Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 11:59 AM
Both Graham Elphick & myself have been to these Open Days at the Temora Aviation Museum before which I would say being not to big, is very sort of friendly. As it is always such an enjoyable day out I was quick to accept an invitation from Graham to accompany him to this one being the last for 2007.
I should say these scheduled flying events are held over 2 days of a weekend in most Months of the year. Besides being able to see the Aircraft at other week days up close in the theatrical lit Display Hangar, along with DVD Footage of the history of aircraft & Static Displays, we wanted to head off to nearby Temora to see these Aircraft flying.
Our departure was delayed on the Saturday morning when Graham phoned to say he had a new born calf that was not drinking from Mum & he wanted to give it some bottled milk as the day was forecast to be pretty warm. I then drove to his farm to save time
Jess greated me with all of the signs of intelligence a farm dog can muster & the desire to go about some farm animals while her Master was hastily making his way to the cattle yards. Graham who is a Bachelor always seems to have something happening around his place & spends a lot of time devoted to the care of his beloved stock.
When kneeling to take this photo Jess surprised me by sliding her head under my right arm to give me a smoochy look. After a short tussle with the calf the job was done & away we went being by this time about 1 hr late....Not to worry though as such is life on the farm.
Having arrived & making our way to the Public viewing area without walking into something from continually looking up, we stood at the fence & were treated to some fine fly overs as seen here with the Hudson Bomber & Aus Boomerang.
After a while I noticed Graham helping an elderly chap who was battling to take a photo with his mobile phone. The bright day making the screen very hard to see as well as some serious head scratching on how to make the thing work. Being deaf in one ear & with a half paralysed voice I decided it better to let Graham continue as the Good Samaratin. Some minutes later Graham announces to me that this chap was a Spitfire pilot from WWII & I said "Well you better get him over the fence"...Meaning to make it known to the Aviation Museum people of his presense. It was only then I noticed this chap was wearing a name badge that looked to have some sort of officialdom to it.
I decided to take some photos of this chance meeting with Lyne Skinner & was able to reach around a gentleman beside me with the camera in one hand to do it. Lyne had come to Temora on a Charter flight from Murray Bridge in South Australia with Howard James-Martin another WWII pilot, his Son Peter & good friend Dr Graham Norton. Graham Norton was brought up in Temora where his Mother & Sister still live.
It was Graham who organised the weekend for the ex RAAF pilots.
What it was that Lyne was wanting to photograph was a Supermarine Mark XVI Spitfire now readying for take off.
Lyne had flown one of these in Photo Recognaissance (PR) in the Mediterranean Theatre or WWII which saw him carry out 33 Operations from Egypt to Italy, Malta, & up to the Front Lines at Ferrara & Trevisa in Russia. These (PR) Spitfires were defenceless as all armaments were removed to allow for extra fuel to be carried in the wings to undertake these missions.
This very aircraft still painted in its war time colours saw action towards the later part of the war over Germany where it was piloted by Russell Leith who lives today in Perth West Aus. Leith with this Spitfire flew missions with the RAAF 453 Squadron to attack V2 Rocket Installations. Now it is piloted at Temora as seen here by Guy Bourke from Melbourne.
Graham then set about finding some officials from the Aviation Museum to see if Lyne could be re-aquainted with a Mark XVI. Not only was this achieved but both Lyne & Howard were taken in for a recorded interview of their war time flying experiences ....I hope in the near future visitors to the Aviation Museum Website that I will give later may be able to view these interviews in the Unsung Heroes segment.
These two photos were taken with 35mm Prints so have an older look.
Guy Bourke with Lyne back in the cockpit after 62 years...Check out the grin !
Howard James-Martin seen here chatting to Graham did not on the day have the luxury of being re-united with a Vultee Vengeance. Howard piloted a Vengeance during WWII as a Dive Bomber with the RAAF against advancing Japanese Forces in New Guinea at Nadzab, from where the Squadron raided places such as Hansa Bay. Howard also saw action in Kittyhawks in Borneo.
Howard together with his CO did the longest raiding mission of the war in a Kittyhawk from Labuan to Kuching.
Towards the end of the day in Meet the Pilots where the public can go out onto the Tarmac to the various aircraft I intended to get a photo of Howard with the Wirraway an aircraft well known by him from his training days but lost sight of his white hat in the crowd.
Of course being a kid at an Air Show sometimes other things take more of a precedent.
"Gee I'm glad I'm with Grandad...He knows just where to point so I can see the planes !"
