About Life in Australia

by André Dalton
(Australia)

Hiya (G’Day)..

I thought I would give a perspective on life here in the Northwest of WA – as seen by myself and my wife.

Let’s start with the Geography. Exmouth is a town of 2400 people, 1275km (approx 800 miles) north of Perth, Western Australia. Perth is the most isolated capital city in the world – 4.5 hours flight to Sydney (on the Eastern States).

We are in the desert, surrounded by ocean, and have a massive amount of wildlife and biodiversity that we exist with. The town was built to serve as a US Military base during the Cold War, and the US (or the “Yanks” as we affectionately call them), withdrew in 1994.

In 1999, the town was hit by Cyclone Vance (Cyclones are known as Hurricanes in the US, or Typhoons in Asia), and most of the town suffered, although no-one was injured, despite the highest ever windspeed of 267km/h (170 mph?) on Australian soil being recorded (Category 5).

It is now 2009, our town is building, it is a major tourist destination within Australia and Europe (they love the Whale Sharks), and fishing, sailing, surfing, snorkelling, and diving are major attractions. The tourists mainly arrive between April to October (No Cyclones), and the temperatures are nice.

It averages 24 degrees Celsius midwinter (maybe 60-70F), but Summer can be hard going. My wife and the kids had to withdraw inside, put the aircon onto 25, black out the windows, and watch Satellite TV for 4 months, as it was over 40 for months (40 degrees = 107F?)

The hottest day we had was 48 degrees – approx 119F..... in the shade. It was very difficult for my wife when she was hanging out the washing in the sun!

It’s a funny place to live in – the people from Northern and North-western Australia are a strange mob – they are a lovely bunch, very friendly, and they love a beer.

We get all sorts of wildlife around the North West Cape – Emus walk the streets, Kangaroos hop around after dark, we have to be careful of snakes, the waters are full of fish, turtles, sharks, dugongs, whale sharks, hump-back whales, dolphins, jellyfish....etc.... where do I end?


Cheers! André Dalton