The answer is the world's largest gold nugget, which was given the name Welcome Stranger by its two finders. Different weights have been given for the nugget, depending on what stage in the trimming process the weight was taken. The actual amount of gold that was smelted from it was 71 kilos. Five gold stars for Janie, Libby, Annette, Cyn, Plantlady, and, of course, the mathematically adept Stagerat. Nell and Ana - I'm not sure what your final answers might have been. Stagerat - Remember, that I said the value was over two million bucks, so I'm covered and don't have to adjust my price. Hah! :-) I did fiddle with the size of the nugget, so the density calculation would come out close to the right number for gold. The actual nugget was a bit bigger than a milk jug, I think, although it's hard to tell because of its irregular shape. ThinMan

I currently have 3 grown from seed that I've had in for about 10 years. They took a few years to flower but once they did they developed multiple heads and while they still look ok, they aren't as attractive as when they had just a single head. Flower/seed spikes go up each year and are very bird attractive, when the spike falls or you cut it down, if you leave it on the ground to rot down seedlings spring up. The thing with grass trees is they like a fire through them every few years or if you can't provide that a good cut back will benefit - you may have noticed that after a bush-fire grass trees are the first plants to regenerate. I've managed to transplant them ok by restricting root disturbance as much as possible, however, they generally don't like being disturbed and can take up to 2 years to die as a result.

In spite of the size of this continent, Aussies have a great sense of closeness as people, called "Mateship" and will do all they can to help the victims. No one can give them back what they have lost but they will get a lot of support to put their lives back on track. Money and goods are being donated. Every shopping centre has a Red Cross collection tin. Fundraising is being conducted by everyone from school children to telethons and sporting events, auctions etc. Animal rescue groups are in the ruins seeking to save and treat domestic and wild animals and link lost pets with their owners. Blood donors are registering in droves to help the needs of burns sufferers. So many good and hardworking people doing what they can.

Thanks Inga, nice to see a response! Hope you're managing ok in the Canadian winter; lovely summer here so far, with a nice, regular, touch of rain just to keep the annuals in the garden beds colourful and the lawns nice and green. Busy though, I'm getting out the ride-on mower weekly now and the weeds in the garden beds are a bit of a struggle to keep under control. Have a good Christmas, Inga, and all the best for the coming (2016) New Year.