Page 16 August 1988 Cassiar Courier CELEBRATION OF A cone sonra s NATION the world. About half the population lives underground in homes called “dugouts”. Opals have been the subject of myths and legends and reference to these incredible gems can be traced to the Romans and the year 250 BC. See the underground “factory” where nature has been busy producing the opals over millions of years and perhaps buy a few gems at “factory” prices. There are various modes of transport available for the visitor to explore the remote inland regions of South Australia from light planes, 4-wheel safari vehicles and air-conditioned coaches to camels for the adventurous. WILDLIFE Kangaroo Island is some 70 miles south of Ade- laide. A large island resort with abundant wildlife, good fishing and clean uncrowded beaches. The island is easily accessible from Adelaide on 1-2 day air/coach tours or by ferry. The island boasts a large variety of Aus- tralian wildlife including kangaroos, emus and koalas, all living in their natural habitat. There is also the world’s only permanent colony of sea lions at Seal Bay, and fairy penguins can be observed among the rocks on some beaches. FLINDERS RANGES Just over 400 miles north of Adelaide in the arid interior of South Australia are the rugged, colourful Flinders Ranges. Springtime clothes the hills and valleys with abundant wildflowers. Wilpena Pound, a huge taised natural amphitheatre is a popular resort in the heart of the ranges. Arkaroola, a fauna sanctuary resort in the drier northern region, is a mecca for rockhounds and noted for its spectacular ridge-top tour. FESTIVAL Spend a year in South Australia and you could be forgiven for believing that at the drop of a hat South Australians will stop what they are doing and celebrate something . . . anything. South Australians do like to get together and celebrate and they mount a crowded calendar of festivals, large and small. Some examples include the Barrossa Valley Vintage Festival which is held every two years (uneven numbered years) in April, the Adelaide Festival of Arts (every second year on the even numbered years) and the German festival of Scheutzenfest in Hadndorf. GETTING THERE South Australia is centrally located and daily jet services from all States are available. Major highways converge onto Adelaine from north, south, east and west if you are drivng. _Famous train journeys such as the Indian Pacific, the Trans Australia and the Ghan offer yet another means of access to South Australia. There are also daily coach services from all Australian capital cities. CLIMATE AND CLOTHING Adelaide is warm and temperate with long, hot, dry summers, and short, mild winters. In February, the hottest month, the average maximum temperature is 88 F with a minimum of 62 . July, the coldest month, exper- iences temperature ranges from 60 down to a minimum of 46 F. Australia’s Expo 88 A treasure trove from the Vatican and the Magna Carta will be among important historical pieces show- cased at World Expo 88. Priceless treasures from the Vatican vaults will be given a rare showing at Expo. Some of the artifacts in the $3 million (Aus.) Nation of the See (Vatican City) Pavilion have never been publicly displayed. . The treasures are exclusive to Expo and will be flown straight back to the Vatican when Expo ends. The Magna Carta, signed_in 1215 by King John, | has often been dubbed the cornerstone of civil rights in the western world. The document is part of a his- torical display from Lincoln Cathedral in England. Along . with other related artifacts, it will be in its own special medieval-style pavilion as one of Expo’s corporate ex- hibits. There is no mention of civil rights in the Magna Carta, but it gave every citizen the right to a fair hearing before being imprisoned. At the time, copies of the original documents were made by hand and sent to major population centres. Only four of the originals have survived. WEEKLY THEMES From fire and earth to fashion and -rock’n’roll, weekly themes will give World Expo 88 an everchanging flavour. The themes will help to focus Expo’s massive entertainment programme. Week by week the kaleido- scope of themes - musical, cultural and technological - will set the scene for Expo and community activities. Aug. 1: Music, Music, Music Week Aug. 7: Hand Made Week - manual arts and crafts Aug. 13: Country and Western Week Aug. 20: Get Physical Week Aug. 27: Rock’n’Roll Week Sept. 3: Spring Fashions Week * Sept. 10: Towards 2000 Week - technology Sept. 17: Small Treasures Week Sept. 24: Circus and All That Jazz Week Oct. 3: Young at Heart Week Oct. 8: Health and Fitness Week Oct. 15: International Week Oct. 22: Carnival Week Some themes will be linked to a special event on the national calendar of Expo activities. True Blue Week coincides with Australia Day celebrations and Sport Sciences Week is closely related to the theme of the American pavilion and will be held to coincide with American Independence Day on July 4. Home Grown Week, a chance to highlight local talent and achievements, will be linked to Queensland Day in June. The theme weeks will begin with a week of gala opening celebrations. Y GUIDE TO EXPO HOST CITY Tourism Brisbane has produced two brochures providing an easy reference to World Expo 88’s host city. The “Beautiful Brisbane” brochure tells visitors how to get there, where to stay, who to tour with and:a host of other facts on Brisbane and World Expo 88. The “‘Bris- bane Day Tour Options” brochure puts one and two day Brisbane itineraries into an easy reference guide for the family, history lovers, shoppers and the the young. Copies are available from Tourism Brisbane, GPO Box 1434, Brisbane, patie: Australia. HOLT AGENCIES INSURANCE LTD YOUR LOCAL GENERAL INSURANCE AGENT 164 Elliott Street, Cassiar, B.C. Phone 778-7220 Monday to Friday 9: :30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. «. Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m: - 2:00. p.m. to 5:30 ese | 2:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. MARVEL TRAVEL SERVICE LTD Holland American Line is offering special rates (from $599.00) ‘on Vancouver-Skagway 4-Day Cruises PPO P OOO BOPOOOD Air BC is now available from Fort. St. John to Prince George and Vancouver POCO POOP POCO OOS If you require information on flights from Dease Lake to Smithers and Prince George, we are the agents for Central City Air in Cassiar CONTACT US FOR YOUR TRAVEL INFORMATION 164 Elliott Street Cassiar, B.C. Phone: 778-7220