3 June 2013 - Advent Park, Maida Vale, Perth, Western Australia

Perth turned on the good weather for Founder’s Day, the sun shining brightly all day and morning no colder than 10 degrees, just too Glorious for words. And speaking of which, the throngs amassed again this morning, drawn by the musicality of the event and bound by the moaning and keening prayers that seeped through the cracks in the tin shed across to the laundry. 

 I learned from the park manager that the convention or whatever one might call it, apart from a camp, was not an Adventist happening after all. Given that there was an import especially from the United States for the event, it was more akin to an evangelist meeting, and the sights and sounds certainly took me right back to the Billy Graham Crusades of the seventies. There have been about a hundred and fifteen folk staying in the cabin type accommodation in the park for the event, and the organisers had hoped to draw crowds of up to five hundred, including the day visitors. Glenn reckoned there were about two hundred of the chairs made available, not in use, but then he took no account of those standing and dancing who had no use of chairs. It seems that one of the neighbours complained about the noise levels in the evening, however for ourselves, we did not find the noise offensive, nor for that matter, the tone.

This afternoon, as the sun falls low in the sky, the crowds have dispersed and we are back to the regulars, a few new in and some having left this morning.

We headed out late morning to catch some of the good weather and the holiday atmosphere, driving westwards along the northern banks of the Swan River, past King’s Park, through the suburbs of Crawley, Dalkeith, Peppermint Grove and Mossman Parks where the very smartist houses in Perth are located and where the very rich and notable names have lived at some time. Palatial mansions sit above the river, with views across the harbour-like waters; we decided that Perth’s “harbour” was even more beautiful than Sydney’s.

We travelled down to Rous Head, the northern head of the Swan River’s mouth directly opposite Fremantle, home to one of the Rottnest Island ferry terminals and to much shipping business, then up the seaboard through the beach suburbs of Cottlesloe, Swanbourne, City Beach, Scarborough, Trigg, Marmion and Sorrento. There we paused to note the marina style shopping centre of Hilary’s which Jess had told me about and the other ferry terminal for Rottnest Island. We were astounded at the number of cars parked everywhere, and while there were large numbers of walkers, runners and those enjoying the sand and sea, there still seemed a surplus of vehicles.

From here we headed inland, back toward our camp, travelling some of the way on the Mitchell Freeway, which like the Freeway in the south, straddles the urban rail line. We paused at the Mirrabooka Shopping Centre to pick up a rotisserie chook for dinner; most of the shops were shut, proprietors not willing to pay penal rates on a statutory holiday.

Tomorrow promises similarly good weather; we will decide tomorrow’s touring schedule in the morning.