OUTBACK SKIES

The Australian bush, or 'Outback', has an iconic status in Australian culture and features strongly in any debate about national identity, especially as expressed in Australian literature, painting, popular music, films and foods. The bush was something that was uniquely Australian and very different to the European landscapes familiar to many new immigrants. The bush was revered as a source of national ideals by the likes of Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson. Romanticising the bush in this way was a big step forward for Australians in steps taken towards self-identity. The legacy is a folklore rich in the spirit of the bush.

The beauty of the bush is breathtaking, but so is its terror during conditions caused by natural disasters like bushfires, cyclones or floods. While considering the bushfires that are now causing a great deal of destruction in many parts of our country, it is important to put these natural phenomena in context and understand that the beauty of the Australian bush could not be had without paying the price exacted by the wild fires...

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme.