Hi Paleoworld-101,
That is so great to hear that you're heading into this wonderful field of Paleontology. The area has been quiet for some years now due to the drop off in opal mining, along with the fact that many fossils get destroyed in the now common opal clay washing process and then usually just discarded. Many of us usually gouge opal using picks and smaller made up tools to avoid and and all breakage -that's how I found my pieces easily, but 99% of miners today use hydraulic digging machines and wash all their dirt in bulk, missing the chance to look carefully. What you don't see here is the myriad of opalised wood and numerous shells that I have gathered also.
Not sure of the bone origin to be honest? Great looking piece though! We have many possible creatures that I could've originated from, perhaps there's even the possibility that it's from a newer species. Definitely a good sized bone. My assortment of vertebrae and bones appear to be around half that size, bar one bone that looks similar (the larger dark reddish bone on the left side, middle photo). Perhaps a fossil book based on specimens from here might lead to a clue? The smaller bones I have might be from a similar animal, but of a younger age. This is where study and knowledge comes in. Have you had it looked at by one of the Professors at the Museum? It may well pay to have it looked at properly.
Just choose wisely as there was an opalised fossil book written locally by Robert Smith and his wife, but it was just written very poorly from the first page on. They even stated that our jawbone was found by another person in town at a field that didn't even exist back then?! It somehow got confused with the Kollikodon ritchiei find 
The pine cones are surprisingly common out here. I've seen many over time. We had some exceptional and quite large examples of those in the Galman Collection, which, if you intend to work there, you'll probably get to study at the Museum!
When you get a start on the degree I'd like to show you a perfect Agatised Vertebrae from Agate Creek in QLD and see what you think. One of the Professors took a look at it years ago but dismissed it a little too quickly for my liking. It's a perfect specimen. There would have to be a seriously old geological age on this thing. I may be able to dig it out and post a photo or two of it.
Definitely keep in touch. If you're ever up this way I can show you my little collection. If I come across another nice pine cone on my fossicking days I will just send it to you. I'll keep an eye out at the Opal & Gem Expo this week and ask a few fossil dealers I know as well.
Kindest regards,
Shauno.
