About Irene Waters 19 Writer Memoirist
I began my working career as a reluctant potato peeler whilst waiting to commence my training as a student nurse. On completion I worked mainly in intensive care/coronary care; finishing my hospital career as clinical nurse educator in intensive care. A life changing period as a resort owner/manager on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu was followed by recovery time as a farmer at Bucca Wauka. Having discovered I was no farmer and vowing never again to own an animal bigger than myself I took on the Barrington General Store. Here we also ran a five star restaurant. Working the shop of a day 7am - 6pm followed by the restaurant until late was surprisingly more stressful than Tanna. On the sale we decided to retire and renovate our house with the help of a builder friend. Now believing we knew everything about building we set to constructing our own house. Just finished a coal mine decided to set up in our backyard. Definitely time to retire we moved to Queensland. I had been writing a manuscript for some time. In the desire to complete this I enrolled in a post grad certificate in creative Industries which I completed 2013. I followed this by doing a Master of Arts by research graduating in 2017. Now I live to write and write to live.
Amazing photo, looks like a really cool place!!
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It is a delightful place but you have to be wary as it is far enough north in Queensland that you get stone fish on the beach and stingers in the water which takes away just a little from its natural beauty in Summer.
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I’ll keep that in mind when I visit Australia soon! 🙂
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If you are coming soon it might be winter and you won’t have to worry. I hope you enjoy your visit here. Where are you going? It is a big country. 🙂
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I’m going to volunteer in Cairns for a month, and then stay a week in Sydney just for fun. I’ve never been to Australia, so I am really looking forward to my first visit!
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That should be great. Working in a country gives you a totally different perspective and hopefully you will find Cairns fun as well. When are you coming?
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I’m coming from the other side of the world, specifically Norway:)
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You will find it beautifully different. I visited your beautiful country in 1990. You’ll enjoy the warmth.
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I just arrived in Sydney right now, and yes, it’s incredibly warm! Even so early in the morning :O
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Welcome to Australia. Look forward to reading of your adventures. Have a great trip.
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Thank you, Irene! I look forward to sharing it with you!:)
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That is unbelievable. Great shot!
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Wait. Are those growing there naturally or is that a post-storm photo?
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They are growing their naturally unless at some time a storm took them there. It is quite weird really as it is a beach and it seems an odd place for mangroves as the water would be pure salt.
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Wow. Was wondering what kind of tree… Thanks!
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Thanks Sarah
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Gnarly but gorgeous!
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Thanks Jan
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Those mangroves are amazing. As a child I never appreciated their smell or the slushiness underfoot. As an adult I appreciate their value to our ecosystems and marine life. If only I known then of their vital role. Just as well we live and learn. Gorgeous important photos.
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Yes we have a wonderful mangrove walk just down from us that has the educational signs. I found out things I didn’t know – quite fascinating and wonderful plants.
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That sounds wonderful. There’s so much to see in the mangroves. You just have to watch out for mosquitos! 🙂
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And sand flies here. They have been bad this year but like sharks, worse at dusk and dawn.
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I don’t think I’ve had the dawn experience, but definitely the dusk! It’s one I could do without. But I guess they, like all creatures, have their place.
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You have to wonder with some critters what exactly is their purpose but they must have one in the eco system.
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I’ve often wondered about mosquitoes. Must look it up sometime! 🙂
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Yes there are a few things like mozzies you have to wonder about.
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What a great photo and one that called for a written response. 😉
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Thanks Linda. Glad you liked it.
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I thought 1770 was a great place but don’t remember the Mangroves. Excellent shot.
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Thanks This was taken a fair number of years ago. Perhaps they are no longer there.
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I hope the Mangroves haven’t disappeared, my eyes could very well have been focused on something else or we might have missed the area where you saw them. I hope we’ll go back to the area someday but it was about 10 years between our first and second visits. 🙂
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Next visit might be closer – Between my visits to here prior to moving my first was in the 60s, then next 86 and the next 2008. So our trips were about 20 years apart. We moved here 2011.
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Those trees look like they just got up and are walking into the water. About as human as a tree can get. I’ve never seen anything quite like these before. Your other readers say they’re mangroves – I’ll have to look them up on the Internet. What a great photo you took, Irene.
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I like that vision. Human trees wanting to cool off. I’ll have to look it up and just check they are mangroves. They look like it but I can’t see the airlines. But I think they are. Glad you liked the photo Sharon.
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