Cowra Caravan Park

Japanese Gardens

We visited the Japanese Gardens in Cowra, it was raining so we decided to take the golf cart around the gardens not to get too wet, first mistake - I let Drew drive the cart. I kid you not he was like a kid in a lolly shop, we went through every puddle, he tried to maximise his ability to drive very close to trees (on my side), we drove around the whole gardens which is stunningly beautiful, approx 6 times. All of these things are being chalked up............ I must say that I have now seen the biggest carp in the lake I have every seen. 600/DSCI0558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="">

Japanese breakout in WWII

Despite the fact that Japanese troops had been schooled to die rather than surrender there were, by August 1944, 2,223 Japanese prisoners of war in Australia, including 544 merchant seamen. There were also 14,720 Italian prisoners, mostly from the Middle East, and 1,585 Germans, mostly naval or merchant seamen. At this time 1,104 Japanese prisoners were in No. 12 Prisoner of War Compound near Cowra, This establishment was divided into four camps: "A" for Italians, "B" for Japanese, "C" for Koreans, and "D" for Indonesians. Six 30-foot observation towers overlooked the compound and at night lights from these towers swept the camps and fixed lights lit up the wire and the roads. A Japanese bugle sounded. A sentry fired a warning shot. More sentries fired as three mobs of prisoners, shouting "Banzai", began breaking through the wire, one mob on the northern side, one on the western and one on the southern. They flung themselves across the wire with the help of blankets. They were armed with knives, baseball bats, clubs studded with nails and hooks, wire stilettos and garotting cords. The Australians on guard duty were now firing into the groups of prisoners. The men not on guard, most of whom were sleeping fully clothed with rifles and 50 rounds beside them, raced out to reinforce the guard. Some hundreds of prisoners had now broken away into the open country, where camp guards, troops from a training camp two or three miles away and two police constables were soon rounding them up. The Japanese offered no resistance in this phase. Some of them hanged themselves from trees before they were found by the searching troops. The two policemen concerned were Constable A. P. McGovern of Mandurama and Constable C. H. R. Cooper of Woodstock. They promptly informed all residents of the two small towns and all outlying settlers what had happened and then worked long hours for several days searching for Japanese. Cooper arrested eight of them single-handed and three in company with McGovern. Including those who killed themselves, 234 Japanese died and 108 were wounded. Thirty-one killed themselves and 12 were burnt to death in huts set on fire by Japanese. Sixteen of the wounded showed signs of attempted suicide. The 22nd Garrison Battalion lost 3 killed and 3 wounded. As described in the book "Die Like A Carp" - I am sorry I cannot remember the author.

Katoomba - Cowra

On Sunday we travelled to Cowra. Cowra is a town in the Central West region of New South Wales in the Cowra Shire. It is located on the Mid-Western Highway, 317 kilometres west of Sydney on the banks of the Lachlan River at an altitude of 310 metres above sea level. At the 2011 census Cowra had a population of 12,147 people. Cowra is 201 kms from Katoomba, travelling through Blayney which my father always said it was the coldest place in Australia. We also passed a wind farm with several large structures in the distance. We booked into a small caravan park just 3kms out of Cowra. The whole park was set up by a railway buff as it has several items & some railway tracks around the park. This is where we joined The Family Friendly Parks Assn - $40 for two years. As we had already spent time in Dubbo at one, we have saved money at $27 per night.
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Bathurst - Katoomba - Sydney

We have had news that our wonderful friend Chris - her father has passed away and we are off to Sydney to attend the funeral & to spend a few days with my cousin in Katoomba.
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Touring photos

entering the national park; walking to the Kanangra Walls in the fog; Carlotta's Arch near the Jenolan Caves.

