In February 2001, the routine of living in Sydney
was enlivened by a visit from Darragh O'Grady, a
friend from scool in Ireland. He has taken a few
months from the high-octane life of commerce in
New York and London to rough it as a backpacker
around Asia, Australia, New Zealand and America.
After a hectic few days in Sydney, he heads off
north on month-long jaunt around the outback, with
a promise of returning to Sydney in March. When he
does return, I gladly take a week off from the rat
race to make a mad dash around some of the
south east of the country with him.
- Mon 12-Mar-2001 : Sydney to Canberra via. Big Merino
-
On a wet and stormy morning, we are glad to be
heading south on the Hume Highway in search of
better weather. On our way south we have the
pleasure of visiting another one of Austrlaia's
"big things". The "Big Merino" in the town of
Gouldburn is a tastefully built concrete
construction on top of a gift shop! It is a temple
to the merits of the double-chinned sheep, whose
wool clothed an empire and has been the foundation
of the rural economy for 200 years.
The Sphinx of sheep country!
We continue southward along the Memorial Highway, to
Canberra, the nation's capital. We take a tour of
the dramatically designed new parliment building.
I have actually seen this before, but it is still
a beautiful building, even if many taxpayers
grumble about the A$800m that it cost to build in
1988. We also pay a visit to the "Telstra Tower"
which dominates the skyline on Black Mountain.
From here we get an unexpected treat of seeing an
air acrobatics display by the Roulottes, which are
the pride and joy of the Austrlaian Air Force.
We dine this evening with Pete and Annie,
recently-married friends of Darragh's from London.
These Aussies have forsaken the hectic life of
London for the quieter life in the hilly Canberra
suburbs. They paint an appealing picture of life
in this small and leafy city compared to the daily
battle with other commuters on the Tube of the
city which many young Australians see as a Mecca
of the northern hemisphere.
- Tue 13-Mar-2001 : Canberra south to
Thredbo in the mountains
-
Darragh heads off early to see the National War
Memorial, Canberra's premier visitor attraction. I
have visited this before, so I go instead to visit
the Old Parliment Building. This fine building was
intended as a temporary
High Court
Thredbo
- Wed 14-Mar-2001 : Snowm Mountains, Mount Kosciusco, Melbourne
-
Climb Mount Kosciusko, Drive Alpine Way, visit Murray 2 Power station, drive past drowned forests of Lake Hume, drive to Melbourne, stay at YWCA, eat at La Porchetta Pizza restaurant.
- Thu 15-Mar-2001 : Sydney to Canberra via. Big Merino
-
Melbourne: Darragh develop expensive digital photos. Visit Rialto Towers, the highest building in Melbourne, with fantastic views. Travel on historic tram. Melbourne Museum. Cabaret show : "Three Weill Men" including funny German verison of "Mack The Knife"
- Fri 16-Mar-2001 : The Great Ocean Road and on to Ballarat
-
Great Ocean Road in the rain. Lunch in Port Campbell, drive to Ballarat, outdoor show: "Blood on the southern Cross" in the pouring rain which recreates the 1854 gold miner rebellion at the Eureka stockade.
- Sat 17-Mar-2001 : Ballarat, Castlemaine, Bendigo, Echuca, Gundagai
-
This is a day with a lot of driving. Ballarat to Bendigo via Castlemaine (which is NOT named afyer Kerry village of same name). Gold panning in Central Deborah mine. Talking Tram tour with the choir of "Sing Australia - Bendigo branch" singing Irish songs in balloon-festooned tram for Saint Patrick's Day. Lunch at Shamrock Hotel. Drive to Echuca where we tour the old port. Drive towards Wodonga, stopping to look at calves and donkeys. Darragh drives late into the night to get to Gundagai where we dine at McDonalds and stay in carpet-walled motel room.
- Sun 18-Mar-2001 : Gundagai to Sydney
-
Look at "Dog on the Tuckerbox" at Gundagai and admire the old Murrimbidgee bridges. Drive to Sydney. Go to Manly to visit Darragh's friend Neil. Back to Abbotsford for oriental dinner purchased by Judy & Sandra.
The Sphinx of sheep country!