Day 25: Fri 12 Apr 24 - Albany

Fri 12 Apr 24 - Albany

14 deg and rain until about 9:00am, then clearing with easterly winds increasing and gusts to 41km/h and a high of 20 Deg. We had an excellent sleep last night, and the rain this morning ensured we had nothing to get out of bed in a hurry for - so we enjoyed a sleep in. We eventually got ourselves organised, then after breakfast, some washing and a bit of cleaning we ventured into town to a lovely coffee shop and a pastry - the best cup of coffee we've had in a long time. Afterwards, Noel and I went seperate ways - Noel headed for retail, while I explored the old town, visited the Museum of the Great Southern and walked through the Brig Amity. The Amity (replica), launched in 1816, was a 148 ton Brig used in several exploration and settlement voyages in Australia in the early 19th Century. Western Australia's colonial history began with the arrival of the Amity in 1826, bringing the first European settlers to the Albany region to establish a military post.  

From the Amity, I walked through some of the displays in the Museum of the Great Southern, including the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition where there were some wonderful photos on display. After a couple of hours, I met up with Noel again. Returning to the van, we were quickly driving out the gate again, firstly to a Cameron Caravans parts, initially to replace the Jockey Wheel. At $165 I decided to buy replacement bearings instead, to see if that works. They were only $9 if they don't. Next stop was Bunnings to buy a Fusion Loc toilet roll holder to replace the one that broke along a couple of weeks ago along the road. From Bunnings, we drove back past the caravan park up to the Padre White lookout and Desert Mounted Corps Memorial at the Mount Clarence summit. Padre White served as an Army chaplain from 1916 - 1918, and on return to Australia from WW1, he delivered sermons in remembrance of locals who died in WW1. and is considered the father of the ANZAC Dawn Service. It's a great memorial to Padre White and the ANZACs, and the lookout has spectacular views over Albany and the harbour, so I'm sure to return for another visit over the next few days.

A morning in Albany

A morning in Albany

A morning in Albany - Town Hall

A morning in Albany

A morning in Albany - St John the Evangelist Church

A morning in Albany

A morning in Albany

A morning in Albany

A morning in Albany - The Brig Amity. The two tall masts with horizontal yards to take square or rectangular sails, make it a Brig. Brigs were used for carrying cargo, and very common in the first part of the 1800s, were regarded as the workhorses of the sea.  

The Brig Amity - The Navigators Cabin

The Brig Amity - Officer's Qtrs

The Brig Amity - All the supplies were stored in this hold in barrels, chests and sacks

The Brig Amity - Sailors Qtrs

The Brig Amity - Masts and rigging

The Brig Amity - Upper Deck

The Brig Amity - Upper Deck

The Brig Amity

Museum of the Great Southern - Historic Buildings

Museum of the Great Southern

Museum of the Great Southern - Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition

Museum of the Great Southern - Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition

Museum of the Great Southern - Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition

Museum of the Great Southern

A Morning in Albany - Historic Court House

A Morning in Albany

A Morning in Albany

A Morning in Albany - Wonderful old churches and other buildings

A Morning in Albany - MOKARE "A MAN OF PEACE"
In recognition of the role Mokare played in the peaceful co-existence  between Noongar People and the first European Settlers

Afternoon drive to the Padre White Lookout - Walk up to the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial

Afternoon drive to the Padre White Lookout - Walk up to the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial

Afternoon drive to the Padre White Lookout - Walk up to the Desert Mounted Corps Memorial

Afternoon drive to the Padre White Lookout - The Desert Mounted Corps Memorial. Not a good time of day for photo’s unfortunately 

Padre White Lookout - Mount Clarence summit

Afternoon drive to the Padre White Lookout - The Desert Mounted Corps Memorial and views over the harbour

Afternoon drive to the Padre White Lookout - The Desert Mounted Corps Memorial

Afternoon drive to the Padre White Lookout - The Desert Mounted Corps Memorial and views over the harbour

“Reverend Arthur Ernest White started the Dawn Service tradition at Albany.

He joined the Australian Imperial Force in March 1916 and was appointed Chaplain of the 44th Battalion. Padre White saw service in France and returned to Western Australia for medical discharge on 12 February 1918. Twelve days later on the 24 February 1918, White celebrated a requiem mass for the battle dead in St John's Church. Afterwards a walk to the summit of Mt Clarence took place.

White had arranged for a boatman to cast a wreath into the waters of King George Sound.

He is reputed to have said, 'Albany was the last sight of land our troops saw of Australia...

Perhaps we should commemorate them this way every Anzac Day.'

Reverend White left Western Australia in 1919, but returned to Albany in 1929 to become Rector of St John's Church. The following year, on Anzac Day, White conducted a dawn service at St John's Church followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the local war memorial (as recorded in St John's Church register). In 1931 he repeated this service then climbed Mt Clarence to observe the dropping of a wreath into King George Sound.

Reverend White continued this tradition until he left Albany in 1938. In his final address to his parishioners he asked them to: Guard closely that wonderful Dawn Service, particularly the laying of the wreath in the waters of the Sound. Anyone could lay a wreath on a monument, but there was something beautiful about the thought behind dropping the wreath into the sea in the memory of all those men who made their last contact with Australia here.”