"Grandad Do you have enough money to buy a drink or an ice-cream ?"
"Bet that Paddle Pop tastes better than this hat"
"Thank's Grandad_Burp! Your the Best!"
The Show Goes On
Tribute to the Loss of Australian Aviation Icon Col Pay
In ending this Entry concerning the Aviation Museum at Temora I wish to close with a few photos of Col Pay taken on that day as a Tribute to a man known by so many here & overseas not only for the enjoyment he brought people at Air Shows but for the preservation of many Aus "warbirds".
The Australian Aviation Industry suffered a great loss when Col Pay tragically lost his life in a flying accident on 07 December.
Col Pay 26/10/1932 - 07/12/07
For more Information on the Temora Aviation Museum please see :
www.aviationmuseum.com.au
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( 3 / 1278 )Monday, December 3, 2007, 11:20 PM
Sunset Storm at Old Junee 25/11/07
I have for a little while now been wanting to ask for your prayers. This seems to have been made more difficult in that I have discovered it is easier to ask for prayers for others than one self.
I have at this time the re-emergence of a brain tumor resulting in Diplopia or Double Vision brought about by the tumor effecting the lateral movement of one eye so it is not able to focus on the same object as the other eye.
An Operation is scheduled for the 27th of Dec in the Prince of Wales Private Hospital Randwick Sydney by Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, Surgeon Thomas Kertesz & their team.
Please pray for the skill & guidance of the Surgeons to remove the tumor so that intended radiation treatment can be undertaken.
Please pray normal vision will be restored as Dr Teos prognosis of this happening is remote. He has likened this part of the Operation to a strand of hair passing through the flesh of a green peach...One must cut that away without damaging the strand of hair being the nerve to the eye lateral movement.
Please pray for Gods guidence for me to at this time to deal with this strange new mixed up world of Diplopia
Please pray for my Spiritual & Mental Growth
I wish to thank Eric Schumacher from the Wagga Wagga Baptist Church for his help on his recent & being very timely sermon on Prayer. In this sermon Eric pointed out : THE KEY TO ALL PRAYER FOR HEALING IS THE GLORY OF GOD is our greatest concern, then all prayer for healing will submit to that higher purpose. That really is the key.
Ephesians 3:14-19
Phillippians 1:9-11
Operation Date Confirmed
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( 3 / 1465 )Thursday, November 1, 2007, 09:03 PM
Just now & again it will happen that everything will come together for a setting Sun to bath a very special scene with all of the glow God can muster. Even more rarely will this canvas of God reveal something that is special to those privileged to have the view. Such was this Sunset last Sunday.
When you see a clear sky gap between the cloud in front & the horizon get ready for a revelation.
I am seated in the theatre in front of Gods canvas & so it was to behold
(Not quite finished)
Thank You to jophanie for her helping hand in this Entry
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( 3 / 1909 )Wednesday, October 24, 2007, 09:15 PM
In recent days we have seen three in one day & all before lunchtime within our garden. I am referring to the Eastern Brown Snake who at this time of year in September / October is out & about seeking a mate. A Crested Pigeon & Fairy Wrens are nesting in the garden now so these might be an added attraction to thier diet.
This snake had been sunning itself on the dirt roadway to our house on this coolish day. Luckily Mo was at home in the safety of the house as I was driving by when it was discovered. I had my camera so followed its departure into a nearby field....I am amazed by how quickly & effortlessly these reptiles can move over the ground, it is always a wonderful experience to behold.
On a more disturbing note with an appointment to our local Doctor last week, when I made mention of these high level sightings in a single day he informed me that there is no antivenom available outside of Wagga Wagga. He explained it is to scarce to be supplied for outlying communities.
Junee Hospital is 15 minutes away but Wagga Wagga is a good 25 minutes so to my liking that is to long a time. We have the compression bandages at hand in case of a bite & I of course say to Jenny to make sure she carries her cell or mobile phone with her at "all times" as this is the most single important life saving device one can have.
It is most important once bitten not to move if it can be avoided. In moving the snake venom is pumped through the lymphatic system of the body, so to remain still is a life saving strategy not easily achieved with the panic of being bitten.
See for more Information on the Eastern Brown Snake
(Pseudonaja textilis) the Australian Museum Website
www.austmus.gov.au
I have received a comment & very informative link from Julian that I would like to include :
http://www.livingwithwildlife.com.au/do ... pdfs.aspx.
