26 April 2020 ANZAC Day and biscuits!

ANZAC Day (April 25) is a highly significant, and almost reverent occasion when both Australia and New Zealand honor their veterans and commemorate the 1915 battle of Gallipoli.  As we have learned this day even surpasses Remembrance Day (Armistice Day or our Veteran's Day) in importance here.  But this year for the first time, there was no sunrise gathering at the Memorial sites due to the Covid-19 restrictions. So individuals were encouraged to rise at 6:00 am and stand at the end of their driveways or outside their homes for moments of silence.  Then those that had trumpets would play "The Last Post" or as we call it "Taps."  With candles burning, many people throughout the country, let alone here in New South Wales, willingly arose to show the honor to the soldiers, both living and dead.  

Afterward, the tradition is to have ANZAC biscuits and go to the pub!  Well, the pubs are mostly closed anyway, so one entrepreneur decided to drive around with his employees handing out free beer to all the veterans he found.  The news reports showed how appreciative everyone was of his efforts!  We stuck to our ANZAC biscuits that one of our colleagues in our building brought us from his wife.  The story goes that these were somehow sent to the soldiers because none of the ingredients would spoil, but that's mostly a myth.  But we thought the biscuits (cookies) were delicious no matter their history.  

New Zealand and Australian Flags

I understand New Zealand had two referendums in 2015 and 2016 about changing their flag and several designs had been suggested over the years.  Some Kiwis believe theirs is too closely related to the Australian and they do not like it one bit because they claim to have used the design first!  However, the poll showed that the majority voted to retain the current flag.  The stars are a bit different from the Australian flag but they were the first country to indicate the Southern Cross in the sky. The Australian flag has the large star under the Union Jack which which represents the Commonwealth and they have 5 stars to represent the Southern Cross. 

The Rodd Family Memorial Site - once was the mausoleum for many of the members of a well-known and prestigious early Australian  family

 Our nightly exercise consists of finding new areas in our local area to walk too and we often end up doing laps around the small field by our house.  But on the weekends, we  try to find a new place to get some exercise.  This week we learned of the Bay Run at Iron Cove.  Since it is only about a 25 minute drive we thought we would join the other walkers, joggers, and cyclists in circumventing the cove.  Just like "running the bridges" at home, this was over a 7.2 km or about 4 mile loop around the cove.  The memorial park above was near our carpark and so we started there before joining everyone on the actual Bay Run.

It was a gorgeous day with temperatures near 80 degrees F. for a rather warm Fall day.  It wasn't a difficult walk and we saw interesting flora, fauna, and fowl all around.  Many people keeping their distance, but also enjoying the sunshine as the beaches have been closed again.  Not  enough social-distancing going on and too many groups of people together.

Apparently, some of the walk goes by a former psychiatric hospital and grounds.  It was all boarded up so we assumed it was in "former" use.  

 Some metal fish baskets that would be attached to metal "weirs"  now stand as public art in one of the parks we passed through.

Finally, our  closest view of Sydney yet.  We have been here nearly two months and have yet to get to the Central Business District and tourist sites there due to the request by government to avoid any non-essential travel.  We sometimes wonder if our little 20 minutes drives just to go somewhere are pushing the limits/  But we are grateful to be here and doing anything that we can to be of service.  

19 April 2020 Missionary Work in Lock Down

As the shelter-in-place orders continue here in New South Wales, Don and I are still grateful to be able continuing the work we came here to do.  It has taken several weeks to get the office computers working correctly but that was all solved this week.  So now he has everything working and is comfortable doing the same type of work he did when we were in Germany.  I am helping our Self-Reliance missionaries as we instruct and support our ESL missionaries.  Many have come from countries where English is not their first language.  We have some from China, Samoa, Tonga, Argentina, Peru, Myanmar, Kiribati, Mongolia, and more that have not returned home yet.  I did my first Zoom lesson this week which was a bit unusual but I'll gamely try it again this week.  Also, I am being trained to proctor some secondary English assessments as our service missionary will probably need to leave in a few days.  I also saw how the Oral Proficiency Interview is given and am secretly hoping I do not need to give any of these!  

One of my other assignments is reviewing Humanitarian projects to see if they meet Australia's strict benevolent charities guidelines.  I actually really enjoy checking the projects and seeing the vast needs that the church is helping to meet.  The projects are for countries all over the world and indicate our need to see that everyone has basic needs such as clean water, sanitation, food, and shelter   It is astounding to see how the needs continue to grow.  

