Last Day

Today was our last in Australia. As our flight wasn't until 4pm, we were able  to spend the morning in Sydney. We decided to walk in Hyde Park which was near our hotel, and possibly visit the museum. However, we stopped to take a closer  look at the Anzac Memorial, and discovered there was a tour taking place in a few minutes' time, so we joined that. I am so glad we did as it was very interesting and at the end we were invited to participate in the short service of remembrance  at 11am, which was quite moving. The minute's silence observed during the service gave me an opportunity to reflect on all the  wonderful experiences we have been privileged  to enjoy in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand over the past six weeks. I find it humbling to consider that if brave men and women from Australia and New Zealand hadn't served during the first and second world wars, and in later conflicts, we might not be fortunate to live in  a peaceful, free country now, and able to visit their homelands.  
The  Anzac Memorial is one of the finest Art Deco buildings still remaining in Australia. It was designed in a collaboration between the sculptor George Rayner Hoff and architect Charles Bruce Dellit, and opened in 1934 , by a "grandson of the king", to commemorate the people from NSW who served in WW1. As well as the Hall of Silence  containing the  stark sculpture called the  Sacrifice, the names of the fallen are listed, without rank or decorations, and  there is a flame of remembrance. The sculptures on the outside walls represent the different services, including nursing. There is also a pool of reflection. 
In 2018, the memorial was extended with the addition, outside, of a water cascade and, inside, of a Hall of Service, designed by artist Fiona Hall and architect Richard Johnson, which commemorates  Australians who have served in later conflicts, along with 1701 soil samples taken from the suburbs and homesteads of the WW1 enlisted soldiers. This  extension was opened by a " grandson of the Queen" . It was actually Prince Harry, and as with the Prince Henry who opened the first memorial, the egalitarian  principle of  not listing any of the people by class or rank, was observed.   For more information about this stunning  monument see this link:   Anzac Memorial
After our tour of the memorial, we made our way to nearby Central railway station  to catch a train to the airport, to start our journey home. We flew with the excellent Singapore Airlines to Singapore, (8 hours)  and, after a couple of  hours, flew on to Heathrow ( a gruelling 13 1/2 hours!).