As I left the house this morning, I let my neighbour know what I was up to. She had noticed me unpacking my mobility scooter, singing to myself, and looking very happy. When I told her I was off to watch the Sydney Marathon with friends, she joked that it sounded like a little too much lycra for her taste. We both had a laugh, and that’s when I mentioned I was actually more interested in the daytime dance party underway.
Sydney’s Taylor Square is famous as the heart of the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and today it featured grandstands, loud music, and drag queens. It is worth remembering that Mardi Gras actually started as a daytime event before later moving to its traditional Saturday night celebration.
The soundtrack was classic Mardi Gras, packed with Madonna and ABBA, to name just a couple. One of the highlights was when they played YMCA by the Village People, with both spectators and runners joining in to do the famous dance actions.
YMCA by The Village People as part of Sydney Marathon
Taylor Square is also a turning point for the marathon, meaning you can watch participants running in both directions. Looking around, the crowd was mostly youngish and wonderfully culturally diverse. As I watched, I found myself hoping to spot someone with limb loss or a difference, or even someone in a wheelchair or scooter, but there was no one who fit that description. My own mobility scooter would probably struggle to make the full distance without a backup battery, but who knows—maybe I’ll do it next year?
There was such an infectious feeling of joy in the Sunday morning crowd, and it was lovely soaking up the winter sunshine.
It’s Thursday night and I’m feeling a bit “hairy”. I’ve been experimenting with a goatee this week, but although people have told me it looks good, I honestly don’t think it works for me, especially as there are a few grey hairs here and there. I’m also desperately in need of a hair cut before the weekend, so I’ll do my best to see if I can fit one in tomorrow or Saturday.
Work of course has been busy this week.
Howevever, it’s also een a reasonably social week. I caught up with Michaela for some “wine time”, as we reflected on our lives, our loves and our work and last night, I went along to ABBAMAIL drinks at the Huntsbury Hotel, welcoming American visitor, Ryan Cameron.
One of my favourite moments, a real magic moment, however, occured on Sunday when Kate and I went to see the Margaret Preston retrospective at the Art Gallery of NSW this afternoon. Margaret Preston is best known for her still life work of Australian native flowers. Although I understand the historical context in which she was painting, there was not a lot to my modern eye, aside from the occasional beautiful work. What really caught my eye was her later work, undertaken in the 1940s and 1950s, when she discovered Aboriginal art through her visits to Central Australia.
What also really surprised us both most was the similarity of some of her later work to that of Chris O’Doherty (aka Reg Mombassa), especially since Kate was at the National Art School at the same time as Reg. Although I had a camera on me, I thought it was wrong to even attempt to capture the moment when Reg, himself, viewing the exhibition, looked at the “Adam & Eve” works by Preston. The moment was an incredible one that I hope will remain in my memory for some time to come as “one of those magic moments”. So if you’re thinking Margaret Preston is just lovely flowers, think again. Although most of those attending the exhibition were, as Kate observed, “women of a particular age and a particular class”, there’s a lot more to Preston’s work than you might instantly imagine.
The big ABBA weekend is on this Saturday, which I’m looking forward to.
And then next Tuesday, it’s the Sydney Blog Meetup which, I’m sure, will also be good fun. Speaking of this blog, I’ve been laboring under the impression that no one ever reads it, but it seems they do. I received an email this week from Cellobella from Perth, who wrote, Wow in one day – 11 people came from your site to mine – so thanks for the link! I get a list of referring websites on my site through this website: http://www.truefresco.org/referrers.htm. Amazing. So if you read this and have never commented, please leave a comment this week, so I can find out how many people actually pay a visit. Or is it just the same person 11 times over?
“Do you mind if I sit down for a moment?”, I asked the woman sitting by herself at a table. “My grand-daughter’s just gone off to get some food, as I can’t get around much. But you can stay until she comes back.”, she said.
We started chatting about our lives, as you do. And when I told her what I did for a living, she asked if I knew such and such. “Yes, very well”, I told her. She then went on to tell me her husband had taught him when he and his family were living in Tennant Creek.
In the media, it’s common to try to pinpoint people you may have worked with. And, generally when you meet someone from a country town, and tell them where you’re from, the conversation of “do you know such and such” inevitably springs up. “People in cities ask you what you do for a living, people in country towns ask you where you’re from”, I’ve often noted.
