About us

About Us! About Us! About Us!

How I got here! No not from Dad outa Mum, but how I got to the WWW.

My name is Jacqueline and I have a son called Jack - hence Jack's outback. I also have a daughter who is a little miffed this isn't called Hannah's outback, but I've told her she has editing rights to the Kids page.

Anyway I have heard tell that just about anyone can make a website and get Google to put adds on it and it will pay for itself.

Being a GEN Xer (generation X) I am skeptical to say the least. How can a 40 something with kids who knows nothing about URL, HTML etc design and make a working webpage?

Having a background in technical science - (I once was a Laboratory tech at Penfolds and Saltram Wines) I decided to put the theory to the 'litmus test', and give it a go!

Was I successful - you be the judge!

Why Outback Jack? Well the name should be obvious to all who read the first column, but why the outback? By the way the dog on the home page is named Jack too (he's from Pernatty)

I live in the outback and I love the outback. It is a special place that builds special people. They are a mixed bag up here, "like a box of chocolates, you never know which one you're gonna get". It is almost like the harsh varying conditions of drought and flood makes for some "real unusual weathering" or perhaps it's just that we grow in more isolation up here and that lets us develope some more "interesting" shapes like crystals forming quietly in a "vug" or geode!

(Outback Kids) (Outback Kitchen) (Photogallery) (Outback Stories) (Things to do_see) (Soups and Starters) (Soapbox) (Food from the Land) (Kids Colour in) (Maincourse) (Don't give up) (Home)
(Outback Colours Art Gallery) (Listening Prayer) (Australian Animals) (Port Augusta)

UPDATE - The Web Project so far - Dec 2 2009

I have now got the Kingoonya and Areas Progress Assoc website up and running. People in outback areas liked it so much that I have now been asked to make a website for Andamooka Progress and Opal Miners Assoc.I am actually getting paid to do this, yay. This is a new challenge as they decided to join AuCD which uses "site in a box" - a user friendly content management system aimed at people who really have no experience in web design. Which is great in some ways but also very limiting. For example you cannot use java script so there goes google adds.

Kingoonya went with Webcity and I tried to use Cool Page software again however Webcity no longer accepts the format. So we went with Hosts site creation software, mainly because if I get too busy we need an easy system for someone without experience to be able to take over. However as I am an actual member of this assoc, I may just re-invent the website next year using Adobe software (when I can afford to buy it) Especially since you cant put in html code and there again goes Google Adds.

I still find Blue Voda the best system it is sooo flexible and uses WYSIWYG, you can do just about anything with their site creation software. The only reason the community groups did not go with them is that it is an American company and we wish to support Australian Companies where possible. I wish someone in Australia would step up to the plate and equal BV

Have discovered a new passion - pxlshots.com a photographic competition site that is free, lots of fun and a great place to improve one's photographic skills, I also now have a page on Redbubble, which is a great place to show of your pictures and art with the chance of maybe selling something too. If you like photography I suggest you try them out.

I will make over 40, 000 unique visitors this year on this website, and I finally qualified for my first cheque from Google Adds for $158. This took nearly 2 years to attain maybe I need to refine my advertising ideas.
About adds, I have never made money from affiliate advertising and wonder if anyone has would be great to hear from you guys on this.

I have discovered another purpose for this site, recipe minder. Now when I loose my recipe (which I do often, ask my mum) I just tell the kids to get on our site and read me the ingredients.

All about me!

I am a passionate person. Passionate about God and about my country. My passions lead me on a "life-long" learning adventure. Just about everything arouses my curiosity and sends me on a hunt for knowledge. (except proper spelling, on that I am a little lazy)

Being a "teacher" at heart I love to share what I learn. Sometimes in too much detail, just ask my friends they often ask for the short answer as they know I love the detail. Many times I get emails from friends asking me to research things for them as they know I'd rather do that than watch telly. The internet has been my friend since it makes research so much faster. However you can't always find what you need on the net.

I love people but I also love quiet times. Quiet times are important because I need to re-energize and to sort and catalogue my thoughts.

God is the main focus of my life. I have had an amazing journey with Jesus these last 20 years. He lead me out of the New Age and Occult into a life full of His presence and power. It has not always been smooth sailing though as I have had a lot of issues that God has and is still dealing with.

I remember once a Pastor telling me that God did not promise to remove troubles from our lives, but He did promise to walk with us through them. This I have found to be true. Whether it has been troubles of my own making (there have been quite a few of them) or troubles brought on by others Jesus has trod every step of the way with me.

My pet likes and passions will be evident as you cruise through my site. You will find that I am not "politically correct" in my thinking. If something offends you feel free to leave it, forget it or even email me about it.

My pet hates well maybe the less said the better. (I don't like housework ironing sucks, but I will sweep up outside anytime)

However there is one thing that really troubles me in this present world of ours and that is the "Prosperity Gospel" and the Emerging 'Contemplative' Church. They bother me because they twist the message of Jesus, trying to make it "more pollitically correct" because they think they can make friends this way. I have seen the "Church Marketing Gurus" make inroads to just about every denomination, trying to sell them the methods to "increase bums on pews".

I always thought that it was God who brought people into the kingdom, not demigraphics, not marketing stats nor the latest in music trends. Yet this is what they seem so pre-occupied with.

To me the Christian life is about dying to self and living in Jesus. We are called to carry our cross and follow Jesus. Jesus never focused on His needs, he just focused on following the Father, speaking the words He heard the Father speak and being obedient to do the things the Father asked Him to do.

It says in Matthew that we are NOT to worry about what we will wear, eat, drink or where we are going to live, because God knows our needs. Instead we are to focus on God's kingdom and the rest just comes. It may not be in the excess the Western Church seems to love, but it will be enough.

To this I can testify, whatever God has called me to do, be it travel overseas, quit my job and go to Bible College, make soup for a sick friend etc - He has always provided the means for me to do it. God never fails.

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The Outback Christians Section is in conjunction with Flinders Christian Fellowship, a house church that meets in an old shop. To find out mare about them, go to the Faith Statement section.

Hubby

Hannah

Jack

By the way have you noticed a distinct lack of photos of me lol, I like being behind the camera, not in front.