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KangGURU Magazine for December 2004
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The December 2004 KGRE magazine is now available. KGRE-ites registered
on the KGRE database will receive their personal copies soon. If
you are not on the KGRE database then just write to KGRE, or send
an email, requesting
the magazine. Include about 70 words of information about yourself
and do not forget to include your full name and address.
| In this new edition of the KGRE magazine you can
read all about Kapt. Kang Guru's trip 'down-under' plus all
the latest news from AusAID. There is something for everyone
including KGRE's latest competitions and updates on KGRE activities
around the country. |
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Hi
to everyone from Kevin,
Manager of KGRE in Indonesia
Welcome to this December 2004 magazine from KGRE. Ogi, Darmika,
Alwi, and I are sure that you will enjoy reading the information
in this edition and, as usual, we welcome any comments you may have.
Please keep sending us your ideas and suggestions. We do read every
letter we receive and we do appreciate all of your writing efforts.
In this magazine I tell you about one of Australia
's most popular recreational activities - camping. Read all the
news about my holiday in Australia earlier this year. It was a fantastic
trip through the Aussie outback. Learn a little more about the Aussie
outback, the sights, the happenings and places of interest all the
way from Melbourne to Darwin.
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Competition Winners from the
August 2004 magazine
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There is great news from Australia ! AusAID is planning to increase their
support for KGRE over the next 5 years. This means exciting developments
for both KGRE and for you. For example, beginning in 2005, magazines will
be bigger and better. Check page 10 for more details on this. Read further
details about the other planned changes and additions for KGRE. As far
as AusAID projects are concerned, you can find out more about their work
in NTT, Java and Sumatra . It is important to understand that AusAID's
work in Indonesia is always carried out with the full support of the Indonesian
government and local Indonesian partners.
Other regular features are back such as Different Pond Different
Fish, Idioms Inggris, Learning Tips, Indonesian and Australian
Music plus a big favourite, Listeners' Letters .
As I said earlier, we all hope you like this magazine and
we wish you Happy Reading and Happy Studying.
Listeners'
Letters
A Loyal Listener to KGRE
How do you do? My name is Sukar and I am 17 years old and a student of
senior high school. I have been your listener since I was in junior high
school. I am interested in you because you have made such efforts which
can make my English better, especially my listening skills. By listening
to you every Sunday on RRI Surabaya I can hear directly how native speakers
of English speak their language. Of course there are many other ways to
know how to speak English such as watching television, listening to music
in English etc. but they are rather difficult for me who has just begun
studying English. By listening to you regularly I can improve my ability
in speaking English step by step. And now I am rather confident to write
a letter in English. It is the first time for me. What do you think about
it? I hope you can help me to correct it, especially the grammar. Besides
that I would like to know how to get a scholarship to study in Australia
. Do you have any information about it?
M. Sukar from Tuban - EAST JAVA
KGRE: We are so happy that you listen
so often to KGRE and that we are helping you with your English. It is
our pleasure. At the moment Australian government scholarships (ADS) are
for post-graduate studies and not for high school students. If you would
like to get a scholarship in the future then make sure that you prepare
yourself NOW! Contact KGRE for more information about ADS.
Using KGRE material
I would like to say thank you very much since your KG Reading
Class Set has helped us a lot in our teaching-learning process. Due to
the new 2004 English Curriculum, English teachers in Pasuruan Regency
are going to compose an English Module. But the problem is we lack listening
materials. Fortunately some of your articles suit the topics from our
curriculum. Is it alright if we include your articles in our module and
to be used throughout the Regency? Of course we will state that it is
taken from Kang Guru Radio English because we will rewrite your articles
and modify some of the activities to meet the needs of the students in
our module. Thank you very much and I'm looking forward to your reply.
Evin Nurmaida from SMK Negeri 1 Purwosari - EAST JAVA
KGRE: KGRE would be very happy if you
would like to use some of our materials in your modules. If possible,
send some examples of your activites to KGRE as they will be interesting
to look at. Good luck with the new curriculum too and thanks for your
interest in KGRE.
