Outback Memorial
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sat 8 Nov 2014 23:47
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The Sheepyard War Memorial and
Museum
   Bear standing in front of Lake Bear-d on the
sign. The lake. Memorial
rock.
On the way out of ‘town’, we saw the
flagpoles meaning we had arrived at the War Memorial. In the blazing heat, we
walked past the rustic sign and not-expected-at-all, Lake Beard. To the right
was a Memorial rock, we quite like these, having seen our first in the
Queenstown Cemetery on South Island.
       A random
selection, especially lie the bottom row.
  Edna was on
her own toward the Lake.
 Away to our left was a rather lovely setting.
 The Sheepyard and Community War
Memorial consists of a series of ironstone boulders in a semi-circular design
which commemorates Australian servicemen and women who have fought in conflicts
in which Australia has been involved. In the centre of the memorial is a beefwood sign and there are a number of plaques on
individual boulders which commemorate conflicts including a plaque dedicated to
Aboriginal Servicemen in all wars. There are also plaques dedicated to
individuals. The area is paved with mullock gravel and a tiled footpath and is
bounded by spaced wooden hurdles. There are three flagpoles behind the
memorial.
        So wonderful to see all the campaigns honoured.
 Just as we were about to head off a
‘ute’ roared up and parked up a pile of grit, two dogs got out, one to swim, one
to run at high speed around the lake. The owner disembarked and introduced
himself as Mac. The man from the picture in the pub.
It had clearly been a ‘thirst making morning’. He did say he was the key holder
to the museum and we could have a look around.
 Just inside the door was perhaps the most incredible picture we have ever seen when it comes
to camaraderie. Bearing in mind the light on the glass was awful, Mac helped
shade for me to get a close up.
 The soldier standing has actually left
this life permanently. His mates insisted he be in the picture and quite simply
‘propped him up’ by supporting him and the chap
behind holds two handfuls of shirt.
  Lovely to see pictures of some of the
veterans and the medals they so richly deserved. Just two examples, Sam on the left, Macs grandpa Mac on the right.
    Army records
belonging to Mac.
  We looked around the rest of the
museum.
   The Kokoda
Trail.
 Gallipoli – just look at the list of Anzacs who were awarded the V.C. at the
bottom.
   A unique look at pictures of the Japanese surrender.
    Unusual and
interesting bits to look at.
    Wonderful
reminders.
 The Coo-ee Call. Then it was time for us to
leave.
 A had to
before we left.
ALL IN ALL IN A JEWEL IN A ROUGH OUTBACK A SURPRISE FIND |