Wed, 20th Nov, 2024 Cosy Corner East Campground, west of Albany to Betty’s Beach camp area, east of Albany, WA (National Anzac Centre, Albany)

Woke to blue sky and puffy clouds and no wind. Can’t hear the waves. Unfortunately the tide is going out so no good to go fishing. Forecast still for storms and the big rain band is still coming down WA.

Packed up as the clouds came over - there goes the nice weather. Back out and headed towards Albany. Info off the tourist map.

Along the foreshore past the Brig Amity in its little lake.

We had explored Albany previously but hadn’t done the Anzac Centre as we had crawled all over everything else there and were overloaded with info. Bob & Margaret had been twice and said it was very good.

Just got the seahorse mural as we crossed the railway line.

Up the hill - view back.

Along to the Albany Heritage Park which is spread out over Mt Clarence and Mt Adelaide. We took the Mt Adelaide road and parked near the National Anzac Centre. Went into the gift shop as it said cafe but turned out to be just a self serve coffee machine. Had a look around and Bob commented on the book, Lighthouse Girl, to the lady that she was his grandmother Faye (on his mum’s side). The lady was excited and asked if he would come back later to have his photo taken with the book. The author has done 4 books and Bob & Margaret were there at the release and also at the theatre show that was put on about her. We will have to get Bob’s autograph!!

Had our own cuppas then headed into the National Anzac Centre (boring building) just as the clouds started to darken.

Paid our entrance fee then we were given our ‘special person’, I got Nurse Olive Haynes and Steve has Captain Alfred Shout. We place the cards on special spots to read the info about them as we move through the exhibit. There is also an audio device that you swipe at each exhibit to hear more stories than what is printed on the displays. We can take photos but no flashes.

As you walk in a screen shows the soldiers walking with the sound of the many boots on the road - very moving.

I went straight to the big window to look out over King George Sound and around to Princess Royal Harbour as the clouds were coming over and I wanted to get some photos.

Zoomed in on Breaksea Island where Bob’s grandmother (a teenager) sent and received messages by semaphore for the soldiers on the ships. You can just make out the lighthouse on top.

Lovely sculpture of solider and horse.

There is a big table that shows the ships coming and leaving into the harbour and more info when you press on different icons. Margaret said previously they had a display that came up on the window so it looked like the ships were in the sound but obviously that isn’t working any more. A volunteer lady came over to talk about the display and Breaksea Island so Margaret mentioned about Bob being Faye’s eldest grandson. She was very excited too and we called Bob over and she did take a photo of him with the island in the background. We will have to get an autograph now!!

I went back to the start. This is what caused the war to start in the first place.

I put my card on the reader and got the information about my nurse.

Continued along reading and listening to all the stories etc in this first area (1914-1915).

Unfortunately they haven’t provided seats so everyone has to stand to read and listen to all the stories and as more people arrived it got quite congested. Otherwise the displays were amazing. Amazing to think of all those horses travelling over the sea and the logistics of getting them there with food, gear as well as all the soldiers and everything they needed. That certainly took some planning and executing. Only 4 horses returned from the NZ horses and only one (Sandy) from the Australian horses as most had to be put down due to quarantine at the end.

I found my nurse’s display. I listened to her audio story. Amazing how they survived themselves in the cold and terrible conditions and were able to care for the many wounded is another feat of human resilience.

There is so much to read as you worked through the years that I was getting sore legs with all the standing, let alone brain overload.

Back to the convoy room.

The rain had moved over so I got a better shot of the island.

My nurse survived and returned to marry and have a family. Steve’s soldier died.

We found a seat in the small theatrette and watched and read the words (it was narrated in French) about the story of a soldier finding a chap’s butterfly collection etc and being able to get all the important stuff saved before the Germans arrived. - very interesting.

When we came out the sun was beating down so we made our lunch and sat at the picnic table with Bob & Margaret. She yelped as something nipped her toe - it was a huge skink. He was very hungry so I fed him some of my meat and then corn and he gobbled the lot. We kept our feet up. I forgot I had my camera and only got his big head once he headed back through the rocks in the garden.

Back down the hill and through Albany. Everyone has a view of the water here! Topped up with fuel and got a few groceries then headed eastward. Turned off and down a road then onto a dirt road to Betty’s Beach. Met the grader who was just finishing off the road so it was nice and smooth.

Down the hillside - a few photos as we descended. Not looking to inviting today.

There is a camp host here now for the Albany Shire to regulate how many camp for fire regulations or something. It is free to camp. We pulled into a spot by the info board and Bob & Margaret parked beside one of the salmon fisherman huts - which is where we parked when we visited here years ago. The fisherman don’t use them till the salmon season from Feb to April - then the camping area is closed for the season.

Set up and walked down to look over the little bay when the rain started. A family were fishing and had caught a few skippies.

Back to the camper for a cuppa. The info off the board. I don’t think we will be wandering around at night to find the Quokkas.

Info about the grass trees too.

Margaret got her fishing rod out and went down to fish. She has a burley thing with the sinker to try and entice the fish in. She is after herring and skippies. The wind stopped so it was quite pleasant for a while and she caught a few skippies. We will get out rods out tomorrow.

Thunder rumbling in the background. At least we had a nice day in Albany.

Drinks in Bob & Margaret’s van then back to the camper for dinner as more rain showers came across.

About 9pm the sky lit up with lightning flashes for over an hour but no wind or rain.