GrandvEWE cheesery, Tasmania's only sheep cheesery! We met "The Girls" (as the sheep are fondly known), tasted many different cheese and wines while we viewed the whole process of cheese making and maturing. They had an amazing deck, where we got to sit out and enjoy the landscape. Those babies are the sweetest!

This is the Cascade Brewery, established in 1824 by a man called De Graves. It was initially a mill, but they saw more possibilties with beer. Mount Wellington is just off the picture to the left, and that is where they did, and still do today, get the clear spring water. DeGraves actually left London due to the fact that he owed a lot of money, the authorities eventually caught up with him and he served 9 years in jail or as they say here gaol. His buddy meanwhile did all the work setting the factory up and by the time DeGraves was released he was a rich man.

This is a picture of Louisa and William. They took us on an interactive tour of the Cascades Female Factory. In 1828, Tasmania realized that they had far too many males on the island so they set about sending female convicts from London to serve their sentence there. Louisa stole a loaf of bread and was sentenced to 7 years, leaving behind her 3 children (14, 11, 7 - the magistrate thought the 14 year old could care for them). At the prison, people like Louisa were assigned as servants in the community to do the "Women's work" for the men. Then if the men or masters decided to have their way with them and they became pregnant, they were sent back to prison. After having their babies, they were given two weeks to wean them and then were put in solitary confinement as punishment. 3 out of 4 babies died and we were told that 1200 babies were buried there during the run of the prison. This tour definitely made an impact on me.

Thought I would throw these pics on the blog. Caused quite the stir on facebook because I look like two different people apparently! As the aussie saying goes "No Worries", it is nothing permanent, just the magic of a flat iron!

Keeping that Canadian pride alive down under! We're into spring here (sept. 1st) and had a beautiful day of 22 degrees. Walks on the beach happen whenever we are able and we cannot get our fill of the waves. With only 4 months to go, we know that we shall miss the majestic sights and sounds of the ocean. Meanwhile, we are going to enjoy every last minute!!!!