We had friends (from Geraldton) come to stay for a couple of days before Christmas so we had an early Christmas barbecue, inviting a couple of friends/neighbours around in the afternoon which stretched into the night. The next day we drove to Hillarys Boat Harbour for a stroll around the shops, cafes and marina, enjoying a really nice fish and chip lunch. We drove back north checking out the splendid, the strange and the lovely houses of the northern beach suburbs and stopped for a coffee at Mindarie Marina. Michael was rather disappointed that there weren't any boats on the boat ramp - boat launching and return is one of his favourite pastimes. Then we toured the new housing developments further along the northern beaches and made our way home via Yanchep and Two Rocks, all four of us heading off for a 'nanna nap' (or 'scan' - senior citizen's afternoon nap) as soon as we got home.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day we spent lazing and relaxing, on the Saturday our Geraldton friends came back to stay, having spent Christmas celebrating with family in the city, before heading home. Then we were off on the road again, heading south to spend New Year's Eve in the country town of Dumbleyung. Where they were celebrating 50 years since Donald Campbell set the World Water Speed Record on Lake Dumbleyung. There was more water in the lake then, but still a memorable event, some of our friends can remember the actual event.
As we were living in UK at the time our personal memories are of the tragic crash on Coniston Water in the Lake District which claimed the life of Donald Campbell just a couple of years later.
We packed the motor home on Sunday evening and were ready to head off by 10.30 on Monday morning. We avoided the city traffic, letting those who wanted to head off for the post Christmas Sales. We took our usual slow paced route through Gingin, Bindoon, Toodyay and Northam. As we leaving Northam we got a phone call from Ralph and Hanny, they were ready to leave home. Where would we meet? We decided to meet in Brookton as we were both about an hour from there.
They phoned us again when they were in Brookton, parked in some welcome shade, we were only 12kms away. Good timing.
After a short break we carried on south, through Pingelly, Cuballing and Narrogin down to our overnight stop. A lovely little spot next to an old Hall in a very quiet spot near Wagin. The Hall is still used occasionally, and apart from the new fire shed next door there is nothing else around.
Just us, the birds, the wind and unfortunately the mosquitoes. We headed into our vans for an early night.
The next morning, just after breakfast, our other friends arrived. Diane and Alan had had a very early start but had no soon joined us than we were on the road again. We headed out to Dumbleyung.
We four took the 'long way around' sticking to the bitumen roads but Diane and Alan took a short cut getting into town before us. We went to check out the caravan park as it was heading up to 40 degrees The park is unattended but after a phone call we had found out the cost and checked the ablution block. The park was fully booked for the next night (NYE) so we could only have one night. We were just thinking about options when Diane rang to say that they were parked at the Stubbs Park recreation ground, where free 'pop-up' camping was available. They were parked in the shade and were next to toilets and showers. As there was no shade in the caravan park we headed down the street to join Diane and Alan.
We each got a lovely shady spot and set up camp. We took a shower but there was no need to use any hot water, the day was getting much hotter, a cold shower was welcome. Diane just wandered into the shower in her clothes, when they dried out she went back under the shower.
Just after lunch it was extremely hot - Diane had a thermometer and kept giving us updates on the temperature, 42 degrees and rising. We considered de-camping and going to the caravan park so that we could plug into power and run our air conditioners but decided to stay put. We moved to various positions to find the coolest spots, popping in for a cold shower every now and then. Then Michael fetched a bucket of water, up ended it over his head - that was the start of it. What a great idea.
We were soon taking it in turns to throw buckets of water over each other - the more surprising the attack, the better. We were then sitting around in dripping clothes and chairs, with a slight breeze the temperature certainly didn't feel like the 47degrees that the thermometer was reading, (40 degrees inside the motor homes!)
Gradually the temperature dropped and we enjoyed another lovely WA sunset.
The next day, New Year's Eve. The big day.
We had a lazy morning and then after lunch walked into town for the start of the celebrations.
We went to the special exhibition at the old post office, bought souvenirs and checked out the display. Rosco McGlashan (World Land Speed Challenger) was there with models of his land speed challengers. Rosco was inspired by Campbell, and has broken Campbell's Australian Land Speed record with 500 mph.
What a small world it is sometimes - across the road there were a few cars on display and there was someone we hadn't seen for many years, this chap had helped us through the importing process when we had imported our Porsches back in 1990! He now races his E-type Jaguar on dry salt lakes.
In the car clubs there's usually someone we know from somewhere, we had a little chat and then rushed off to get the shuttle bus up to 'Pussy Cat Hill'.
On 31st December 1964 the world record run took place at 3.43pm.
From the top of Pussy Cat Hill about 12 kms out of town, you have a great view out over Lake Dumbleyung and there is a monument to Donald Campbell. This year's celebration was a big one and we didn't want to miss it.
We were on top of the hill by 3.00pm.
The monument on the hilltop is a large rock, shaped like the state of Western Australia, with a small hole drilled in it at an angle. At the base of the rock is a brass plaque, with a little model of the world record car, Bluebird, sitting on it.There is a map of the lake on the plaque and the car is in position so that at EXACTLY 3.43pm on 31st December a shaft of light pierces the rock, through the drilled hole, and shines down on the Bluebird model.
It's very simple but an amazing piece of engineering.
(The Bluebird model this year, is a new one, the third one. Over the years,the other models have been 'souvenired' by people. The story is that the last theft caused the thief to have lots of bad luck so they returned the model, with a letter of apology. Not a new story, and we hope that their bad luck continues. This new model is well and truly bolted down - we hope.)
There was a very well organized ceremony up on the hill, speeches and then at 3.43pm the sun shone through the hole - excellent.
Then there was a fly past by the Wagin Aero club.