This week all of our South Korean and Filipino missionaries were able to get back to their homes. The work the senior couples in the mission office and President and Sister Runia are doing to handle this upheaval is truly incredible.  Today, they were in the offices at 6:30 to facilitate the returns.

Additionally, one of our young elders also had an appendicitis emergency and was taken to the hospital.  He is recovering well now in spite of everything that is going on.    

Don and I opted for an extra long walk this weekend and decided to hike down the road to a Koala Park Reserve.  We knew it was closed but thought it was a good destination.  Nothing to see since it is closed right now but a good walk nevertheless.  The other picture above is the bush behind our home.  We can go through this gate to get to the main thoroughfare that we walked yesterday.  I probably won't use it much since I have no idea what is living in all that undergrowth and nor do I want to find out.  

We live close to Parramatta, which is the second oldest city in Australia having been established just ten months after Sydney was settled in 1788.  The city is about 15 miles from the central business district in Sydney. So we took a little drive to see some of Parramatta's historic sites.  It was here that early settlers established a successful farm since the land around Sydney seemed to poor to support the first British colonists. Also, the Government House is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the country and was used by ten governors until around 1844.  It was rebuilt and added onto many times during the years.  This area is now a Park and has several interesting monuments and sites that reveal early colonial times.  It was, of course, once aboriginal land and there is archaeological evidence of the earliest people living, hunting, and fishing here before the European arrival.  The name actually means "head of waters, "the place where the eels lie down, or "eel waters."

 The first monument we came to was part of the early observatory built by convict labor under the direction of Sir Thomas Brisbane an early governor.  He had great interest in mapping the southern skies.  However, it was only used for about twenty-six years and fell into disrepair.  Most of the instruments were taken to the Sydney Observatory and now just the transit piers remain under cover.  The obelisk was placed as a memorial in 1880.

The Bath House was also built for Governor Brisbane in 1822.  It too deteriorated over the years and was made into a band shell pavilion for public recreation.

 This is a monument honoring those Australians who served in the Boer War in South Africa.  This was the first overseas military engagement of fully organized Australian troops as opposed to being colonists of Britain.  Though there was a great deal of opposition to participating in the Boer War, the monument honors those who served.

This remembrance is for our good friend and our own "flying dentist" Erin Leavitt.  This must have been quite a unique experience since there are three plaques honoring the occasion of Australia's first flyer, Billy Hart and his landing in Parramatta Park.

 Views of the  Parramatta River as we walked around the park and bridge.

And the rules which are in place in the open spaces!

 The Government House as it looks today.

By the Government House is a listing of the convict sites where those sent from Great Britain arrived or were settled.  Those are some sites we hope to visit in the future also as we learn more about the early settlement of Australia and specifically New South Wales.  For some of the so-called convicts, their only crime was being poor and unable to pay their debts.  

 We stopped at  St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery on our way home from Parramatta Park.  This is the oldest Catholic cemetery in NSW and has the oldest Mortuary Chapel in Australia.   The oldest headstones are from 1824.  Several priests are buried under the chapel floor. The cemetery signage indicates the cemetery recognizes the early independence of the Catholic church in a Protestant, mostly Anglican, dominated colonial society. 

The King's School is a preparatory and boarding boys school located not far from us.  Established in 1831, it claims to be Australia's oldest independent school.  There are numerous school "houses" and a military-like uniform is still the required dress for all boys.  Not far, is a girls boarding school, also established by Anglicans. 

Our neighbors' house.  Since we live in the mother-in-law house, it's nice to see where the original homeowners had their residence.  There are some beautiful stained glass windows and they have been working on a great remodeling over the garage.  We hope to someday get a look inside!

April 5-12 2020 Slow blogging days!

You know it is a slow week for blogging when the biggest thrill is getting a pack of toilet paper (Or    "loo rolls" as some call them here), baking yeast, and Cadbury eggs.  Yes, we have been in the country 5 weeks now and have yet to actually find any of the first two items mentioned. We've gone early in the morning for senior shoppers. We've gone later in the evening which is clearly a mistake.  We've tried Saturdays but that is a total bust. So one of the directors in our office building sent his wife to find them at some shops near where they live. Bless her heart.  We are set for awhile.

So many of the young missionaries from all over the world have been sent to their home countries due to the pandemic.  Here in the Pacific Area we had to see that all the missionaries from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islanders could return home.  Some of the islands had already shut down and some of those missionaries cannot get home and will stay here.  Last week, while Don kept track of legal business in our office, I was asked to help oversee getting our missionaries ready to head to the airport.  Charter flights were waiting to take everyone back to the states and Canada.  Many had left throughout the week, but this was a rather large group.  Self-distancing was a bit of a challenge as they ate, weighed their luggage, turned in SIM cards for phones, and received the documents they will need. But they were troupers.  A lot of clothing and what they consider non-essential items were left behind as they saw the scale.  