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( 3 / 2053 )Wednesday, September 19, 2007, 10:57 PM
Many wonderful memories prevail of our holiday time in Alaska & over the border into the nearby Yukon of Canada. These are as the travel brochures highlight with towering snow capped mountains where Moose can be seen grazing in beautiful grass surrounded ponds. Where Beaver dams abound & Bear & Deer at times for the lucky can make themselves visible for a photo.
I have one lingering memory though which is not as the brochures dictate....I have another of Europe, our later destination which is of the cigarette butts between the cobblestones but that is another story.
On the wall of the Museum in the Old Salmon Canning Factory at Hoonah South of Juneau is a large photo I cannot forget.
It shows some dead horses & one which appears to be alive but on its knees head resting on the ground awaiting the release only death will bring from what was said to be human abuse.
In a Gulch not far from the summit of the White Pass above Skagway Alaska some 3,000 pack animals perished, victims of neglect & this abuse to overloading by Stampeders who in the year 1898 clambered ever upwards from Skagway far below to the Gold Fields of the Yukon in Canada. Perhaps as punishment beyond the Summit border Canadian mounted police at that time only allowed those to pass who could carry 1 ton of provisions for 1 year in the field.
At Fraser beyond the summit border lay a Glacier scarred valley floor of rock, where scoured out pools & ponds of water provided such difficulty to negioate that it was named The Valley of Torment
Beside the train Station at Fraser wildflowers soak up the Summer Sun
We boarded the train here to make the journey down the White Pass 2767ft to Skagway on the Lynn Canal below. We passed by The Valley of Torment, & it is this expression of what it stood for which has become a catch cry of mine.
It was here I think at Inspiration Point on the way down a view happened where I was lucky enough to see a ship down at Skagway.
The Observation Viewing ends of each carriage offer good opportunities for open air photography free of window reflections not always noticed with camera playback inspections...Besides one can experience the smell of the wild with the wind passing by, filled with the sounds of hissing brakes & cotton wood seed getting in your eyes which is much more fun than being inside. One must be vigilant to look up along the carriages however to see what openings in the trees is coming for a scenice photo or a bear close by the train track. This did happen along the way down & I can still see the Brown Bear standing on a rock besides the line nose twitching smelling the air of our passing. Had I an apple I could have easily tossed it to this tourist performer delighting everyone on board. As luck would have it at this point in time my digital camera sound card was full, but I had a Nikon FM2n all manual 35mm as a back up hanging round my neck so was able to grab it quickly to get one capture of the event.
On arriving at Skagway the Station area was packed with people, then after being bused to our Hotel & taking a Main St walk the penny dropped as to why there were so many on the boardwalks with cameras dangling around thier necks. It was of course because the Ships were in & we were to count four of them looming it seemed at the end of town.
Beyond the Shipping Terminal lay firstly the Railway Station line then the town of Skagway nestled in a flat valley floor below the towering peaks up to the Infamous White Pass.
I was up early the next morning & out in the town to find it empty. One could have fired a canon down the Main St & not hit a soul. Then later at Sundown of this July 3 we were to observe what we felt was a remarkable happening.
It was as though the Pied Pipers played & the children of Skagway came out drawn by this music.
Not long after when a Band from the Red Onion Saloon took over a boy in a little red car appeared on the St & peddled right up to almost where this Band were playing.
Shortly after this photo was taken the boy in the little red car peddled over near to where we were standing on the board walk corner out front of the Red Onion Saloon. From the conversation we overheard between this lad & one of the Mums present it was apparent he was a bit of a "Scally Wag" !
The children of Skagway gathered & from the youngest to eldest & wonderful interaction occured which we thought would not happen in our home town in Australia....Jenny being a long standing Primary School teacher commented this would just not occur with children of these different ages at home.
I lost sight of what happened here but I think there was a crash into the board walk when the rear wheel drive over revved & the handbrake failed.
The little red car lay abandoned by the side of the St...Forget Finding Wally See the Orange Crocs. From within a group of teenagers the little boy was hoisted skywards & with arm outstretched above for a moment he was King of the Castle.
The light was failing but I did manage to get some blurr happening.
The next morning being the 4th of July Celebrations began at 9.30 with The Kids Parade & Who do you think was to appear larger than life ?
There were many things of interest in the main Parade like the First Nation People
My favourite however were the Hot Dogs complete with mustard
When a big red car appeared I wondered if this could be the little boys Dad ? The little fella was no where to be seen as he was out in front once again on the Main St of Skagway.
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