16th to 17th April - Canberra

Back at Jindabyne, a monument dedicted to Scientist and Explorer, Strzelecki - from 1839 to 1843 he explored and surveyed vast areas of NSW, Victoria and Tassie.  He was one of the first scientists in Australia to undertake investigations in many fields including geology, minerology, meteorology and zoology.           The original township was flooded when the dam was built.

At 991 metres above sea level, Jindabyne  lies below the permanent snowline making it ideal accommodation spot for those not wanting to camp in the snowfields.   We had a walk out along the wall of Jindabyne Dam.  This is one of the many dams built for the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric scheme.  100,000 people including migrants from more than 30 countries were involved in the building of this complex dual purpose scheme, incorporating 16 major dams, 7 power stations and one pumping station.

 145 kms of tunnels and 80 kms of aqueducts were built to carry water to the storage systems.

We found our way into Canberra and booked in to EPIC (Exhibition Park In Canberra).  We were a little concerned when we drove in to find a sea of tents and hundreds of young girls running around.  It was a girl guides gymkana but it wasn't a problem as there was camping facilities for us oldies on the other side of the grounds.   They held trots on Monday night right next door to the camp ground.  It is a safe, economical and close to the city and surrounds.  Surprised to see a lot of campers there also.

Now, we are here to see the National War Memorial and museum.   Above the view from out front, looking straight down the barrel to Parliament House on the other side of the Lake Burley Griffith.   If there is one museum in Australia that we say is a must do, this has got to be it.     It is a huge complex and a very comprehensive display, record and commemorates the service and sacrifice of all Australian men and women in wartime.

We took a free guided "highlights" tour of the complex, starting at the Roll of Honour boards set on each side of the pathway (above) leading to the eternal flame and up the stairs to the tomb of the unknown soldier.    When the ceremony was performed for the laying of his remains a lady attending placed a red poppy beside a name of significance to her in the roll of honour.  The boards are a sea of red poppys today.  Approx one third of the names stated on the roll of honour are in unmarked graves or remain missing overseas.

The tomb building is amazing, the walls and dome are laid with hundred of thousands mosaic tiles. The 4 murals adorning the walls (all laid with mosaics) and the 3 stained glass arched windows all have a story and meaning to life in and out of the armed services.   

Stained Glass windows beautiful....

Menin Gate Lions

These lions greet visitors to the Aust War Memorial, they once stood on either side on the Menin Gate in the walls of the town in Ypress, Belgium.  Ypress was destroyed and these Lions were recovered from the ruins.  In 1936 the Burgomaster of Ypress presented the lions to the Aust Gov as a gesture of friendship.  They commemorate the service of the Australian soldiers who helped to defend Ypress in 1917.   Many thousands of Australian soldiers where killed in the conflict in and around Ypress, some 6000 of which remain in unmarked graves there. 

Andrew our guide was very informative and shared quite a number of war stories with us.  One of a 14 yr old boy forged his age and enrolled when his older brother enrolled for WWI.   Their father then 54 forged his age to join, at 54 too old, so he could look after his boys.   The older boy was killed, the father then contacted authorities to tell him he was overage and his son was underage, the were returned to Australia immediately.   Later the young son, forged his age once again as he felt so compelled to return to the front line.  Surname Johnson and he did return home after the war.

Above is a Hawker Sea Fury Fighter bomber, was one of the last propellor-driven naval aircraft to see action.  Australians flew these heavily armed aircraft in Korea, attacking shipping and ground targets.    For many years there was little change to the diggers uniforms or weaponry, the one shown here is more of a modern day uniform. 

Throughout the Museum are life size exhibits with video simulations, this one is of time spent in Vietnam.    This complex is also the premier archive and centre for research into the history of Australian involvement in war.   In pride of place in the foyer is one of the original boats to land at Gallipoli in 1915, in as original condition bullet holes and all, rusted bottom.  Every war that Australians have ever fought in is commemorated here in one form or another and also peace keeping operations.

The grounds outside the complex dotted with wartime relics and memorial statues and gardens.   This is a Centurion Tank No. 169056.   In early 1968 Centurion tanks supported by bridgelayers, dozers and recovery vehicles were deployed to South Vietnam in support of the 1st Australian Taskforce.  Although many doubted the ability for these vehicles to operate in the jungles and paddy fields of Vietnam, the tanks and crews performed extremely well.

HMAS Brisbane gun mount and bridge.   This guided missile destroyer was built in the USA for the Royal Australian Navy in the 1960's.  This vessel saw service in Vietnam and the Gulf wars.  After decades of service the vessel was decommissioned in 2001.  In 2005 it was sunk off the Queensland coast and is now a dive site.

We spent quite a few hours here, the free guided tour was worth doing, then we spent some time wandering back through.    Too much to see in one day really.    We went for a drive by Parliament House, the grounds were of course dotted with security guards.   I wouldn't have minded going round again, but we didn't want to attract attention, it probably looked a bit weird anyway, an old blue ute with an old blue bike in the back doing laps around the house...... From there we went for a drive up to Black Mountain Tower to get some views of the city.   Well it also goes by the name of Telstra Tower.  

Yep you guessed it, the weather is looking a bit dodgy.   We actually watched a shower move over the landscape up here.   It was extremely windy and cold on the outside of the lookout, 870 metres above sea level.

It was quite picturesque despite the weather.  A patchwork of colour....Above looking over to the big house again with Lake Burley Griffith in foreground.     Could've spent a couple more days here to explore, but we are heading off tomorrow.