English at University
I would like to say thanks very much to you for this chance to
send you this email. I'm Rudianto Sitanggang from Samosir in North Sumatra
. In fact I have read your magazine twice. The first time when I found
your magazine was in my dormitory in Balige. I was so happy at that time
because I could read an English magazine. And the second time after I
had sent you a letter and then you gave me a Kang Guru magazine in December
2002. Thanks. I realised that I must improve my English. So through your
magazine I can study more about my vocabulary, my knowledge about Australia
and Indonesia . Now I'm studying at ITB Bandung. Sometimes I feel it is
more difficult because most of our text books are written in English.
So I hope you can help me to improve my English to face the globalism
era. We must remember our motto 'Good Neighbours Make Good Friends'.
Rudianto Sitanggang from Samosir Island - NORTH SUMATRA
KGRE: Thanks for the letter Rudi. However
it appears you do not get the KGRE magazines regularly. The last one was
in 2002, right? Reconfirm your full name and postal address with us as
soon as you can. Then you will receive our magazines regularly.
Australia & Indonesia
When I was reading an English magazine I found your advertisement
there. Therefore I would like to introduce myself. I am a boy and I live
in Situbondo, East Java . My hobbies are reading, watching TV and, of
course, football. By the way this is my first letter in English and my
English is bad. So if I make mistakes please don't be angry. My opinion
about Australia is limited. Perhaps all I ever heard were heated stories
about political relationship. Actually I don't enjoy politics. To me things
like education and culture are more important. Unfortunately getting correct
information about Australia is not easy. But I hope KGRE can help me to
get the correct information about Australia . Thanks for your kind help
and see you next time and I will always wait for your magazines.
Muhtadi from Situbondo - EAST JAVA
KGRE: We also hope that we can give
you lots of good information about Australia
and also about Indonesia . Is there any sort of information that you are
really interested in? Let us know, okay?
Happy with KGRE
Several months ago I made the acquaintance of Mr. Warren. He
was a Travel and Tourism Adviser in Makassar with AusAID. Before leaving
for Australia he sent me a Kang Guru Radio English magazine. It was the
first time I knew about KGRE. I felt so happy reading the magazine. It
was not long after reading the KGRE magazine I visited the school where
I used to teach. I met the Principal and told him about KGRE. He was very
interested and asked me to contact KGRE soon. At the very time I sent
an email to Kang Guru and we received an answer in a few minutes. It was
just a few days later our school (SMK AMSIR 1 Parepare) received a parcel
post from KGRE. It contained some KGRE magazines, audio cassettes and
reading materials. We are very happy with Kang Guru. Our school is also
the only one using Kang Guru in the Classroom among all schools in our
town. Kang Guru has been providing great aids, particularly in the field
of education. Thanks Kang Guru I don't know how to return your kindness.
Hamka HS from Kab. Barru - SOUTH SULAWESI
KGRE: If you find the material interesting
and helpful, and if you learn more about Australia
and Indonesia working together, we are very pleased. Writing a letter
like this one is a great way to show your appreciation. Happy teaching
in the future.
KGRE goes to Sumatra
I thought you didn't send me the magazine. But what a surprise!
It finally arrived and made my day. For your information I'm a teacher
in SMP 1 Panyabungan and I'm also a lecturer. Even though I graduated
from the English Department at the North Sumatra University , I think
my English is not good yet. Would you like to give me any suggestions
to improve my English? What kind of books should I read? It seems that
all KGRE activities are only held in Sulawesi and Java. It is never held
in Sumatra . And the last, I'm very interested in your KGRE Teacher Workshops.
How can I attend them and how can I get the 2004 Revised Teacher Package? I cannot see your website because
there is no internet line in my town.
Mislan Hsb, SS from SLTPN 1 Panyabungan, Mandailing - Natal - NORTH SUMATRA
KGRE: I can tell you that AusAID does
work in Sumatra
- see page 7. I will be presenting KGRE Teacher Workshops in Sibolga, for example, in January 2005. To order the Teacher
Package please send Rp75,000 (POS WESEL ) to KGRE. We hope that we hear
from you again soon and maybe see you in Sumatra some time soon.
Idioms
Inggris
How about some special terminology that can be used in Australia
when you are on a camping holiday? Here are some that Deli, Ron
and I used frequently while on our outback adventure.
The first one is not a happy
camper . If we meet someone and they are unhappy
about something, or something is upsetting them, then we can say
they are not a happy camper . This idiom can be used in other contexts as well,
not just camping contexts.