Touring

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Map - Bathurst to Oberon

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Map - Dubbo to Bathurst

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Bathurst - Oberon

Tuesday 22nd January 2012 Before we left Bathurst we purchased a new Tom Tom as the Navman was accidently packed in the shed at Lismore!!! Bathurst has the BIG GOLD PAN MAN which was just outside the caravan park we stayed at on Sydney road. Today we travelled to Oberon. Booked into the Jenolan Caravan Park $34 per night, which we will be staying two nights it was raining when we arrived - we took a drive around the town (in the rain). Found the Tourist Information Centre - we were served by Debra, she was so helpful and friendly gave us directions and travel time between the caves, Lithgow & Katoomba. Travelled out to Oberon Dam which is the source of the water for the town. They have a huge, & I mean huge pine timber mill where they make tongue/grove flooring for all of Australia & export overseas. It is very pretty around the town, we are quite impressed with the town and surrounds. Have been told it gets very cold here in winter. The town is larger than you would first think. It is the home of the "BIG TROUT" see photo. In the caravan park we met a swiss couple who we gave a book to re: the caravan parks to stay at etc. Lovely couple. This is what we enjoy is the interaction with everyone.

Mount Panorama

Drew's bucket list: Drew & I drove up to the Mount Panorama circuit - this was one thing which Drew can now cross off his bucket list!! Drew was like a small child, it was so good to see him laughing as he came through the esses, across the dipper and down conrod straight (which you can only go 60kph with Coromel van in tow!!!!) It was sooooooo good - Drew did it twice.

Dubbo to Bathurst

Monday 21st January 2013: We left Westview Caravan Park, which I would recommend - we enjoyed for 10 days - loved their swimming pool it was very hot 44 degrees & no humidity. We travelled through Wellington & bypassed Orange on the new detour road which came out just before Lucknow. Travelled to Bathurst. As always we found the Tourist Information centre where we spoke to the girls there, they had wonderful displays (see photo) found out where the Big 4 caravan Park was situated, booked in which cost us $32 per night. We found the caravan park with ease - people were very friendly. Would recommend the park. The only other park which could be used in Bathurst is the Showground which has no amenities.

Visit Orange

A fridge that works - oh how nice - our new fridge was delivered today and it is working!!!!! Our 4 x 4 is getting a service as it needs it before we travel to another exciting place. Thank you Bob Dean & Robyn from Kays Electrical, for the fridge which he let us use it for as long as we wanted, so if anytime you are in Dubbo & need some electrical work done - just visit our friend Bob or phone him on 02 68844145 & they are in Young Street. The other person who has done a great job is Tony from Performance Transmissions. Phone number to come - the 4 x 4 runs like a new one. We visited our friends Dianna & Barry in Orange the country is quite dry, they are needing rain.

Wellington

Took a drive over to Wellington which is only 45kms from Dubbo. Lovely park with a suspension bridge which Drew had to walk over, very hot but nice parkland. Wellington the township has a population of 5,600. It is the second oldest town west of the Blue Mountains. The Wellington valley was discovered in 1817 by John Oxley who named it "Wellington Vale" after news of the Duke of Wellington's victory at Waterloo. Official settlement occurred 6 years later. Wellington caves & phosphate mine is only 12kms from the town. Lake Burrendong is approx 28kms from Wellington - will let your know what these are like after we visit them next week.On our journey to Wellington we travelled through to small villages of Wongarbon & Guerie.
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Follow us - Scone to Dubbo

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Dubbo Goal

HISTORY OF THE GAOL The Old Dubbo Gaol was a courthouse lockup in 1847, was proclaimed an official Gaol in 1859 and closed operations as a penal institution in 1966. Officially re-opened as a tourist attraction in 1974, the Old Dubbo Gaol is now fully restored and is home to a large display of animatronic models and holographic displays which provide a fascinating insight into a bygone era of barbaric prison life. Wandering around this unique collection of 19th century buildings and artefacts, learning the stories of prison life, and spending a moment in the pitch black of the solitary confinement cell, will be certain to send a chill up your spine. Cost: $13.50 each adult - we viewed during the day, but there are night tours etc.