escape2australia

HMAS Sydney II

I've left "Waminda" wildlife sanctuary and am staying at Batavia Caravan Park for a couple of nights.  I came back for a tour of the HMAS Sydney monument which is standing proudly on the hill overlooking Geraldton. 

It's a very sad story when on 19th November 1941 the Sydney went down off the coast near Geraldton, losing the entire crew of 645, including the Captain Joseph Burnett.

I've known Patrick Burnett, the son of Captain Burnett for many years through the Australian Heritage Dancers (which I was in for 10 years and Pat still is, I believe) and he told me the sad story but visiting the memorial has really brought the tragedy to life.  It's a controversial story...for instance why did it take 5 days for a search party to comb the ocean.  Why, when there was an American airbase here, wasn't an aerial search undertaken immediately.  The authorities claim that they didn't know that a battle was taking place (with the German ship The Kormoran), but locals knew about it.

I'm briefly using Geraldton's library this fine Sunday afternoon.  My computer has given up the ghost and am having all my data transferred to a new computer tomorrow after which I'll be able to upload photos.

Geraldton

I've been staying on a wildlife sanctuary, "Waminda", a few kilometres north of Geraldton.  I was met by Ian "on the left, by Red Rooster", last Friday and I followed him back here to the property.

There are lots of pet roos and emus, though emus (with a brain smaller than a budgies) do not make satisfying pets.  I can't imagine training them to do anything bar handfeeding, which they don't mind doing.  There's a mad one, Stella, who does all sorts of unpredictable things, rocking around, laying down suddenly, doing an Emu dance; quite a repertoire.

The kangaroos are mostly hand-reared.  A cute little joey, Marly, lives in the house, in a pouch and only ppops up for her next feed of marsupial milk.  She likes to lick fingers, probably for the salt.  She cranes her neck around the room, seeing what is going on and probably wondering where her next bottle is.

She's adorable.  Ian bounces the bag up and down to remind her that she's a kangaroo and they hop about.  Suzanne, Ian's partner, hand reared Denny, who now lives outside in the paddock. She spends most of her day lazing around in front of the house (Denny, not Suzanne!) waiting for her 'mummy' to make an appearance.  When Suzanne appears, like yesterday, Denny tries to hop and hang onto her jacket. 

Roos take a lot of handrearing and I can see how you can become so attached to them. 

Other animals at "Waminda" are One, she's a Rottweiler, a lovely dog.  There's Kevin (or Kev for short), a young feral dove who likes company and after feeding, will snooze on the back of your hand, only waking now and then to do a few droppings either on your hand or clean trousers!

There are several parrots, budgies, hoppy the one legged chicken, Stevie Wonder, a blind chicken, a retired, blind dingo who only comes out of hiding (in her cage) to prowl around for her next meal, guinea pigs, and many field mice who prefer to live in houses~

 My computer is with a technician, but until I can get a startup password from my son who set up the operating system, for me, and is currently uncontactable in the Snowy Mountains, I'm stuffed. 

Town of Cervantes and "The Pinnacles"

I've stayed the last two nights at the Pinnacles Caravan Park in Cenvantes, a small fishing village close to the Namburg National Park.

"Rising mysteriously from the dune sands are thousands of limestone pillars, a landscape in eerie contrast to the surrounding heath.  Namburg National Park is one of the many protected areas in this world-renowned biodiversity hotspot, where an extraordinary range of wildlife and habitats lie within easy reach of each other."

I went early one morning but missed the sunrise so decided to stay on and be there for sunset.  I took hundreds of photos but as my computer is stuffed, I can't download yet.

I'm currently at Jurien Bay (the next bay up) at the Telecentre where they charge like a wounded bull, so have to be brief.  More later.

New Norcia

New Norcia is a monastic town that was established by Benedictine monks in the mid 1800's.  It also became an orphanage for indigineous children and then a school for young ladies and gentlemen, gaining such a reputation that it eventually had students from as far as Singapore.

I went on a conducted tour led by Manchester born Claire, and it was really interesting.  I had recently seen a documentary on the impact being at the Aboriginal school had on some of its pupils and Claire admitted that its history was a bit chequered.  However, many former students remembered only good times.

I met Manchurian Steve and his daughter Danny at the New Norcia Hotel last night and I bet he would have been tickled pink to have met Claire and talked about their city.  Now living in Broome, Steve and Danny are motorcycling down to Perth. I saw them flying down the road this morning.  I hope the rain holds off.  I hope to catch up with them in Broome if our paths cross at the same time.