"Ron had a lot of trouble with his feet. They were sore
from all the walking around Uluru. His shoes were not good quality
and they made his feet hurt even more. On some days he was not
a happy camper . Nevertheless he did manage to shout
'YIPPEE' every so often just to cheer himself up".
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In Australia the words Top End refer to a special part of the country. If you want
to talk about the most northern 25% or so of Australia , especially
the Northern Territory , then you can call it the Top
End.
"We had a simply marvelous holiday in July and August
2004. We went to the Top End of Australia to places such as Darwin, , Kakadu and Cape York .
It was hot and really tropical but so wonderful that I must go back
someday soon". |
Kevin left Ron and Deli in Darwin and returned to Bali . Deli and Ron
then continued their journey eastwards to Cape York and finally back to
Melbourne .
The Red Centre is another expression often used to describe a certain part of Australia
. If you visit the Red Centre, as
did the ADS students on page 5, you will see places such as Uluru, the
Olgas and lots of red dust.
"Uluru and the Olgas were so fantastic that I could hardly believe
my own eyes. They were huge and red and spectacular. I loved the Red
Centre and I will always remember it for as long as I
live. I am so glad we made the long trip on the Ghan to see it". (Nia, an ADS student in Australia )
not a happy camper - orang yang merasa tidak senang, tidak puas atau marah
Red Centre - bagian tengah dari benua Australia
Top End - wilayah
Australia yang berada paling utara
Capt. Kang Guru
in Oz
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Earlier this year I travelled through the great Aussie
outback with two very good friends of mine. Their names are Deli and
Ron and they are from Melbourne . We had been talking and dreaming
about this outback adventure for many years. During July and August
we finally made our dream come true. Our route took us from Melbourne
through south-west New South Wales then northward to Alice Springs
and Darwin in the Northern Territory (NT). Before we arrived in Darwin
we had a brief four day visit to the very northern part of Western
Australia . The car journey took seven weeks and we visited 5 Australian
states and territories. However we never stayed in a hotel or losmen or even with friends. I know what you are wondering now. Where
did you stay? Where did you sleep every night if you didn't stay in
hotels or with friends? |
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We drove a Toyota Land Cruiser 4-wheel drive vehicle.
We towed a small trailer behind us. But it was not just a simple trailer.
It was in fact a 'home on wheels'. Our fold up/down trailer gave us
our sleeping accommodation. The little trailer also carried some of
our equipment and supplies, including cooking facilities, chairs,
water, a small table and gas bottles. In the Land Cruiser we carried
food and our personal items. We even had a small refrigerator in the
back of the Toyota. |
Our trailer was about 3 meters long and as wide as the Land Cruiser.
It had two wheels. Each afternoon when we arrived at a campsite or caravan
park we unfolded the trailer and it became a large tent. It then became
our 'home' for the night. We slept inside the tent. There was plenty of
room for the three of us. The tent was made of canvas. If it rained then
we were okay - dry and comfortable. It only took 10 minutes to unfold
the tent - it was easy and fun to do.
Bush Camping
One of the great highlights of our trip was
camping 'in the middle of nowhere'. In these wonderful places we didn't
have electricity and showers for example. This was when we had the
most fun. Collecting wood to light our fire was always fun. We used
the fire to cook our food. Another fantastic aspect of these places
was that they were always quiet and natural. Animals would often come
close the trailer during the night and we could hear them. One night
we shone our torch through the window of the trailer and we could
see them - possums, kangaroos and lizards. |
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Off The Road Highlights
'Out back of Bourke' we came across many things that city drivers
would never see. One of the most exciting was the creek or river
crossing. On several occasions we were driving along dusty and rugged
roads when the road 'disappeared' and went right through a river.
No bridge! We had to do the same - drive straight through the river.
Lucky we had a 4-wheel drive.
Other 'problems' included animals such as kangaroos, large
lizards and emus. These animals are never seen on the roads and
streets of cities and towns but in the outback they are everywhere.
