A Thursday Train

One of the delights of living so close to our grandchildren is the opportunity to spend time with them during the school holidays, particularly for a special outing.

Last Thursday we travelled on a 100-year-old steam train to the small country town of Bungendore. The trip takes about 100 minutes each way and passes through a town, along gorges and through tunnels and open countryside.

The steam train is manned by volunteers who greet the passengers, and provide lots of information about the journey along the way. Their love of these old trains is very evident, and the children found it all really interesting, and provided us with a wonderful day out.

Grandpa Richard with Luca, Shay and Zoe waiting for .....

.... the train to arrive.

Prior to departure....

.... and all aboard (except for Grandma taking the photo)

Grandma 'Alice', Shay and Zoe

Photo taken during one of the pitch black tunnels.

Arrived in Bungendore

Picnic lunch

Play time

Ready for boarding

"Hurry up, you straggling passengers. We're just about to leave!"

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A Touch of Autumn in Canberra

A leisurely stroll along the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin in the autumn sunshine.

Kings Avenue Bridge

Towards Regatta Point

Towards Civic (city centre)

Carillion (Belltower)

Manchurian Pears

Across Lake Burley Griffin

Towards Black Mountain and avenue of National Flags

Across the lake to city centre

Black swans on Lake Burley Griffin

Back towards Kings Avenue Bridge

Claret Ashes and Black Mountain Tower

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King's Park, Perth, WA

Some more photos of this beautiful park which overlooks the city of Perth.

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Araluen Botanic Park, WA

In 1929 J.J. Simons established a holiday camp for the Young Australia League (YAL), on 60 hectares (150 acres) of deep shaded valley at Roleystone. Creeks running through the long valley created a cool moist climate, thus making it an ideal site for his dream garden. Simons called his valley, “Araluen”, an Eastern States aboriginal word meaning “singing waters”, “running waters” or “place of lilies”.

League members and volunteers created pathways, roads, steps and terraces. Structures were designed by leading Perth architect W.G. Bennett and built from local stone and timber.

In Spring, Araluen featured tulips planted on the terraces and in the Grove of the Unforgotten. It proved popular and the early gardens thrived in Araluen’s climate.

One of the many features still in existence today is “The Grove of the Unforgotten”, built in memory of 88 YAL members killed in the World War 1. A series of terraces descends a steep slope flanked by pencil pines formed in the shape of a lyre, the symbol of music. A waterfall cascades through the terraces and finishes in a reflection pond.

Changed circumstances saw the YAL sell Araluen in 1985. Encouraged by strong community support, the State Government purchased the Park in 1990. The Araluen Botanic Park Foundation (Inc.) became incorporated in July 1990 with the aim of working with the WA Planning Commission to restore the Park. Since 1995, the Foundation has managed the Park under lease from the Commission.

For more information on these lovely bushland gardens see Araluen Botanic Park .

Formerly the swimming pool.

Terraced lawns

Reflections in the pool

Chillies in tubs.

Grasses in a dry creekbed (swale)

Waterfall down the Avenue of Remembrance

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