Monday, January 30, 2012

30 January 2012 - Shady Acres Caravan Park, Ballarat, Victoria


The fact that we have just gone and paid for a further two nights is evidence that this city has much to offer and we have yet to leave. We spent another busy day enjoying its attractions and have arrived home late in the afternoon just in time to put the meat loaf in the oven.

It rained during the night and was still drizzling when I woke. I say “I”, because my other half had had a long hard night at the tennis at the Rod Laver Court in Melbourne, or more correctly sitting in front of our television watching the men’s tennis open finalists battle it out. I had gone to bed at the end of the first two sets and Chris, in his gentlemanly fashion, had put on his headphones so I was not disturbed by the grunts of the players. The result of all of this was that breakfast was late and we were later than usual getting out the door to start our touring.

We returned to the Art Gallery of Ballarat and took our own time wandering about the galleries guided around on Saturday. We also discovered just as many galleries beyond those already seen, full of more wonderful art. There is currently an exhibition of the works of Michael Shannon, an artist born in Kapunda, South Australia in 1927 who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in the 1980’s but continued to practice his brilliant skills until his death in 1993. The work covers the whole of his career and includes cityscapes, portraits and landscapes; all absolutely wonderful. The additional galleries also include works titled “Next Gen 2012: VCE Art & Design”, an exhibition that makes me realise that I am getting old and stuffy after all.

It had been known to us on Saturday that the relatively new curator had a penchant for moving artworks around, which served to confuse the volunteer guides, and today we discovered for ourselves that he (or she) is a strong advocate for manmade climate change. So much of the commentary was twisted about to suggest the artist was drawing attention to the environmental calamities in transit and to be revealed to us in the early 21st century. Both Chris and I agreed that this was beyond their brief.

There were still the occasional showers when we emerged, and we did not dare leave our paid car park space, so ate our lunch in the land cruiser before venturing out into the streets again to enjoy the wonderful architecture of the city, particularly in Lydiard Street, most already complete by 1860 defining the enormous wealth generated by the rich gold discoveries. We explored the Mechanic’s Institute which still today operates as an alternative library, enjoyed by those who pay the required subscription. This Institute started in 1859, like all such places, was built to provide working men with a chance to improve their work skills and general education. Today it houses an impressive collection of old local newspapers, old and new books and other historic collections.

Apart from enjoying these old edifices, we also explored the central city shopping precincts, the Bridge Mall Shopping Centre and Central Square. As we emerged from this latter centre, the Ballarat Carillon struck three and went on to play the most delightful aire, The Blue Bells of Scotland. This amazing apparatus was initially installed way back in 1869 however never sounded right and it was not until 1982, over a hundred years later, they remedied the situation and the public have been treated to this wonder ever since.

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