27 April 2012 - Exhibition Park Camping Ground, Canberra, ACT

Early fog was all about this morning just as it had been yesterday, so we deliberately delayed our day’s touring. I made use of the camp’s laundry and was delighted to discover the washing machine’s function on $2 rather than the usual $3 or greedier $4 ones. Washing hung out under the sun, we headed off into town, across the lake and parked by the Old Parliament buildings, also known as the Museum of Australian Democracy.

The Old Parliament

We arrived just minutes after a free tour had begun but soon caught up, to spend well over an hour being shown around this wonderful building. Right from day one, it was only ever considered as a Provisional Parliament, meant only for fifty years use. As the original 300 parliamentarians and staff grew to 3,000, extensions were made and the fifty years drew out to more than sixty. Fortunately for us, the tourists, the building was made a heritage building before demolition could take place, and excellent use has been made of the space since.

Apart from a brief exit to enjoy our lunch in the grounds opposite and  a stroll around the lake and the perimeter of the aboriginal tent “embassy”, we spent about five hours enjoying the museum and have yet to see everything. There are a mass of interactive displays, films and wordy information. Our parting words to the concierge were to ask what time they opened tomorrow. And his to us when we explained that we had been unable to do the place justice in the limited time; there are three kinds of visitors – streakers, strollers and studiers. We were evidently of the third category. In fact that is quite a good observation about travellers generally and our slow crawl about this country definitely puts us into the “studier” variety.

Protesters set up in the Parliament grounds

And on the tent embassy; what a disgrace! This was set up in 1972 and has remained at various levels ever since. It was of course the subject of the “Cinderella affair” when Julia Gillard was hustled away from the crowds of protesters who were baying for blood back on last Australia Day, and when the prime minister lost her shoe in the scuffle. The cause of the rabble rousing was a misunderstood comment about the existence and removal of the “embassy’. However I will say here and now, at the risk of offending but safe behind this computer, that the collection of tents and rubbish on the lawns in front of the Old Parliament is offensive to the eye and does nothing to enhance one’s view of how certain people choose to live. The one tent that might be the headquarters is branded with the word “Respect”. Yeah, right! How can such a request be taken seriously in such a context?