Two young sister missionaries arrived a little behind schedule and still had to lightened their luggage of nearly 18 pounds.  All of these young people were so sad to have the leave what they consider their newly-adopted country.  Most of them commented how hard it was to leave all the people they have met and come to love.  As hard as it was to see them go, I know some parents that are going to be happy to have them back.  Some will be released from serving if they were nearing their time commitment, others will be re-assigned to another mission at a later date.   

So now we have the fleet of most of the mission cars sitting outside on the office grounds.  The missionaries that couldn't return home have come with their companions to clean, wash, and vacuum the vehicles.  We walk by them everyday; it was funny to see how full the dumpsters were after the cars and the flats were cleaned.  I mentioned to the senior missionary in charge of transportation that I'd heard there was a recall on this brand and make of care  He thought I was kidding. What a headache he'll have if all of them really have to be checked over.

With little we can actually go see right now, we spend our time in the office since we are pretty much self-isolated not only in our office but we are pretty much alone on our floor.  In the evening we take a nightly walk trying to find a new route around the neighborhood.  We wanted to go to the Sydney Fish Market as it was shown on television still operating and people were allowed in, but no one is supposed to be out except for necessary shopping, medical appointments, essential work that cannot be done at home, or for exercise.  We just couldn't justify a trip there right now, so the fish market will have to wait a bit.

One night we walked here to the Ponds Walk.  A lovely area right off the main roads preserved for regeneration and animal habitat now.  Originally part of aboriginal homeland, it was an early settlement site for several convicts and their families. But they gave up on farming and it was sold to others, farming gave way to orchards and eventually residential holdings.  The remaining bushland is protected and along with the creeks are being restored.

We thought we would start using the outdoor gym equipment in the grassy area near our home and planned how we would use our disinfectant wipes before and after; we would wear gloves, maybe masks.  But it was announced that all parks were closed including the outdoor equipment. You can walk through them and exercise with no more than one other person (or as families), but none of the benches, playgrounds, or picnic areas are to be used. In other words, no lounging. The next day it looked like this-all taped up to discourage anyone from ignoring the order.  Last night Don walked over to just do some laps around the perimeter of the park and sure enough, two men were using the equipment in the dark.  Apparently, tape is not a deterrent or at least they were working around it.

Actually, most people are very respectful and careful to follow the guidelines. The beaches are all closed, only take-out from any restaurants allowed, most non-essential shopping is closed; theatres, museums, tourist sites all closed. The malls are nearly empty.  Police have been given broad powers and are trying to be very reasonable in their requests.  But some are receiving tickets and fines for not obeying the directives as they stand.  One of the New South Wales ministers was fined and even resigned his post for not adhering and leaving to go to his holiday home.  Everyone is taking this seriously and no one is inclined to excuse a politician from the same orders.

We think we live in a lovely neighborhood.  Not only are the homes large and appear spacious, but gardens are tended well also.  Many of the homes show up on Google maps with swimming pools.  I am going to have to get to know a few better for next summer!  The weather is warm and pleasant right now.  It's hard to believe we are heading into winter.  Days have been in the upper 70's recently.  

A Saturday walk in the bush again near the Hunts Creek where we've gone before.  Then we headed to Paramatta Lake Reserve which is a man-made reservoir with an arch dam that was the first of its kind in Australia.  The dam was built in the mid-1800's and the area has become a protected preserve due to the threatened wildlife and species found here.  As we were beginning our hike, loud buzzing sound began overhead.  It didn't let up and seemed to increase in volume.  I thought Crocodile Dundee was calling in the bats!  Fortunately, it stopped as we left the carpark area. We really enjoyed our hour and a half hike around the lake.  Like so much of the land, this was also early aboriginal territory. We were delighted to see the rock shelters and even what I thought could be pictographs in the area.

The trails were easily marked.  Lots of tree roots and boulders to climb over and around.  A beautiful Easter weekend to be outside.  So this site is not closed and we passed many people out "exercising" with family.  However, the swimming area was closed.  But if you  rented a paddle boat or kayak, I guess that would pass for exercise.

Rock shelters

Masonry Arch-walled Dam

It is easy to see from our daily walks why Sydney is considered one of the most liveable places to reside.  In the almost six weeks we've been here, I have yet to see a kangaroo, dingo, or wombat or even toilet paper in the wild!