habitat. Also mentioned are the percentage of plastic bags used in the Australian retail sector.

The article focuses on biodiversity hotspot of West Australia' (WA's) Mid West and Wheatbelt. From June to November, progressive waves of blooming wildflowers adorn one of the most botanically rich places in south-western Australia. The south-west of Australia has such botanical richness because of its isolation, evolution and age. Fringing deserts and the Nullarbor Plain have kept the plants isolated from those in the moister parts of eastern Australia.

The article presents information on the revival of the art of creating cloaks made of possum skins, in Australia. It is stated that cloaks of stitched-together possum skins were traditional garb for Aboriginal people in the southeastern part of the country. Possum-skin cloakmaking's revival started in 1999, after cloakmaker Vicki Couzens and other woman attended a printmaking workshop for Aboriginal artists.

The article investigates the decrease of Australia's biodiveristy and the radical methods of its conservation. It notes that desert mammals are the hardest hit, though species and ecosystems have suffered across the continent. It points out that its species account for about one-third of the recorded extinctions in the world since 1600.

The article focuses on the technological innovations by Australia. It states that Australians have innovated Google Maps, cervical cancer vaccines and technology for driving Wi-fi networks. According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation statistics, Australians filed about 0.6 per cent of all patents in 2007.

The article focuses on the Australian dinosaurs that are dug up in huge numbers. It states that Museum Victoria's holds a varied range of dinosaurs species including Fulgurotherium and Atlascopcosaurus. It reports that the first dinosaur fossil, the Cape Paterson Claw was found in 1903 by geologist William Ferguson.

The article presents information related to Australian of the Year (AOTY) award. Writer Phillip Adams describes the winners, who are chosen from diverse fields including medicine, science, sport and business, as an eclectic collection who reflect the diversity of achievement. Sir Macfarlane Burnet, who had won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1960, was the first AOTY recipient. AOTY awardees are honored with a lectern-shaped stone monument and metal plaque.

The article focuses on observation of different homes with possession of Doo names in Doo Town of Australia. Topics discussed include illustration of dwellings situated at Tasman Peninsula, observation of Ecuadorian family inhabitant in the location, establishment of quiet community in the location with contribution of several members, description of different doo usage terms in the town such as Rum Doo and illustration of several heritage sites for visiting in the town such as Port Arthur.

The article discusses how wildlife in Australia has affected the revolutionary theories of biologists including Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. It is stated that it is a misconception that Port Darwin is named after Charles Darwin and the truth is that it was named by one of Darwin's shipmate, that too 20 years before Darwin Spoke about evolution. It is also mentioned that his trip to Australia proved helpful in his study of evolution and had a similar effect on Wallace's ideology.

The article offers information on Heysen Trail in South Australia (SA). The 1200 km Heysen Trail follows the spirit of Sir Hans Heysen's art from the Fleurieu Peninsula to the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. At first glance, the Heysen Trail looks like a footpath linking 25 parks and reserves, via public and private lands, along SA's ancient mountain backbone. While many are drawn to the trail for a day's outing with friends, a surprising number are in it for the long haul.

Focuses on the Australian cooperative Junior Ranger Program designed to incorporate Anangu culture and contemporary science. Background on the land-management skills of Aboriginal elders; Student activities offered by the program.

The article focuses on how a family living near the Murray River find solutions to the problems in New South Wales (NSW). It gives a description of the Murray River. It mentions the attempt to save part of the lake system, a dam that separate Alexandrina from Albert. It further states that the family Fischer, composed of Lesley, Mick and their sons who run a successful dairy and beef cattle farm, but has the problem regarding the increasing salinity which lead to the deterioration of the water quality.

The article reports on the strategies adopted by Australian general stores for their come back in business. Competition from the branded supermarkets and convenience stores has put Australia's many general stores and corner shops under pressure. Shopkeepers are discovering new ways of survival in the business such as via rebranding the general stores as gourmet food outlets, or adding dry-cleaning, gourmet frozen meals and freshly ground coffee to their customer service. Wing Hing Long & Co. which earlier used to deal in groceries, is now a retail museum. The Old Glenlyon General Store has expanded its traditional grocery lines by putting them in a full commercial kitchen, a coffee machine and by catering to broader tastes. It cites the role of multiculturalism in establishing the stores. INSET: PULSE OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.

