Melbourne. We decided to drive up for a peak at Victoria University. Looking at University buildings doesn't always sound too interesting but these structures have a particular history which makes them very interesting if not somewhat creepy. From 1894-1992 this was the Sunbury Lunatic Asylum especially known for the "the Sunbury Women's Refractory Ward Seven". This ward was for "difficult"women who suffered from such abnormal mental disruptions as post-partum depression and menopause. Women who didn't succumb to the notions of proper society were imprisoned here many times tied to chairs (one patient for over 1000 hours) or kept in what was commonly referred to as a "birdcage"(I can only imagine). Matt used to go play on the trampolines inside the grounds as a boy and said the really worrisome thing is that when the Asylum closed pretty much everyone was just let out to go along the merry way with no treatment. Pretty as the campus is I just don't think I could get a good night sleep in the dorms here.We decided to 
go check out some bridges that had been built back in the mid 1800's by convicts. One was over Jackson's creek and is closed to cars but still used by pedestrians. This was also by Sunbury's first vineyard. In the 1860's Sunbury started to become a pretty prolific wine making community. The depression of the 1890's ruined the winery business here for almost 90 years but I am happy to say this wine region today is growing rapidly. Even though I am a beer girl at heart the wine I have tried from Sunbury ha
s been excellent! The other bridge we went to see that is still used by trains was near Rupertswood Mansion which cricket fan's know is the birthplace of the Ashes. I don't really understand cricket but I know this all has something to do with Australia unexpectedly beating England in 1882. An English reporter claimed that because of the Australian victory the sport of cricket was dead, the body would be cremated and the ashes taken back to Australia. The Clarkes, who owned Rupertswood, made an urn of ashes that sits in Lords today.
go check out some bridges that had been built back in the mid 1800's by convicts. One was over Jackson's creek and is closed to cars but still used by pedestrians. This was also by Sunbury's first vineyard. In the 1860's Sunbury started to become a pretty prolific wine making community. The depression of the 1890's ruined the winery business here for almost 90 years but I am happy to say this wine region today is growing rapidly. Even though I am a beer girl at heart the wine I have tried from Sunbury ha
s been excellent! The other bridge we went to see that is still used by trains was near Rupertswood Mansion which cricket fan's know is the birthplace of the Ashes. I don't really understand cricket but I know this all has something to do with Australia unexpectedly beating England in 1882. An English reporter claimed that because of the Australian victory the sport of cricket was dead, the body would be cremated and the ashes taken back to Australia. The Clarkes, who owned Rupertswood, made an urn of ashes that sits in Lords today.To be 
honest my interest in Rupertswood had very little to do with cricket and lots to do with the duck pond. Cheryl and I were like two kids running off with loafs of bread to feed the ducks. The only problem with feeding the ducks is getting to them. There happens to be a rather large population of geese at Rupertswood. Al warned Cheryl they were less than shy and I should have known better having been attacked by one
on the campus of Furman University as a child. At first there was only one or two geese and lots of ducks. Then they must have gotten some sort of "humans with bread" signal and they all came-a-honking. At first they were cute if not a little forward but then they just got downright aggressive! We were both laughing hysterically because it was funny and because this amount of large honking birds was really intimidating. Then the worst thing happened...we ran out of bread. By now the geese had us pretty well surrounded and backed up against the car. I couldn't stop laughing bu
t Cheryl being the fearless albeit very pregnant lady found it in herself to chase the geese away so we could get back in the car.
honest my interest in Rupertswood had very little to do with cricket and lots to do with the duck pond. Cheryl and I were like two kids running off with loafs of bread to feed the ducks. The only problem with feeding the ducks is getting to them. There happens to be a rather large population of geese at Rupertswood. Al warned Cheryl they were less than shy and I should have known better having been attacked by one
on the campus of Furman University as a child. At first there was only one or two geese and lots of ducks. Then they must have gotten some sort of "humans with bread" signal and they all came-a-honking. At first they were cute if not a little forward but then they just got downright aggressive! We were both laughing hysterically because it was funny and because this amount of large honking birds was really intimidating. Then the worst thing happened...we ran out of bread. By now the geese had us pretty well surrounded and backed up against the car. I couldn't stop laughing bu
t Cheryl being the fearless albeit very pregnant lady found it in herself to chase the geese away so we could get back in the car.We made it safely inside the vehicle but even still some geese were not ready to give up. I couldn't fault this guy for his persistence as he gazed expe
ctantly thru the car window. We went off to check out another park area with a nice lake in it and of course more ducks. This was very pretty and serene but to be honest we missed the excitement of the geese. So, we got more bags of day old bread and went to feed the crazy geese again. Both of us eventually got bit by a goose or one of the larger ducks who wrangled their way into the goose pit but it was still a "honking" good time.
ctantly thru the car window. We went off to check out another park area with a nice lake in it and of course more ducks. This was very pretty and serene but to be honest we missed the excitement of the geese. So, we got more bags of day old bread and went to feed the crazy geese again. Both of us eventually got bit by a goose or one of the larger ducks who wrangled their way into the goose pit but it was still a "honking" good time. 
