The Extraordinary Tourist
Memories. The Museum of My Life.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Road Trip Day 18: 9th June 2007
For many people a visit to their parents home, years after having left for an independent life, brings back many childhood memories, artifacts and a history of growing up. Coming from, what is usually described as a 'broken home', the history of my early years and previous lives can be found not so much in my parents homes but in my sisters home.
The way my family split to eventually go their separate ways has gradually turned Rose's home (where I'm staying whilst in Perth) into a living family archive - though I'm sure it doesn't feel that way to her.
There is so much of my families history either still in use or stored in Rose's house that for me it's like coming back to a personal museum of our life. For example, Roses kitchen table and chairs are older than me. I think they were the very first table and chairs my parents bought when they arrived in Australia from the U.K. The chairs have been recovered once in nearly 50 years and are looking like they could use new covers again.
There are examples like this all throughout, from the coffee table in the lounge (probably as old as the kitchen table) to the cutlery in the kitchen draws (knives, forks and spoons as old as the table and still in use).
The earliest family photo albums are here. Almost as soon as I arrived I had to look through these because I knew they had pictures of Rose and I at the beach in Whyalla before we moved. I wanted to see if the beach was how I remembered it.
 It's funny how, when you look at old photos you generally don't notice the detail in the backgrounds however, when you're looking specifically at the background it's surprising what you see. Here is a photo of Rose and I at the beach in 1974. If you can peel your eyes off my stunning sun hat, take a look in the background. Notice the steam train? Until now, I never knew we had a photo with the steam train in it - which is why I was never quite sure about if it had been on the Whyalla foreshore or some other beach. This photo proves my memory to be correct. There is my steam train.
Rose's house has so many artifacts that connect us with Whyalla but it isn't just that period of our lives you can see. Her shelves feature one or two examples of my art from my High School days. She also has most of my furniture, LP records, books, computers and more that I left behind when I departed, bound for a new life in South Australia.
In the backyard is a four car garage that use to be my studio. This is where all my paintings pre the year 2000 are stored. More of my stuff that I couldn't take with me is here too.
I'm generally not one to live in the past but it's nice to be surrounded by memories and to retrace your family history. Remembering where you grew up and how you became who you are.Labels: history, memories, museum, road trip 2007, Whyalla
Whyalla Foreshore Steam Train Found!
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Road Trip Day 12: 3rd June 2007
 Whist visiting the Mt Laura Homestead Museum, Rose and I spotted this Steam Locomotive - the only one in the museum - and thought just maybe it was the one I remember playing on at the foreshore as a child.
On closer inspection of the information board we were amazed to learn that it is in fact the very same steam engine! I was even more surprised to learn that this locomotive is more than 100 years old (I bet it didn't get a certificate from the Queen).
Bought new by BHP in 1891 it was used to cart ore along the tramway between Iron Knob and Whyalla. It has a fairly busy history but the key dates for me are that it was placed on the Whyalla foreshore in 1962 where it remained until 1983 when it was moved to the museum. Back then it was all painted black rather than green as you see in the photo. In fact it was the green paint that made me think it couldn't be the same train at first.
Not being able to find any trace of where this train stood on the foreshore during my current visit to Whyalla made me half wonder if I was just imagining a train there based on some other memory. Having found my child hood 'play equipment' (Rose and I used to climb all over this train) it's kind of good to know it now has a good home. It didn't rust away and get sold for scrap.
Whether we like it or not connecting and catching up with fond memories of the past has something of a comforting feeling. It's kind of like catching up with friends you haven't seen in a long time and learning that they're doing okay.Labels: history, museum, railway, road trip 2007, train, Whyalla
Celtic Festival, Kapunda 2007
Saturday, May 05, 2007
 My first visit to Kapunda, Australia's oldest mining town, was to experience one day of a three day event, the 32nd Annual Kapunda Celtic Festival. Blonde Rose and I attended the second day which was a Saturday.
As far as Celtic Festivals go, this one had a Celtic flavor but my impression overall was that this could have easily have been a Town Festival. Largely because many of the market stalls and some of the performing artists weren't specifically 'Celtic' themed. That said, I didn't get to see all of the Celtic performing artists such as dancers, singers and more. Perhaps if I had I would've been left with more of a Celtic experience.
Don't get me wrong, I was not disappointed with the festival at all. Kapunda is an exceptional town with a lot to see. Which is why I didn't see all the entertainment. Too busy looking in local art galleries and exploring the excellent basement Kapunda history display at the Visitor Centre, as well as the basement museum display at the Kapunda Bakery. Even without a festival there is plenty to do.
 click image above to see larger version.
What we did see at the festival was Honorary Town Crier and Honorary Escort Town Crier (to the City of Salisbury) Tom and Daphne Benny. Tom is something of a regional icon for his Town crier abilities and he was in fine form at this event, welcoming guests to the town and announcing the various street performances.
An Ghillee Mhor and the Border Celts was the only truly Celtic act I saw. Unfortunately I only caught the last half of their spirited dance routine that involved a bit of shouting and a lot of hitting together of, what looked to me like, bamboo poles.
 click image above to see larger version.
The Creole Cowboyz, a six member band of blokes, playing music inspired by Creole French traditions, were a highlight. They seemed to be putting on a show intended for kids and families but, with a lack of younger members, persevered with an older audience that connected well with their humor. A particular highlight was a very young audience member enjoying dancing around like a chicken to the bands 'chicken song'.
Later in the afternoon we caught the Henna nights Bellydance troupe. They put on a great demonstration with three different performances - two group dances then a solo dancer for the finale. I'm not exactly sure how 'Celtic' belly dancing is but the performances were very well received and added much colour to the festival.
 We finished off the day by taking a drive around the historic sites of the town that included some excellent lookout points for views of the surrounding country side. I must do this tour again some time because we were chasing the setting sun. Trying to see everything before we ran out of light.
I quite enjoyed the trip to Kapunda. A town that should certainly be on your itinerary if you happen to be in the region.Labels: Celtic, festival, history, Kapunda, mining, places, travel
The Upsetting Machine
Monday, April 23, 2007
 Upon first laying eyes on 'The Upsetting Machine' my immediate thought was 'Upsetting, why? What's wrong with it?'
Realising that there was nothing in the least 'upsetting' about it my next thought was that perhaps this machine was used to 'upset' other people. You know, if you have someone who needs to be upset (perhaps they're way too happy?) then this is the machine that will do the job. Take that smiley, happy person!
'The Upsetting Machine' can be found at the Blacksmith Shop in the main street of Angaston, South Australia. Despite its curious name it isn't used for upsetting anything other than metal rims that blacksmiths of days gone by fit around the wooden wheels of your old style carriage wheels.
The Blacksmith's Shop is well worth a visit (and is free unless you choose to make a voluntary donation). There is much to see from the by gone days including an early example of a local butcher's meat truck and a working engine that is used to operate many tools of the blacksmith trade. You can even watch real blacksmith's at work with one young apprentice learning to make medieval swords.
You certainly won't be upset by the upsetting machine (or any other machine for that matter) but I can't promise the same for the screeching of the shops pet cockatoo when he decides he has something to say... loudly!
 Labels: Angaston, blacksmith, history, machine, places, travel
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