HMAS Sydney and a Fishy Treat

Western Australia is the largest state in Australia. One place I visited recently was Geraldton, 424 kilometres north of Perth. It is now a city and has grown in size and population. (Approx 26,000 people).

Over the years, I went there on a few camping trips. On the foreshore, there was a yellow submarine, unfortunately it has gone. It is my mission to find out what happened to it!

Western Australia has an amazing coastline and many ships have succumbed to the reefs over the years.

One story you may have heard was the finding of the HMAS Sydney and the Kormoran.  In 2008, David Mearns an American born, long time English resident, oceanic scientist and deep water search and recovery expert, led a team to find the Australian warship HMAS Sydney and the German Commerce Raider, Kormoran.

David Mearns first heard the story of the Sydney in 1996, and it left an indelible impression in his mind. One of the world′s foremost shipwreck hunters, David had successfully located dozens of wrecks in much deeper water. Hunting the Sydney, a challenge he accepted in 2002, proved his toughest quest yet. It tested his skills as detective, engineer, marine scientist and navigator. David′s quest, over six years, took him around the world. From war archives in Germany, to the homes of Kormoran survivors, then Fremantle, Western Australia and out into the Indian Ocean. He encountered conspiracy theories, clues, cyclones and a myriad of mechanical problems. On March 17th, 2008, he finally said with excitement, "HMAS Sydney found!"

The initial search for the ships began on 24th November, 1941 after Sydney failed to respond to radio messages. Royal Australian Air Force aircraft patrolled off the West Australian coast and all high powered radio stations in Australia were instructed to continuously broadcast to Sydney. After the British tanker, Trocas rescued survivors from the Kormoran at approximately 120 miles (192 km) west-north-west of  Carnarvon on 24th November, six nearby merchant ships were instructed to search for survivors. Four auxiliary Royal Australian Navy vessels were dispatched from Fremantle. 315 survivors from the Kormoran were rescued by 30th November. The only confirmed trace of Sydney found by searchers was a single empty lifeboat recovered by HMAS Heroes.

Finally, the relatives of the servicemen that served on the HMAS Sydney and the Kormoran have closure. For many years, the location of the vessels was unknown.

A memorial is now on top of Mount Scott in Geraldton. It is made of four major elements. Steel based on the ship's prow, a granite wall listing the ships company, a bronze statue of a woman looking out to sea waiting in vain for the HMAS Sydney to return, and a dome made of 645 stainless steel seagulls . 

This mystery of the sea brings my next recipe to you. Try this tasty dish.


Salmon, Spinach, Asparagus and Avocado Salad 

Ingredients

1 bunch of asparagus, ends trimmed
200g of roasted salmon fillet, flaked 
150g baby spinach leaves 
1 avocado, peeled, deseeded and flesh sliced 
1 tablespoon of olive oil 
2 tablespoons of lime juice 
2 teaspoons of brown sugar 
Salt and pepper to taste
Sesame seeds, to garnish

Method 

Blanch the asparagus in a pan of boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain, refresh under cold water, then drain once again. Pat dry.

For the dressing, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice and sugar in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Place the asparagus, salmon, spinach and avocado in a large bowl.

Toss the dressing through the salad and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Serve with fresh crusty white bread!

 

   

From University to a Date!

The University of Western Australia is 100 years old this year. It opened its doors  in 1913 and 184 students attended. It was then located in Irwin Street, Perth.

It had many buildings, one was transported from Coolgardie, 580 kilometers North-East of Perth. When the First World War started many students and staff volunteered for Military Service and the University's funding started to deplete. After World War One ended, the University quickly developed 
once more.

A bequest was left from Sir Winthrop Hackett's estate (Sir Winthrop Hackett was the owner and the Editor of a Western Australian major newspaper). Building began in 1929 on a 51-hectare site in Crawley, about five kilometres west of Perth. A Mediterranean style Winthrop Hall, clock tower, Hacket Hall and administration buildings were completed in 1932. Also with the funding, a Gothic style St Georges College was the University's first student residence. 

The original buildings were also moved from Irwin Street to the new location at Crawley. One is still operational, the University's archives centre and cricket club pavilion.

During the Great Depression and World War 2 the University froze its development. One exception was the breakaway of Agriculture from Science to form a new faculty in 1936. Through ties with the then newly formed Institute of Agriculture, the Faculty of Agriculture was to become home to research laboratories for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research for many years.
 
The faculty has developed today into the best of its kind in Australia and among the top 50 in the world.

After World War 2 the University's  student numbers grew to 1000. Then to 2000 by 1956 and almost doubled to 3,800 by the end of 1962, including 166 enrolments for master's degrees and 99 for doctorates. With larger student numbers came a dramatic increase in academic staff, leaping from 91 in 1953 to 247 in 1966.
 
Currently there are over 24,000 students enrolled.

The University is not only a place for study, I have attended some wonderful events there. In Summertime  they have outdoor movies, plays and a great theatre called the "Octagon Theatre" where I have seen many performances.

The gardens around the University are beautiful, with permission you can be married there!

 
DATE MELTAWAY

Ingredients for Pastry

2 tablespoons of butter
1 and a half cups of self raising flour
1 egg
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of milk

Ingredients for Date Mixture
                                          
1 cup of stones dates
Half a cup of sugar
1 cup of water

Method
 
Meltaway Pastry - Melt the butter and sugar, add the milk and well-beaten egg, mix well and add the flour. Roll out, and line a baking dish with pastry, keeping back half for a covering.

Date Mixture- In a saucepan place 1 cup of stoned dates, half a cup of sugar and 1 cup of water. Cook on low heat until mixture well combined and thick. Allow to cool, then spread over the meltaway pastry in the baking dish, and cover with another layer of the pastry. 

Brush over with a little milk, and bake until golden brown.