MONDAY 23 MARCH     QUEANBEYAN

Another hot day and yet another Total Fire Ban.

We find this a dry heat so, although the sun beats down when we are outside, it is not the humid, oppressive, draining heat. What I do find depressing is the visual dryness and sense that the land and its creatures are suffering.

We drove to S’s to drop off some information John had for her. Left it on the doorstep.

John did more word processing. I began to put our mounting collection of photos into an album, with captions. I wonder how many of these we will fill before we end this trip?

After lunch, went back to the War Memorial, but the Research Area was not open. So we browsed in the WW1 display area and in the bookshop – for a couple of hours. Spent some time in the Commemorative Courtyard, with its Honour Rolls – walls with the names of over 100,000 Australians who died in wars and associated activities.  This really brings home the scale of Australia’s various wartime efforts – and the toll these have taken.

John’s research efforts had brought to light that there had been a history written of the 39th battalion in WW1, so it was off to the National Library to seek a copy. Found it and John spent time skimming it and taking photocopies of some parts – cost $7.

It was about 7pm before we left there!

Drove to S’s to see if she had gotten the material that John had left earlier, but there was no one home. We did a little getting lost, trying to get there around the circles. I was not navigating, as John said he knew where he was going!

Went up Mt Ainsley again, to see the city lights – that was lovely and worth doing. The War Memorial below Mt Ainsley is lit up at night, but not too brightly – it looks excellent, and the panorama of the city spreads away on all sides. One appreciates the extent of the city – and the way the suburbs are interspersed with parks and bushland, when you see the light and dark areas at night.

We did not get back to the park until 8pm.

John phoned K to get the details of the hotel he will be staying in. They were at P’s parents’ place, but he’d left a message for us on the machine.

There had been clouds building through the afternoon and it became somewhat humid. By night, it was just beautifully balmy. There was no rain, though we thought there might be. Maybe it is just a little cooler change?

Very late tea was leftovers from Saturday.

THURSDAY 12 MARCH     QUEANBEYAN

It was a hot day – about 37 degrees.

Pottered about in the morning with various camp chores.

We drove to the War Memorial for a 12.30 appointment to meet a man about John’s father’s diary that he kept whilst at war training “school” for World War 1. S met us there, because John has given it to her. Together they have decided to donate it to the War Memorial archives; they seem interested in it.

We drove then to the DFAT building, across the Lake in Barton, close by the new Parliament House. S showed us over the building, which was only completed in 1993, so it is modern. I thought it was well done and a pleasant place to work. There were lots of excellent Australian works of art on the walls, especially aboriginal art. Saw a bark painting from Ramingining in a meeting room. This is of significance to us because John pioneered an exchange program between his school and the Ramingining community, a few years ago.

We had lunch at the DFAT cafe, with S – great sandwiches, but they cost us $11!

S went back to work and we drove up Mt Ainsley, for a different view of the city – especially the great vista straight across from the War Memorial to Parliament House. There was also an excellent outlook over Canberra Airport – some five planes landed or took off while we were there. Don’t know if that was normal or if we just struck a busy time.

It was notable just how well vegetated the Canberra suburbs are. We know there are well established suburbs on the Capital side of the Lake – but you wouldn’t know it, looking across from Mt Ainsley.

Looking from Mt Ainsley, over the War Memorial, across the Lake to old and new Parliament Houses

From Mt Ainsley, over the town centre, Telstra Tower in distance

Went back to the War Memorial, because John wanted to read microfilm records about the 39th AIF, for 1916 and 1917. We read records of them sailing to England, training at Salisbury Plain and then going into the action around Armentieres. The records were quite hard to read in places. They were the commanding officer’s summary of main events – and handwritten. At the beginning of the action, he lists the day’s dead by name; after a few months he just gives the number killed. A matter-of-fact and rather chilling record of trench warfare.

Drove to S’s to park the car because John wanted to get timetable and fare details from the bus station at Central. It was easier to walk from S’s than try to find a parking place there. In the event, John’s son in law was home and gave us a ride there in his work van. We got the information and then walked back, stopping on the way to buy beer and mints to take to dinner tonight.

John has learned that he can go by bus to Melbourne, and back, for less than $100, but it will mean an overnight stay there. He decides that we will stay here for another two weeks! Then he will go to Melbourne for daughter R’s graduation from Melbourne Uni. Our progress northwards is decidedly slow!

Drove straight to H and C’s place, for 6.15. They are right out the far side of central Canberra from Queanbeyan – as is everywhere we go, it seems. I am getting the hang of navigating the geometrically laid out roads of inner Canberra.

We sat out on a deck – nice and cool on a warm evening. They seemed really pleased to have us visit. C had cooked a lovely Mediterranean style meal – quite healthy and very delicious. I got the recipe for his pineapple salad. Much great conversation – they are very interesting people who have done much world travel. C especially has spent a lot of time in out of the way parts of Asia. He is Buddhist. They will come to us for a return meal on Saturday week.

I drove us back to the van, as John was rather “merry”. I got lost once – despite growing familiarity, it is hard to both drive and navigate Canberra’s roads – especially in the dark.

What a full and varied day it was.