I don’t know how many times I’ve been to Mindill Beach Markets in Darwin, but it’s quite a few. They’re most memorable for their food, and their sunsets. They also sell a lot of stuff which I generally describe as “stuff you can buy, but stuff you don’t need”. Well, aside from food, and today I enjoyed some pickled octopus and some home made sorbet.
I sent my friend Sue a photograph of the pickled octopus, as she and I are great fans of it. She’s coming to visit for a few days, is then headed on a tour to Kakadu, returning next week for some Darwin Festival and Art Fair activities with me.
One of the great things about Mindill Beach Markets is how people leave the markets momentarily to watch the sun set into the ocean. Taking photographs is something everyone at the markets seems to do.Though today’s sunset was good, for me it was nowhere as spectacular as the last time I saw it, last year, at low tide. How great is this photograph?
But of course, I’m here for work, and yesterday I managed to combine a bit of work and outdoors activity. A good mate from Sydney (a work colleague) is also here, heading off to the major Indigenous gathering, Garma.
The Drum in Darwin
The team from ABC TV’s “The Drum” is also going to Garma, and yesterday, they broadcast their program from the Darwin Waterfront.
Watching ABC TV’s “The Drum” go to air live from Darwin.Though it was a great show, we were slightly distracted by this going on in the background. Looks like such fun. They did it for most of the hour. Awfully tempting to join them.
Sue wants to know if we can do the same thing while she’s here. :):)
After a low moment last night, feeling frustrated by my inability to navigate a crowded environment, I was hoping for a quick turnaround. Attending the ‘No Limits’ amputee conference today was exactly the right antidote.
I woke up to a lovely blog post comment from my former colleague, Rosie, who thanked me for my honest in last night’s post and said it (and other posts) gave her a greater insight into my experiences as someone living with an acquired disability. I write this journal for two reasons: to help me make sense of my own world, and in the hope that it will help others going through similar challenges.
The conference began with an insightful talk by Paralympian, Don Elgin. Don, a multi-sport Paralympian who was born with different-length limbs, spoke about the greatest piece of advice he could give to other amputees and people with limb differences.
It’s the same advice given on aeroplanes: put your own oxygen mask on first before attempting to help someone else. It was a perfect thought to keep in mind, especially after my feelings of self-doubt.
I first saw Don speak last year, and even as the host again today, his stories felt fresh and authentic. He realized long ago that he had the power to inform people about disability, and that’s what keeps him motivated—a feeling I can relate to with this blog.
Don Elgin: You can find more about Don’s work at his website: donelgin.com.au.
Another truly inspiring speaker was Adam Smith, an amputee from the NSW Central Coast. After becoming very sick in 2023, Adam had all four of his limbs amputated. He spoke about the darkness he felt while in the hospital but quickly resolved to not stay in that place. He constantly pushes himself to his limits, describing his experiences bushwalking in difficult environments and boxing with prosthetic lower arms. He was a fascinating and lovely person to chat with afterward.
I also spoke to some other people I know from the ‘Limbs for Life’ Facebook group, and had a great chat with Luke Missen, a champion tennis player from Bairnsdale. Luke, who is of short stature, is an internationally-renowned Australian player in assisted tennis—a sport played standing up, unlike wheelchair tennis, but with slightly different rules.
He told me about a tournament happening next Thursday just down the road from where I live in Sydney, and I’m looking forward to going along to watch, and maybe give it a try.
One of the great champions of this type of tennis is comedian Adam Hills. Known for hosting the TV show The Last Leg, Adam was born with limb difference, uses prosthetics, and is a prominent advocate for disability awareness, and he was there today. We connected through our shared history at the ABC, and I had a chance to get a photo with him, which was a real highlight of the day.
I didn’t quite make it to the end of the conference, coming home just after lunch, because I was feeling a little tired. but it was a fantastic experience.
When I first arrived, I was struck by how much had changed in just 12 months. This time last year, my physical state was so different. Today, I’m further along in my journey, and it was funny to find myself looking around at other amputees. Normally, I’m the first one looking for a seat, but this time I found myself scanning the room to see if someone else might need it more than me—a fascinating change in perspective.