The article offers information on Florilegium, a collection of botanical art by botanist Joseph Banks. It states that Banks was the leader of the first scientific team to study Australia. It is stated that he was ecstatic to see the beauty the country possessed. His team of nine included a young artist, Sydney Parkinson, who after completing almost 1000 brilliant illustrations of various specimens died on a voyage. Also the scientific work Florilegium survived various outbreaks including a bomb during World War II. Now the Florilegium has been digitized and the entire collection of these botanical artworks is available online at the website www.nhm.ac.uk. INSET: Who was Joseph Banks?.

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of walking the Jatbula Trail in the Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory.

The article offers information on the Flinders Ranges in South Australia, that are considered as the world's oldest mountain realms. It describes the evolution of the ranges and mentions various developments that played a part in the region's genesis, which include volcanoes, glaciers, and storms. It also describes the landscape of the Flinders that include ridges, and saltbush plains. It mentions the weather conditions in the ranges and states that the ranges have received less than average rainfall since 1996. Several attempts are being made for opening the Finders for campers, which include the Skytrek, a 60 km track. Evidence of the region's oceanic history is scattered throughout the ranges in sandstone slabs and fossils are preserved on the undersides of its sandstone layers.

The article focuses on the celebration of Christmas during the early days of British settlement in Australia. Many Australians still prepare roast turkey and hams with fiddly frills. The early settlers and those who have followed have clung to the Christmas customs of their origins. They also have Santa Claus suits and decorations with fake reindeers, Christmas's bells and bushes which stand in for mistletoe and holly. The celebration during the early age presents a Christian tradition which a lot of missionaries had a profound impact.

The article presents information on an air expedition, which attempted to fly 11 vintage planes in 6500 km through the outback skies of Australia within 12 days. The author of the article and Jim Whalley, a fighter test pilot were a part of the 31-strong group, which included pilots, passengers, an engineer and a cardiothoracic surgeon. The author's experiences related to the voyage are presented. Chipmunks were also included in the expedition. Several information on vintage Chipmunks including the places where they were designed are presented. INSET: JIM'S TIME MACHINE.

The article focuses on Will Pringle, who does mapping work for the journal "Australian Geographic." To render the Australia of 1990, Pringle bents over a light table layered with sheet after sheet of drafting film for four months solid. He began with a black Rotring ink-pen outline of the country's 35,877 km coastline, then, on successive sheets, shaded in the contours of the Great Dividing Range, traced the bends of the Darling and Diamantina rivers and lettered in the names of red-dust towns such as Lightning Ridge and the Alice. Maps have been a staple of the journal since its inception in 1986 and Will's arrival a year later cemented that. The journal's director of cartography has been creating maps since 1960 when at 16, on advice from his grandmother, he took up a cartographic apprenticeship. Will got a start with Clive Barrass, a Sydney map publisher, that made road maps for Caltex, Ampol and Amoco. The journal has always held map-making in the highest regard and this is evident from our coverage of Australia's first inland explorer/cartographers.

Presents the author's comments on Australian endangered bird species Gouldian finch. Reasons for the decline of Gouldian finch's population; Description of Gouldian finch; Contribution of naturalist Mike Fidler in protecting Gouldian finch.

Presents an article on the experiences of solo walker Kathryn McCallum while travelling the Australian Alps Walking Track. Places she visited while walking towards her destination, including Jordan River Gully; Estimated number of persons who have completed the walk; Description of Cooleman Plain.

Presents information on several photographs taken from Dongara town in Western Australia. Life style of fishermen; Background on Benedictine monk Reverend Dom Justin Bruce; Experiences of Peter Hope, a retired lobster-fisherman, living in the town.

Discusses the environmental effects of dryland salinity in Australia. Amount of government subsidy to farmers; Efforts of farmers to save their land; Information on the Upper South East Dryland Salinity and Flood Management Plan.