Short Visit to Kings Park

Babysitting today as school doesn't start until tomorrow. Made a visit to Kings Park, played some soccer, had a drink and toured the War Memorial. Pretty warm day but nice to get out of the house.

Short Visit to Kings Park Photo Album.

Let me know if you can't view the pics.

Anzac Day Dawn Service 2010

The day started early. Well, it started four and a half hours before I awoke but I was out of bed at 0430 hours. Much the same time as the first landing at Anzac Cove at Gallipoli took place. I was much more comfortable in my surroundings though. Let's not forget that it wasn't only Australians and New Zealanders that landed in Gallipoli on April 25th 1915. During the campaign there were thousands of Brits, Frenchies, Senegalese (French West Africa), perhaps a few Belgians (possibly), Indians and Punjabis (British India). Probably some Sikhs also. I think that Canada may have had some troops involved too (could be wrong on this one). But I digress.

The roads were green lights pretty much all the way. I guess that that was to be expected so early in the morning. Mind you, there weren't too many parking spots near Kings Park and that was to be expected. Masses of people were in attendance. It was cool but cloud-free whereas rain is quite often received on Anzac Day. Somewhere between 45,000 and 50,000 people ventured to the State War Memorial for the dawn service and that was a record number.

Only one whinging kid nearby, thankfully. Concerning thing was one youth, all of about 20 years old, complete with a lower jaw line beard and back-to-front cap who was part of the official wreath laying ceremony. I mean, how disrespectful was his appearance? And it appeared that his mother was next to him. Perhaps his father was a fallen serviceman though so maybe I should be a little leniant.


The Last Post - played by a lone bugler at the Anzac Day Dawn Service in Kings Park, 2010.

I was on my way out of Kings Park when I thought about the fact that the trees lining the roads have been planted in memorial of approximately 10,000 fallen West Australian servicemen and women. I took a number of photos of the memorial plaques and that was more moving than the ceremony that I had just attended. These men were only just that and died in such disparate places on distant shores. And it is mainly their mothers who are named as having planted the tree. Take a moment to reflect what it would have meant to that soldier's family and what an affect it had on such a young country and a young colony.

Anzac Day Dawn Service in Kings Park, Perth, 2010 Photo Album on Facebook.

Easter Saturday Walk In Kings Park

We were looking for something to do on Easter Saturday and a walk in Kings Park seemed like a good idea. And quite a number of other people obviously had the same idea as we had to drive around the car park a couple of times to find a spot. Took a frisbee and the footy with us. Gotta keep The Boy entertained.

Walked around the section overlooking South Perth, took the tree top walk and ventured past the spot where we were married. Kicked the footy and threw the frisbee for a while. Even Miky joined in. I did spot a couple of kookaburras and managed to get close enough for a photo.

Nice way to spend the arvo.

Carries the footy like an Aussie

South Perth from Kings Park

Perth from Kings Park

Kings Park Tree Top Walk

Strange place for a bird nest

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree

Anzac Day 2009

It's tradition for it to be cold, wet and miserable on Anzac Day, the 25th of April, every year. This year was quite mild but morning showers were predicted. I took a warm jacket. And so did many of the estimated 40000 attendees to the dawn service in Kings Park at the war memorial. There we stood in silence listening to a recollection of the Australians battling Rommel in north Africa, watched as dignitaries laid wreaths in remembrance of the fallen and heard a speech by Brigadier Steve Cain about what it was like waiting at home when your loved ones had gone to war. His speech was quite thought provoking as we normally hear about the men and women who have gone to war.

Facebook photo album of Anzac Day 2009.

What Do You Do When The Forecast Is For 42 Degrees Celsius?

What do you do when the forecast temperature is 42 degrees C? Most normal people would go to work or those still on holidays might sleep in before lounging around the house for the day. In both cases you would expect the air conditioning to be put on.

The temperature reached 41.8 C when we went for our lunchtime walk. Some bastard had lit a fire in Kings Park at 6:30 in the morning. That's what he decided to do on a hot day. There wasn't a lot of smoke about as t had been contained pretty well.

Later that afternoon at 4pm it was ablaze again. We were having a sundowner at work so I decided to have a few drinks and play some pool before grabbing some photos of the smoke. It had died down a bit in the the two hours that I was busy but you get some idea of the fire.

Bushfire in Kings Park on 42 degrees Celsius day.

What a bloody jerk. Shooting is too good for him.

Mucking Around In Kings Park

We visited Kings Park a couple of weekends ago. I couldn't resist mucking around with the camera and the fountains. Check out the pics.

FB Facebook Album - Just Mucking Around In Kings Park

The Kokoda Track Memorial was a bit of a killer on the way up. And I had been feeling it with my old man knee on the way down already.

Kings Park Visit Sans The Boy

The missus and I took advantage of the Boy being at a birthday party to spend a few hours on a rainy day in Kings Park. It included a visit to the site of our wedding ceremony, a walk around some of the paths and hot drinks, gelato and chocolates in a restaurant. Lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon by ourselves.



Link to Kings Park Visit photos on Facebook.