HMAS SYDNEY II

We spent this morning in Geraldton, one of the biggest regional towns in Western Australia.  We were keen to visit the spectacular Memorial dedicated to the Australian Naval Vessel HMAS Sydney II.  Located high on a hill overlooking the city and harbour it is indeed an incredibly moving tribute to the 645 men who lost their lives on the 19th of November 1941.  The ship engaged in battle with a German Raider HSK Cormorant that would eventually lead to the loss of both ships.


My main blip today is a sculpture of the 'Waiting Woman'  - Here is the script from the Memorial.  I urge you to read on.

The Waiting Woman Sculpture:
At the edge of the precinct stands a sculpture of a woman.  Appearing almost real, she leans anxiously into the wind.  Frozen in time and bronze, her strained gaze fixed patiently forever on the far horizon, she is the all encompassing ‘Waiting Woman’ grieving for her menfolk.  Through her, the pain of loss is felt, the everlasting empty waiting of those, many of whom will come to this place of healing, to close this tragic chapter in Australian history.  Hopefully these will find comfort in the existence of this sacred site; this place of contemplation which honours and remembers the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for freedom.
Joan Walsh-Smith & Charles Smith Sculptors

I have also added an extra image showing the 'Waiting Woman' and the Sanctuary.  Here below is the explanation of how the Sanctuary  developed.  It's an amazing story.

The Sanctuary:
This is the centrepiece and inspirational heart of the entire complex.  It consists of seven pillars, testifying to the National significance and intention of this Memorial, while expressing the traditional symbol of the pillar as world axis, joining heaven and earth.  The pillar denotes wisdom, power, goodness, strength, the tree of life and, surmounted by a crown, spiritual ascent.  This forms a Dome composed of 645 Stainless Steel Gulls, representing those lost.  The concept was inspired by the incident which took place, when a flock of Silver Gulls swooped over the assembled crowd, during the Memorial Site Dedication Ceremony, 19th November 1998, while the Last Post rang out in the evening air, at sunset, the last recorded moment in time when HMAS Sydney was seen.  Traditionally, the seagull personified the souls of lost sailors and in this context these elemental symbols form a link with the men of HMAS Sydney II, as spirits flying free between water and sky.  The canopy thus formed, becomes an open filigree stainless steel structure, redolent of the  sound of sea and wind, creating a sense of disembodiment and peace, as a graceful distillation of the overall concept.

"Lest we Forget"

HMAS Sydney II Virtual Memorial

We will be home in Perth tomorrow after an uplifting visit to a remarkable region of Western Australia.  I have no idea how we will ever be able to top the last few days.