HMAS Sydney II Memorial.
Okay, there are some places you visit where your expectations outweigh the realities. This cannot be said for Geraldton. It has grown somewhat, with a population of 32,000 or thereabouts, but it is still the town I loved the rare chance to visit. The airport at Moonyoonooka, once a lengthy drive in the bush, is now within sight of the eastern suburbs of Geraldton, which led me to wonder how much our towns and cities can grow before there will be no room for airports.
Thank you for all those lovely birthday wishes, everyone. Fancy you remembering such a day, when I had to be reminded. Next year I’ll be old. In the meantime I have a bit more living to do… certainly more of what I’ve been doing for the last week or so, for this adventure has been such a joy. Perhaps this evening I’ll have more luck seeking out that celebratory steak?
HMAS Sydney II Memorial.
Last evening I drove up to Mount Scott to catch the sunset on the HMAS Sydney II Memorial. I was a little disappointed that the cloud was such that not a single golden ray escaped to touch the memorial but, on reflection, it would have merely provided a little gilding. The memorial required nothing more than appreciative eyes, for it is the most beautiful of any I have seen. Each seagull on the dome represents a lost sailor and, around the wall are photographs of the ship and men etched into marble.
What a sad loss HMAS Sydney was and, possibly, an unnecessary one. When the wreck was discovered it was confirmed that she had sailed too close to what her Captain had thought was a Dutch freighter, but which turned out to be the armed raider, Kormoran, known to be prowling in the Indian Ocean at the time. Perhaps he was too trusting? Perhaps the German raider’s camouflage was just too good?
It is doubtful we shall ever know the details of the battle, but HMAS Sydney must have put up a great fight, for the wreck of the Kormoran was found not too far away. The latitude and longitude of HMAS Sydney is recorded for all time in the pool at the memorial, and the seagull whose wingtip just dips into the water, is pointing to the location of the wreck.
Indicating the final resting place of HMAS Sydney II
I found the most moving part of the memorial the Waiting Woman, anxiously looking out to sea, misery written across her face. It brought home to me the fact that for every sailor lost, many family members and friends were left to grieve. There were no survivors from HMAS Sydney.
The Waiting Woman.
Today I have much to see and do in Geraldton. Despite yesterday’s (relatively) short and easy drive, I slept the clock round and need to move quickly to catch up with all that wasted time. Who needs sleep?