Dust was a major difficulty as well. The dust on out-back roads
is very fine and there is plenty of it. The dust particles are so
tiny that they get into everything and especially into our trailer. |
| Camping is very popular in Australia . It is a very
special type of Aussie holiday in the countryside away from the towns
and cities. Campers take their accommodation, equipment, food and
other supplies with them. This means the people also take a place
to sleep in. It maybe a campervan, a tent, a caravan, a pop up trailer
or even a swag. Sometimes people just sleep under trees, especially
if it is warm enough and if there is no rain about. They cook their
food on an open fire or on a small type of portable stove. A portable
stove is like a kompor in Indonesia . Campers also take
chairs to sit on and a small table. All of this equipment is carried
in their cars or trailers or caravans. |
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Sometimes people camp in special places called caravan parks and camping
grounds. These caravan parks or camping grounds can have just a few people
in them or maybe hundreds of happy campers. Sometimes they have toilets
and showers for campers to use. For example, the Heavitree Caravan Park
in Alice Springs is quite large with around 100 campsites for caravans
and tents. There are toilets, showers and washing facilities. All the
showers have hot and cold water. There were also mirrors and wash basins.
Nearby there was a free laundry with washing machines. Only people booked
into the caravan park could use these facilities. Like most other campsites,
our campsite had electricity. So although we were camping we could still
have electric lights and use our electrical appliances.
PLACES of Interest in the Aussie
Outback
| The state of Victoria became a
wealthy part of Australia back in the 1850s. Gold was discovered and
thousands of people flocked to Victoria to look for more gold. Many
of them found gold but even more did not! Visitors can still see many
of the historical buildings from that 'goldrush' era in many of the
small towns near Ballarat and Bendigo in central Victoria . Old buildings
in Australia are seen as important and they are often preserved for
future generations to see. This old building is now a modern bank. |
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Speed is the name of a small town about 300km north-west
of Melbourne . It is in a wheat growing area of Victoria called the
Mallee. As drivers approach the town they are greeted with this rather
odd sign. SPEED - Please Slow Down. Can you also see the speed restriction
sign (80km per hour) in the background plus the huge wheat silo beside
the road? |
In New South Wales buildings from a bygone era
can still be seen. This solitary church (left) is in Silverton, about
100km north of Broken Hill. I wonder if it looked like this 150 years
ago? And what about this old farm house complete with a windmill in the
back garden? Isn't it fantastic? Windmills are used for pumping water
out of the ground and are almost synonymous with country Australia . The Silverton
Hotel is also a well-known feature of this outback area.
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Caravan parks are usually above ground. People love
to camp under the trees and enjoy the clear night skies as they sit
around the campfire. However in Coober Pedy there is an underground
caravan park. We could hardly believe our eyes when we saw the sign
on the roadside. It was true. At this very unusual caravan park, campers
set up their tents underground. Coober Pedy is very cold in the winter
months and very, very hot in the summer months. Temperatures in excess
of 40 degrees Celsius are not unusual and sometimes for weeks
and weeks on end . Besides camping underground at Riba's
Caravan Park, proprietors Rick and Barbara, provide underground
tours of their opal mine and explain all about mining for opals. It
was a great place to stay and so very, very different. They even showed
us their new house - their underground house! |
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While driving on long, Australian
country roads, buildings seem to just appear out of nowhere. It may
be a service station like in this photograph, or perhaps a pub. This
is quite common and is often a welcome sight on a long and straight
desert highway. They sell petrol of course but also snacks, souvenirs
and items of clothing. It may be 250km or more before the next service
station so travellers usually stop and rest, and stock up while they
can. |
Rockets in the outback? Yes there are! The town of Woomera in South Australia was a rocket launching site in
the 1950s and 1960s. The Australian and British governments tested
rockets from Woomera. Some were successful and went into outer space
and some just crashed into the great Aussie outback. Here are two
of those rockets that didn't go too far. It can be seen on the roadside
at William Creek .
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Australian Development
Scholarships (ADS)
in the Outback
Thousands of Indonesian students are hard at work in Australia right now.
Over 600 of those students are AusAID supported Australian Development
Scholarship (ADS) students. Besides studying in Australia they also enjoy
local culture and lifestyle. Many of them make good use of their holidays
from their courses to visit different parts of Australia. While visiting
the Olgas near Uluru in the Northern Territory, Kevin's friend Deli, overheard
some students speaking in Bahasa Indonesia. Deli started to chat with
them and so did Kevin. They turned out to be ADS students on a brief break
from their studies. As Kevin says, "What a big surprise to bump
into them way out there in the outback."
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