Family Reunion in Australia - Day 18

Money, Money, Money - The Royal Australian Mint

Sunday, 6 November 2016

Woke up early and enjoyed a family breakfast with the family. Nate and Tim went off to play cricket while we three ladies  chatted on for hours getting to know one another.

Later in the afternoon, we drove to visit the Royal Australian Mint. I found it fascinating with their history on moving from the English pounds system to the Australian dollar/cents decimal system in 1966.  They started with 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, 1 dollar and 2 dollars coins. They eventually disbanded the one, two and five cent coins. Here you see 5 cent coins that were collected and displayed in this staircase. One and two cent coins are no longer being pressed.

The history museum is built right above the coinage factory where the coins are pressed and inspected.

As we were visiting during the weekend, there was no action down below where the coins are processed into their final glory. Here are my photos of the pressing machines along with "Titan," the huge robot used to lift a heavy container of blanks into the presses.

I purchased this postcard and a memorial one dollar 2016 uncirculated coin watching it being pressed, processed and placed in a protective card. I also bought a Tracy a memorial coin for her (the year she was born).

 

Australian bills are printed in a different location in Melbourne.

One aspect I truly appreciated was the color and size differences of the coins along with the bank notes or bills to quickly see their value difference. I wish the United States would turn to this color system for our bills. 

Also, my cousin, Michelle, pointed out the new $5 bill with the new “window image” and braille mark (which two of these bills crossed my hands during my visit and, yes, I spent them).

Braille mark circled in red. See also other mark on top of the note.

Enjoy this short video on the preparation for the change of the Australian money system. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oTDRjyti1s

We left the mint at closing time. Tracy drove us around the historical political section of town surrounding the Old and New Parliament Houses. We were hunting down the Prime Ministers Lodge, but ended up lost in the Embassy Houses sections of the city. It was fascinating to see all of the different countries represented here in the capital Canberra. We finally found the Prime Ministers Lodge. We were happy and drove home.

Tim and Nate were home, Tim cooking our dinner and Nate sharing his cricket awards. We were so proud of Nate.

Tim had a delicious chicken, carrots, peas and potatoes in the oven. The dish smelled so good!

After dinner, at the table, we sat and watched the national cricket games on the tellie as they tried to explain the rules of the game to Eileen and me.

Their family pets were two dogs and a cat, Felix. Earlier in the week, Felix was not well and was diagnosed with cancer. Almost 15 year old Felix had been shaved for tests. 

Sad to report that dear Felix died a month after we returned home to the U.S. 😢

I love this photo that Tracy took for me of Felix lying on the quilt I made for her son, Nate, a few years ago. Nate and his father, Tim, share the hobby of astronomy. 

I also made arrangements online for a room in Melbourne, our last stop in Australia.   

Family Reunion in Australia - Day 17

 Saturday, 5 November 2016

 After breakfast, Eileen and I connected with cousin Tracy who lived in Canberra. Tracy along with her son, Nate, picked us up in front of the hotel.

We drove up to the Telstra Tower on Black Mountain, the highest point, for a great view of the capital city. 

We even went to the uppermost outer balcony where we were almost blown away! Beautiful views! 

My brother called from home in the U.S. to wish me a H.B. via FaceTime. Glad to fill in family about the wonderful time I was experiencing down under. 

We came home for a lunch of sandwiches. 

We were out again to see more of the city parks and lakes.

 We drove about the Red Hill Nature Reserve up to the Red Hill Lookout. More great views of the area.

We went out to Tuggeranong Town Park next to the lovely Lake Tuggeranong. Here is some of the action and nature we came across.

Looks like someone was having a party/game with

these giant body bumper balls. How fun!

I loved the area with the trees in blossom. We came home for take away Chinese dinner. Tracy and I are Jane Austen fans. We watched Emma and then Sense and Sensibility back to back.