For The Love of Travel

Some eclectic activities in Geraldton……

Visited the exhibition at the Geraldton Art Gallery, “Stitched and Bound”, organised by WA Quilters. Nadia Sevic’s “Lucky’, is of a horse chosen to lead the herd because of his qualities of power and intelligence; the colours of his mane flow like the stars in the night sky.

Tracey Barelli’s “Window View” is about looking out of her sewing room window and seeing a mulberry tree being trimmed each within an inch of its life. The tree grows again from the stick it is, to being lush with berries.

Judith Wilton’s “Brush with Technology”, looks at the collision of the simple photograph of bottle brush flowers and the myriad of ways a computer can manipulate images -colours, shapes, patterns etc.

HMAS Sydney 11 memorial @ Mt Scott commemorates the loss of 645 crew in Nov 1941, after a brutal torpedoing and shelling battle with a German raider, HSK Kormoran – a wall of remembrance with photos and names; pool of remembrance dramatically reinforces the concept of ‘going down into the depths’; the waiting woman watches over her loved ones eternally at rest; the dome of souls with seven pillars (representing states and territories), comprising 645 silver doves (birds are symbolic as spirits of the dead, flying free between water and sky). A moving tribute to those lost in war.

Separation Point offers spectacular panoramic views over the multicoloured ocean water – green, turquoise, navy blue, grey, white spume waves….fabulous.

The Big Marble, a.k.a ‘Horizon’, is an unusual sculpture on the Beresford foreshore, a 1.5m sphere of clear acrylic with 1,800 litres of water inside. The light reflection inverts surrounds. A combination of art and physics.

Ilgarijiri (‘things belonging in the sky’) Eggs, cast bronze and ceramic mosaic. “The Emu in the sky is a sign to tell us when its time to go hunting for Emu eggs. The whole community goes out looking. As children, it was always a competition to see who could find the first nest and eggs. Mum always made a cake out of the first egg and others were made into omelettes. The Emu egg is like gold to our people” (Margaret Whitehurst, Wajarri)

The Iris Sundial was developed by Bill Newbold in 2004 and dedicated to his wife. The 2 parts of the sundial are called the Gnomon and the Hour Plate. Basically, the gnomon casts a shadow on the plate and this shadow shows the time. As the sun changes position relative positions in the sky over the day, the position of the shadow cast by the gnomon changes to align with the different times around the outside of the plate.

54 people were quick to sign up for Skeetas Boardwalk Seafood Smorgabord, an event that was part of the Shore Leave Festival. I booked my spot when planning my trip up north. Met some interesting locals and also a delightfully convivial San Franciscan, who had just finished working in Perth and was now on his own journey of travel for a few weeks. A really relaxed and pleasant afternoon enjoying delicious food, wine and people’s company.

Central Greenough (pronounced Gren-eff) Historical Settlement was my first stop. Its on the floodplain of the Greenough River system and close to the mouth of the Greenough River. The area known as Greenough Front Flats was surveyed in 1857 and by the end of the following year, wheat farming began immediately on the fertile river flats mostly without machinery. The agricultural area became a thriving settlement in the 1860’s but the threat of rust on the wheat crops, combined with drought, flood and poor prices for products led to the area’s population declining dramatically in the first half of the 1900’s. (There was also a catastrophic flood in 1888 which led hundreds of people fleeing their homes). The National Trust has acquired, restored and now manages the buildings that provided services to the local population: both Catholic and Anglican churches (Catho’s had much more beautiful leadlight); local store; gaol and police station; school. And a few cute alpacas munching on brekkie as I walked around the settlement.

Drove over Maley’s Bridge, built with convict labour in 1864, with local limestone spanning the Greenough River, was damaged by floods in 2007.

Further down the road, a short walk on the Greenough Nature Trail to the Devlin Pool lookout, revealed a beautiful view. Too windy to put the drone up though and lots of bull ants swarming, so took a quick pic and went back down.

Came across the beautiful ‘Leaning Tree’ on the highway. A WA species of River Gum, its ‘lean’ is caused by constant strong southerly winds that burn off growth on the windward side – a hardy grower, but weak branches. The Wajarri name for these trees is Wirnda Ngadara. I saw a fab photo of this tree taken by WA photographer, Karl Monaghan, featured at the historical settlement and available for sale @$2,000. Here is his, and mine…

First stop, chai tea with soy and a drizzle of honey – ‘Poppies at the Park’ is my fave cafe in Dongara. Great laid back music, customer service and relaxed vibe….and on the Brand Highway to Ellendale, there was a cheery crayfish waving goodbye.

Ellendale Pool is a stunning waterhole naturally formed along the picturesque Greenough River, surrounded by magnificent gum trees and a rocky gorge. Its a popular picnic spot and camping ground.

On the way there, passed by 2 wind farms – Walkaway’s and Alinta Energy’s – so wonderful to see those giants working so effortlessly on the landscape, producing energy for us.

Overnight at the Big4 Port Denison/Dongara Caravan Park. Caught up with some fellow campers at ‘Nibbles @ 4.30’….caravan park put out some appetisers and you brought your drink. Very pleasant couple of hours chin wagging about travel plans, travel achievements, fishing triumphs….etc…etc.