After the tour and the rush (out of the pouring rain) to the Museum/Art Gallery to taste the famous New Norcia bread, I wandered around, taking more photos.  Taking refuge in the Abbey from yet another torrential outpouring from the skies, I was lucky enough to sit in on an organ recital, which was beautiful.

Next, I head north to visit the famous "The Pinnacles", cutting across to the Brand Highway.

Photos will come later.

A visit to Somerville eco-village

I travelled east yesterday to Chidlow to visit this proposed eco-village which is a template for the village I am interested in joining at Narara, New South Wales.

They have had years of delays and problems because of the global financial crisis.  Funding was so close but then the bank reneged.

They have blocks for 101 houses which is a third of what is anticipated for Narara, which is a bit of a concern.

I met Neil who took me around the proposed development.  It poured down with rain and proposed resident Simon stopped his 4x4 to let us escape the storm.  Later on I also met Stacey and had interesting conversations with her about different kinds of communities.  She's leaving Somerville to go back and live where I am now, in Toodyay, a nice little town.  She feels that it's her community after all. 

I also met Mary, who lent me her rice cooker so I could cook some dinner. 

There was a wild storm all night and the electricity cut out.  But the sun is shining now, in Toodyay so I had better get out there to enjoy it before it starts raining again.  I'm off to New Norcia, an interesting monastery community up on the Great North Road.  I'm heading north to warmer climes and hopefully less rain.

More farewells

I spent a wonderful week with Uncle Ron north of Perth.  It was just like the old days when he and his wife Wo lived in Sydney and we visited each other regularly.  A favourite occupation was cooking dinner together and we managed to squabble over our recipes just like the old days. 

I have a lovely photo to upload, but its on my computer which refuses to boot up.  Bit of a dilemma. I was so close to buying a Mac at 10% off (unheard of) but Dick Smith stores refused to let me buy it over the phone and the deal finished on Saturday. 

Ron's son, Ronnie and wife Glynis, who now care for him most of the time, came around for breakfast and saw me off the premises.  I'm going to miss my adopted uncle.

Perth

Rosie

It was lovely meeting up with Rosie and her brother Brad.  I stayed at their place for a couple of days and we (Rosie and me) met up for lunch on Friday and enjoyed a meal at a cantina style Japanese restaurant.

Purple Bra Day in Perth for Cancer Research

All too soon it was time to leave in the pouring rain to head up the Mitchell Highway to spend sometime with Uncle Ron (after I was divorced, he still remains my adopted uncle).  He's 86 this year and still very active.  He and his son, also called Ron, wear shorts and short shirts even in winter!  We had a photoshoot the other night, me experimenting with lighting.  I think this has worked out well.

 Uncle Ron

I'm catching up on getting rego updated, my computer fixed as it keeps gettig dizzy and having blackouts.  I'd love to splash out on an Apple, but that tax bill looming thwarts me.

Margaret River

I went through Manjinup yesterday and stayed last night at Nannup.  All the places with "up" mean in Aboriginal language "place". 

Feeling rather weary, so need rejuvinating!  Perhaps Margaret River can do it for me.  My computer won't start, so I'm not able to upload photos, so they will have to wait.

Will start to explore Margaret River.  So many wineries.  So little time.  It looks a very touristy town, even the foodstore IGA offers picnic hampers and other tourist attractions.

I'm heading into Perth tomorrow and catching up with Rosie who lives just out of the city. We worked together at Westfields in London.  For an Aussie company, it was quite dull.  Even at 'Beer O'clock' every Friday, when no expense was spared with Fosters beer and Lindemans wines, everyone took it back to their desks and didn't socialise.  Thank goodness for Rosie (in an adjoining hencoop in the open plan office) - a breath of fresh air. Perhaps we'll have 'Beer O'clock' tomorrow, even though it's Thursday.

Then on to spend some time with my adopted Uncle Ron. 

Shall we dance?

I've travelled from Denmark to Walpole today, not very far, but lots of  diversions on the way.

I'm sitting in my campervan, catching up on my blog, excited about this photo which I took on my way out of Denmark.

More tomorrow when I've had a good sleep. 

Goodbye to "The Wolery"

My Wwoof hosts, The Pippin Family

The downside to all this travelling and meeting new people is that before I know it, it's time to say goodbye, though I'm richer for having known them.  I spent about 5 days at "The Wolery" and then a couple of days at "Living Waters", which is a community in development, a little closer to town.

I met so many lovely people, and here are some more of them. 

Neighbours Cecile and Pete (he's pulling a face cos I'm leaving possibly!)

Neighbour Linda with visitor Linda

Founder member, Ian

I learned a lot about communities during my time and became aware more of the realities.  I am leaning towards living in a much smaller community than that envisaged for the Sydney project, but will try and keep an open mind while I travel around.