Tuesday, February 27, 2024 – Photo of the Day – Brisbane, Australia

Where in the World Are We?

In Brisbane on the northeast coast of Australia in the South Pacific Ocean

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA
BEAUTIFUL PARKLANDS, BUSTLING LOCAL MARKETS, AND WATERSIDE DISTRICTS

The envied climate makes Brisbane a city of outdoor adventure activity and relaxation where days drift by surfing
rollers or relaxing in the shade of swaying palms.

While Brisbane may play second fiddle to Sydney and Melbourne at times it radiates a creative and contemporary
energy offering visitors a refreshing combination of laidback waterfront luxury and urban sophistication. Sandy
islands nearby provide scenic diving and oceanside relaxation opportunities while the city’s animal sanctuaries offer
opportunities to meet unbearably cute koalas and kangaroos.

Brisbane’s impressive skyline of metallic cylinders rises high above the broad Brisbane River below which curves lazily
through downtown. The rolling waves of the Pacific are close by but there’s something special about relaxing on soft
sand in the very heart of the city on the beautifully executed South Bank Parklands man-made beach. With golden
sand and shallow lagoon waters to cool off in it’s a dreamy spot to lie back with a book amid the landscaped gardens. Nestled in a river meander of its own Brisbane Botanic Park glows with colorful tropical plants and wading ibis birds and is easily walkable from the Parklands.

The South Bank is the cultural hub of the city and houses the celebrated Queensland Gallery of Modern Art – a surreal
and vibrant jaunt through contemporary Australian art. The city’s award-winning restaurants also serve up elite food
matched with generous splashes of wine directly from the nearby Granite Belt’s wine regions.

LONE PINE KOALA SANCTUARY
Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is an 18-hectare (44-acre) koala sanctuary in the Brisbane suburb of Fig Tree Pocket in Queensland, Australia. Discover over 70 species of Australian native animals in a beautiful, natural bush setting at the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary. Embrace the opportunity to cuddle a koala – each day at certain timings you’ll be given the chance to hold one of Australia’s iconic animals.

SIGHTS

  • Brisbane City Botanic Gardens
  • Mount Coot-Tha Summit Lookout
  • Roma Street Parkland
  • South Bank Parklands
  • The Wheel of Brisbane
  • Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park
  • Story Bridge
  • Queen Street Mall

Today’s Excursion – Brisbane Sights & Lone Pine Sanctuary

We toured the river city of Brisbane and met some of Australia’s native animals at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

Brisbane City Tour, Mount Coot-Tha

We had a panoramic drive exploring the city passing Parliament House, the Treasury Building, City Hall, and Old Customs House. We saw the South Bank Parklands and Cultural Centre, which combines the State’s Art Gallery, Performing Arts Complex, Museum, and library in a splendid riverside setting. We stopped at Mt Coot-tha, a favorite lookout point, for panoramic views of the city.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

We visited Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the world’s first and largest koala sanctuary, with over 130 Koalas. We got close to a koala and free-roaming kangaroos and wallabies, all in beautiful, natural settings. We enjoyed having a close encounter with a koala and a koala handler. We also saw other unusual animals such as the platypus, Tasmanian devil, emu, wombat, dingo, and echidna.

TONIGHT’S SHOW WITH PETER COUSENS

SONGS FROM THE MUSICALS AND MORE

Peter Cousens is an award-winning actor and singer, producer, director, and teacher/trainer of actors, singers, and singer-songwriters.

He has worked for most of the major theatre and opera companies in Australia, starring in many plays and musicals including Les Misérables, Aspects of Love, West Side Story, Miss Saigon, Show Boat, Fiddler on the Roof, Chicago, Sweeney Todd, The Convicts Opera (UK Tour), The Hatpin, Company, The Mikado, Macbeth, Hamlet, Measure for Measure, Nicholas Nickleby and as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera in London’s West End.

Peter has recorded 5 solo albums and sings the role of Chris on the International Symphonic Recording of Miss Saigon.

As Artistic Director of the Nation Musical Theatre Company, Kookaburra Peter produced the musicals Company, Little Women, Tell Me On a Sunday, Pippin, and Songs for a New World and a range of cabaret and concerts. In the USA, he
directed the major international feature film Freedom starring Cuba Gooding Jnr. and William Sadler.

Peter is currently Artistic Director, of the Talent Development Project, which facilitates the development of emerging artists’ creative imagination and guides them toward professional careers in music and performance. Peter also teaches at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

He holds a Master of Arts (Creative Writing) CQU, and a Bachelor of Drama (Acting) NIDA is currently studying for a Juris Doctor at Canberra University. Peter is a Patron of Freedom Hub, an Artistic Ambassador for Central Queensland University, and an Australia Day Ambassador.

In 2019 Peter was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to theatre and the community.

Check out today’s Chronicle