All very special but the most special thing happened just before that - standing on the sidelines was Gina Campbell, Donald's daughter. She was having her photo taken by an official photographer and with her, as always, was Mr Whoppet.
(Mr Whoppet is a teddy bear. He was Donald Campbell's constant companion on all his speed attempts and was in the cockpit that day on Coniston Water. He was recovered from the crash site.)
Michael went over and asked Gina if we could have a photo of her and Mr Whoppet - we were both shocked when she said 'You can hold him!'
It took days for the smile to fade from Michael's face....he held Mr Whoppet!
(In fact, he bursts into a grin now, just thinking about it).
After the ceremony everyone had to return to Dumbleyung for the official unveiling of a replica of Bluebird K7. We had to stand in the sun for 20 minutes for the shuttle bus, but were back in town by 5.00pm.
We managed to get seats for the ceremony and soon the official business began.
Gina Campbell was officially declared an honorary citizen of Dumbleyung (does that make her a Dumbleyungian or Dumbletonian?). Then Gina thanked the Shire and town and made a surprise gift to them. One of the four Segrave Trophies awarded to her father. (1955,1958,1964 and posthumously in 1966).
The Royal Automobile Club created the Segrave Trophy in honour of Henry O'Neil Segrave, (the first man to hold both land and water speed records), to recognise British nationals who demonstrate outstanding bravery, skill and initiative on land, air and water. Since 1930 the Segrave Trophy has been awarded to those with 'the Spirit of Adventure'. Campbell's father Malcolm was a recipient twice but Donald is the only person to have received it 4 times.
Gina also presented a small piece of strapping, a piece of the seat belt from Bluebird, found when they recovered Bluebird from Coniston in 2001. It was a very emotional moment for everyone.
There were more speeches by local dignitaries, including Joan Ward, the widow of the man responsible for bringing Donald Campbell to the lake back in 1964. She remembered how there had been several attempts at the world record. Some aborted due to ducks on the lake. She was home in the afternoon on 31st December when the local policeman came up and said that Campbell was going for another run and she should come to see it. She told him 'well he'll have to wait, I haven't finished washing the kitchen floor'.
She finished the floor and got to the lake in time to see the second run.
Col Ward was President of the local Dumbleyung ski club in 1964 and he read about Campbell's frustrated attempts at the water speed record in Barmera, South Australia. He suggested to the local
Shire Clerk that they invite Campbell to Dumbleyung to try on Lake Dumbleyung. This suggestion went to others, to the State powers that be and the invitation was issued. Campbell flew over to have a look at the lake and the rest is history.
By making that run on 31st December, Campbell became the only man to ever set the land speed and water speed world records in the same year and became known as the most prolific world record breaker of all time.
The record set on Lake Dumbleyung was 276.33 mph (444.7km/h).
Then it was time to see the beast - the unveiling of the replica of Bluebird K7 Hydroplane_Mark 19 built by Statewide Boating, who coincidentally are based in Ledge Point, just up the road to us.
There were lots of oohs and aahs - it looked great but what a pity there's no engine in it and it won't actually take to the water.
Then all feeling rather tired we headed back to the 'camp' and relaxed. We were going to buy dinner from one of the food vans at the oval but they were inside the party area and it was $20 to go in to the party. As we were all planning on just sitting around our vans and listening to the band from afar, it was time for a quick re-think and a hastily prepared dinner.
What a difference a day makes - 47 degrees yesterday and now as the sun set the temperature plummeted. Diane got the thermometer out again and at 11.00pm it was 12 degrees! We went for a stroll around the oval and park, then back to our vans for a quick champagne toast to welcome in the New Year. Happy New Year!
The first morning of 2015 and we were all packing up ready to move on. Diane and Alan were heading home and we four were discussing were we were going to head to. With the prospect of more 40plus days we didn't welcome staying out east of Perth and the south coast would be very busy with school holiday makers so we decided to head north, back up the Great Southern Highway and see what camping spots we could find.
We found Yornaning Dam. We had been here before and were delighted that it was still available for an overnight stay. In fact someone had been working hard to keep the place clean and tidy. We set up camp, had a stroll around and then put the kettle on.
Then we got a visitor, John, a local farmer dropped by to say Hallo and remind us not to light a fire. He was the man responsible for the great state of the site, his little hobby I think. How he has time to do it as well as running a small farm and working as an ambulance officer I don't know. Anyway, we all got chatting, he had a cuppa with us and then the boys got talking about cars.... then John took Ralph and Michael round to his place for a look at his 'collection'.
Hanny and I finished off the champagne from last night and opened a bottle of Moscato.
The boys eventually returned and as it was a very pleasant warm evening (Diane wasn't with us so we didn't have a thermometer) we sat outside until after 8 pm. John then went home and we went inside for dinner, a short read and then an early night.
More indecision the next morning and after double checking maps we decided to see if our friends in Northam were 'at home' to visitors . As there was no phone coverage we drove into Pingelly, where we stretched our legs with a walk up and down the main street where it was lovely to see a full sized nativity scene in the local park. Okay the wise men could have looked more masculine but it was a lovely scene and totally unvandalised, so well done Pingelly.
We had phone coverage so made the call.
Yes, we would be welcome so on we drove. We didn't stop for lunch, heading straight into Northam. Once parked outside their house we made ourselves a light lunch and joined them in the kitchen.
Tom and Lois host many overseas exchange students and 'willing workers' this time they had a couple from Italy and a return visit by a German chap. This made for very lively, noisy conversations around the dining table. The wine and beer started to flow and it looked like stretching long into the night if we stayed much longer so we bid our goodbyes and headed on home. It was just getting dark as we pulled into the driveway. Light enough to quickly get what we needed form inside the van and go inside to settle into the comfy chairs infront of the telly.
It was a shorter trip than we planned but there's always another day....
