“I was expecting a little more blood and gore, considering it was an exhibition about Vikings,” one of the tour participants remarked today.
It is an amusing observation, but the Viking exhibition currently running at the National Maritime Museum—titled Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard—focuses less on pillaging and the more fearsome stereotypes of the Norsemen, and much more on an extraordinary archaeological discovery.
Uncovered by metal detectorists in southwest Scotland in 2014 and buried around AD 900, the Galloway Hoard contains over five kilograms of silver, gold, and other precious materials. Rather than endless tales of battle, the exhibition highlights exquisite early medieval silverwork, jewellery, precious arm rings, and ancient heirlooms originating from Britain, Ireland, mainland Europe, and as far away as Central Asia.
That said, there are some fascinating modern touches woven through the displays, including a clever 3D-printed replica of a Viking vessel and other items. Because the hoard was so carefully interred, it also helped preserve incredibly rare organic materials like early silk and textiles, giving researchers a remarkably detailed look into the interconnected trade networks and artistry of the Viking Age.
Connecting Through the Physical Disability Council of New South Wales
I visited the museum as part of a group outing organised by the Physical Disability Council of New South Wales. Once a month, they coordinate social activities for people with physical disabilities, offering a wonderful space for connection and informal conversation.
We didn’t spend much time talking about our disabilities today; instead, we shared other facets of our lives. I met a woman working for a Sydney community radio station who produces her own podcast—a brilliant catalyst for a long chat about audio storytelling.
I also spent a lovely, extended time talking with a remarkable gentleman in his late seventies. Although his body is beginning to let him down and he now uses a walker, he possesses a vibrant life story. He grew up in South Africa and has an American-born wife, among many other tales. As we parted ways, he told me, “You’re a very calm person to talk to.” I walked away thinking, Yes, maybe I am. It was a genuinely lovely experience.
Podcasts, Surry Hills, and the Sydney Disability Expo
Over the past week, I have recorded a few more interesting interviews for my podcast, which I have written about separately and hope you will enjoy. I’ve also penned a story on the changing face of Surry Hills.
Over the weekend, I also attended the Sydney Disability Expo. It was lovely to catch up with a few familiar faces, including Darrell from Amputees NSW, the wonderful team from 2RPH, and Max from WheelEasy. One of the absolute highlights was watching some fantastic “ballroom dancing” performed by a combination of able-bodied and disabled dancers.
While much of the expo was dedicated to service providers in the disability sector—which doesn’t hold a huge amount of interest for me—the weekend did come with one notable frustration: public transport.
Sydney Olympic Park train station was closed, which struck me as a remarkably odd decision given a major disability expo was being held there. They did put on replacement buses, which worked fine for me since I can manage getting on and off buses, but anyone with a larger wheelchair or a bigger mobility scooter would have really struggled. The irony certainly wasn’t lost on me, especially since Sydney Trains even had a booth set up inside the expo.
Dancing Queen’s 50th Anniversary
This weekend, I am heading out to celebrate a massive cultural milestone: the official 50th-anniversary party for ABBA’s Dancing Queen.
The anniversary of the single’s release in Australia falls this week. Of course, it went on to become a colossal hit here before conquering the world. To mark the occasion, Universal Music and Polar Music (ABBA’s record company) are rolling out a series of fan activations globally. It promises to be a fantastic night out, and I am very much looking forward to it.
I am also doing a spot on ABC Radio discussing the 50-year legacy of Dancing Queen and how its reception has evolved over the decades. I will write more about all of this over the weekend.