There were some fun moments too, including a physiotherapy class led by Cathy Howells OAM | Amputee Physiotherapist, a well-known expert in the amputee space. While the stretching and lunges weren’t my favourite, we finished with some great choreographed dance moves. I suddenly realised how totally uncoordinated I am, as I struggled to follow the routines, but it was a lot of fun. At one point, I wished we could have just done a dance I already knew the steps to: “Time Warp!”
It’s Sunday afternoon and I’m half watching the cricket on television. The match is coming from Perth: what a co-incidence. It’s a fine, sunny day in Sydney, but I’ve actually spent most of the day indoors. I’ve been incredibly tired over the last couple of days: I think it’s leaving-Sydney-related stress.
The countdown is now well and truly on. It’s two weeks now until I move to Perth. It’s getting serious now. In the speech at my Sydney Farewell Party the other night, I related some of my fears and concerns about the move, declaring the night before I thought to myself, “Is it too late to change my mind”. Of course it is… and of course, it will be fine… although I did hyperventilate a little before the Farewell Party.
The Party was a hoot. Everyone seemed to get on really well together.
Some of the sudden realisation about Perth from having to start looking online for some accommodation.
This apartment I’ll be staying in is in Wellington Street, Perth, located right in the heart of town. Although it’s located on a main road, there is a park opposite, which should help keep down the noise. In a security building, the apartment has all of the mod cons of apartment living.
A few other things remain to be sorted… but hopefully not too difficult. I’ve chatted briefly with Damien about looking after the apartment while I’m away and he seemed relatively keen.
Another highlights of the week was a late night visit to Yvette’s place with a bottle of wine when we both thought we heard shots: Surry Hills police told us they were Australia Day fire-crackers, but that they had received lots of phone calls about this.
Last night I went to a couple of friend’ place for dinner which was fab. After that, we had just a couple of drinks at the Newtown RSL Gay Night. I wonder if the Perth RSL has a “gay night”?
After the excitement of Saturday’s sight-seeing adventure, I took things a little more slowly on Sunday. Though I thought about getting up early and going for a walk, I stayed in bed until about 9.00am. As daylight saving has commenced, I didn’t feel too guilty about sleeping in. Oh, and hey, I’m on holiday!
After a late morning breakfast at “Diggers” in Bourke, I returned to the apartment where I’ve been staying and had a brief lunchtime nap. It was a warm day with a soft breeze, which gently flowed through the big room where I’ve been staying. Later in the afternoon, I caught up with a mate and some of his family for quite a few beers at the pub.
Near sunset on the Darling River, Bourke
I had a wonderful time in Bourke, and I’ve promised myself, and the people in Bourke I caught up with, that it won’t be another twenty years before I make a return visit.
And so today was a day spent mostly on the road.
The bus trip from Bourke back to Dubbo wasn’t as exciting as the trip there. In addition to the anticipation of visiting Bourke for the first time in twenty years, I was seated near an old colleague, and we talked most of the way.
Coolabah, NSW
The trip takes four and a half-hours, and it’s almost 400km of straight road across the plain. Although the vegetation doesn’t vary much, it’s still a pleasant trip. You look out the window, you read, you nod off for a few minutes.
View from the bus window between Bourke and Dubbo, though closer to Dubbo.
And the bus is fairly cheap. My full price fair was $120 return. “I can do it for $2.50” my now retired colleague told me with a laugh.
Sue picked me up at the railway station in Dubbo, and within minutes we were on our way to the next stop on our journey, Parkes.
Sir Henry Parkes
Parkes is famous a number of different things, including the CSIRO telescope which played an important role in the 1969 moon landing, being named after Sir Henry Parkes, “the father of federation” and for “Elvis Festival”, held annually in January.
There’s a fair bit of Elvis-related public art in the town.
Priscilla PresleyElvis as an emu.
It’s a fairly quiet day / night in Parkes, with most shops, cafes and restaurants closed due to the public holiday.
We did, however, find a nice pub where we enjoyed fish and chips and squid. Though country shows are on hold due to COVID, lots of towns are still being visited by the sideshows. Bourke had a two-day fair this weekend, and this was taken tonight in Parkes.
As you may know, I’m a long-time supporter of Team Sverige in Eurovision, even when I’ve sometimes been less than impressed with their chosen songs, but this year I think they’ve got an absolute winner.
It’s catchhy, fun, and out of the box. And this year, they’re singing in Swedish. Well, actually a Swedish dialect spoken by the Swedish speaking minority which lives in Finland. Three momrnts of simple joy!
