As we get older our views in events and history changes, well at least mine have, Anzac day comes and goes and up until about ten years ago, on Anzac day I reflected on the sacrifices that our military personnel made, and those that left families forever; My father served in the middle east as a very young man and made it through to settle in Australia, the conflict was never discussed between us and he really never turned out on Anzac day to my memory. Although he did on occasions share thoughts while watching war documentary’s that were common on early tv, even though the docos then were a bit graphic I have really never thought about how it must have felt to young men, to come from a peaceful land like ours and be taught to kill another human and to carry that out, and live with it mostly in silence.
On Anzac day I will be thinking about peace, and families, how mothers, fathers siblings from all around the globe are feeling about lost ones in war and the ones that have come home and have difficulty coming to grips with their experiences and, are lost. Wars are currently being fought in many parts of this earth, in all cases families are grieving at loosing loved ones, in so many places the war is generating more hatred such a sad cycle, the greed and need for control of others regardless of human life or suffering is almost without exception the cause.
Its unusual for me to put thoughts like this in print, so what started this, as my friends know I am an amateur photographer, and last week I saw three things that made me think about the misery that war brings, first I was photographing the entrance to a park in Lake Caregillo NSW and the entrance led to the local cenotaph, and It struct me as being so serine, and Anzac day there would be special, the other was while photographing in Hilston NSW at the entrance to their cenotaph was a list of names and I felt so sad because one family was represented so many times, and then there is the special tribute that the town of Hay has, reading the many plaques around the painted towers, you know that this town is proud of its people.
Lake Caregillo areaLake Caregillo areaAnzac day preperationsThe town that went to warSilo artThe town that went to warThe town that went to warSilo artHay
Burren Junction to Coonabarabran, not a long road but we were surprised by the amount of climbing we seemed to be doing, I was expecting a flatter area, although it is a easy and
Interesting drive there was not much action, but plenty of Emu around and some very large cotton farms on the way.
We arrived at Coonabarabran golf club, a bit after lunch time on Thursday; its a free bush camp with plenty of room for 30 or more vans, we had almost finished setting up, when I thought that I had better go down to the club house and let them know of our arrival, and I wanted to have a sqiz at the course. The staff had just started, so I signed in and commented that this was a good set up considering it was free, the young lass behind the bar then explained that it was not really free and I would have to pay $5.30, I was a bit surprised, she smiled and said of course you also get a beer for that price what are you having, thinking straight away, bugger! Jackie is up there setting up, well I paid for it didn’t I ? And only had a XXXX gold, really! Only one.
Well I finally escaped from there but on the way back I bumped into a couple of golfers unloading a buggy, and asked them who I had to see about playing in the comp on Saturday, one of them “Chris” (he had trouble maker written all over him) told me that all I had to do was front up at 11:O’clock and Bobs you uncle, having said that he asked me if I had played here before, “answer” negative, he then suggested that I grab my clubs and join them in the Thursday comp. Well there wasn’t much setting up left to do, and anyway why not, and we are out to make new friends. After 9 frustrating holes of golf, no help from my new mate Chris, a beer to test the Toheys old tap, then I wandered up to our site to find that there were now 10-15 new campers there, popular spot.
It is a bit cooler here than Townsville, but at least its not raining “yet”, very peaceful camp, Friday we are looking around Coonabarabran or (Coona) as the locals call it, really not much to do on good Friday, Just have a drive around.
Old farm house Coonabarabran
Every town has to have a pink houseCotton farm near Coonabarabran
Very old farm house in Black and whiteNew south wales history Coonabarabran
Like so many of the old New South wales towns the village of Coonabarabran, has a variety of homes although Coona, is mostly of the older variety. You really have to drive up to the lookout to get an idea of the size of the place. WE had a late start and it had not really warmed up by the time we ventured out to look, so being good Friday with nothing open we headed back to the camp, and besides I had to rest, a big day on the course tomorrow. What can I say about golf Thursday; I did not hit the greens, couldn’t putt, comp day, Billy came out to play 4th overall I met some great golfers, won a ball (closed club day visitors couldn’t win major prizes) gave the Toheys old tap a work out, back to camp to get ready for dinner in the clubhouse, in their very good Chinese restaurant.
PILLIGA POTTERY FARM
Pilliga pottery artPilliga pottery art
SUNDAY we are visiting Pilliga a region in New south wales known for its unique pine flooring timber cotton and so we find out some very classy pottery, the drive takes about 40 minutes and about 10K is dirt pretty good but you would not want to have to drive it after an inch of rain, Pilliga Pottery and farm comes as a bit of a surprise if you haven’t looked it up, Getting there you drive through scrubby red soil country then you start getting glimpses of this weird looking building through the trees.
Pilliga pottery housePilliga and Coonobarabran reigion
The farm gives you the impression that it is or was built a a community property, the web site says that it was built with community help, there are a lot of people working here and must live here, as there are no properties nearby and a few different nationalities serving and working around the place, given that it is a well maintained property and the pottery is excellent there is so much stock that there must be an outlet in a major city, a great place to visit.
pilliga pottery farmEntrancePilliga pottery artStone pitched farm houseTravellers in vansPilliga pottery artPottery at PilligaPilliga pottery artPilliga pottery artPottery farmPilliga pottery artThe green doorLunch at Pilliga farmPilliga pottery artThe wallPilliga potteryPilliga potteryPilliga pottery artPilliga pottery artPilliga NymphPilliga pottery art
Coonabarabran a great place to visit, we are in our way now to Lake Creegellio about 105k west, might get some fishing in there.
We had four great weeks in Alstonville New south wales, caught up with our friends and ex neighbours Leane and Ken, revisited the Alstonville bowls club. and had some success in getting some relief for Jackies hip and foot problem. Before leaving we had decided to visit the Artesian basin west of there, originally we were going to a couple but the extra weeks with Jacks Chiropractor means we will have to shorten this part of the journey. The drive was really uneventful easy going, the Amarok hauls our van easily, there’s not much to see on the way and on getting there we really had our pick of spots to camp, and as it turns out the next two days are free because the opening is not until Thursday which is the day we leave, the baths have just been refurbished and are in great condition not to hot and clean. Two days and nights really were not enough but we have to push on, nights are really great floating in the hot springs looking up at the stars, really special.
Burren JunctionBurren JunctionBurren Junction
On the last night we met a Burren Junction local, who gave us a run down on the town and some history about the local area, we were not originally going to drive the few Ks to the town but some of the things that this woman told us sort of got our interest, this town has a water problem in as much as there is only one bore to supply the town and not all houses have town water so some residents have to go to the local park and fill containers, she also said that most of the houses were shanties and anywhere else would have been condemned. So this town is one of the older towns in the northern region, the school headmasters house is over 150 years old and is heritage listed, the town cannot afford to put down a bore, but the NSW education department spent $200,000.0 renovating this house, there are between 35 and 40 students here, mostly from outlying cotton and wheat farms, she also told us to look for the tennis courts as they are ru down now but in times past state championships were held here.
Disused tennis courtsAnglican church and its guardiansSchool principals housepost officeBurren junction houseBurren junction houseBurren junction houseBurren junction houseBurren junction houseBurren junction houseBurren junction house
Moving on
The town was an eye opener, I know housing is scarce and times are hard in the west, but a town really has been abandoned by the NSW government, before we left we got to see the area burnt off by the fire brigade and a couple of great western sunrises and learnt a few things. Next stop Coonabarabran.
Spruleswood travells 