Jun 03

Mini-mounts and monks

by in People we've met, Places we've been, Things we've seen

A bit of a catch up is in order, trouble is I can’t remember where we were up to. Is this CRAFT disease or maybe the after effects of quokka attack?

I don’t remember.

Saturday 25th was scrutineering day for entrants to the “round the houses” racing at Albany scheduled for the next weekend. George was entered in his 88 Reynard Formula Libra and also had to get the Ferrari 308 GTS/i inspected for its annual concessional licence renewal (being LHD). I agreed to drive the ute towing the race car to scrutineering thinking it was the wiser choice for me but on return George twisted my arm up my back to force me to drive the Ferrari home. I know why! However scrutineering was an eye-opener – the roads corporation of WA throws open its vehicle inspection facilities for the clubs to use for scrutineering. As there were at least 150 vehicles to be checked and the race is a one day event, time is not lost on race day through scrutineering. Well there were some very desirable vehicles in evidence, although really no different to any eastern state historic event but I am always overawed at any such collection of relics (including most of the owners)

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Two fantastic people, George & Ina Webber, the Reynard, and yes the handbrake warning light is on cos it’s stuck on (bloody cheap Italian cars)

We shared the back yard with Webber live stock, all of which consistently sought human company…IMGP2449

 

 

 

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but unfortunately the livestock wouldn’t co-operate this morning and all stand together for the group shot.

 

Sunday we set aside for The Pinnacles and New Norcia. George and Ina suggested that we could do both in the day if we got away early but their idea of early was 6.00am when they took off for their weekly fix at the swap meet. That just wasn’t going to happen, but we set off reasonably early to cover the 200ks north to The Pinnacles and assumed that we would also get a look at New Norcia.

Well the Pinnacles delayed us. Despite the advice that it might be interesting but you wouldn’t spend a lot of time there we found it fascinating and ended up spending a lot of time amongst the mini-mounts. Like all WA touristy sites access was easy and well supported. An information centre provided some background but a drive through the pinnacles themselves delivered a real sense of familiarity and awe………PICT0990

 

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The best part is you can actually drive amongst the pinnacles, stop, get out, touch and feel………IMGP2335

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The information centre suggests that the pinnacles are the remains of an ancient forest, petrified trees broken down by the shifting sands but it also offers other explanations like an ancient upsurge in a rocky sub-strata broken down also by the shifting sands of time. Who knows if the experts don’t?

Off to meet the monks of New Norcia (about 150km nor-nor east of Perth and off into the wilds of WA). Well we might have but we were too late, so we went home without our souls being saved. But Monday dawned bright ( but still not early) so we went back and took vespers with the 9 monks of New Norcia in their private chapel. I don’t think we were saved by the experience but we were intrigued. Unfortunately no photography was allowed in this chapel so we can’t share the experience but suffice to say they prayed real good and sang even gooder. Then we took a 2 hour guided tour of the only monastic township in  this country. It is , to say the least, extraordinary.

Started as a mission to the natives in 1847 by two Spanish monks it grew into a centre for education of all, with separate schools for indigenous boys and girls and “white” boys and girls – apartheid was real in Australia well into the 70’s. It lasted as a bastion of education until about 1972 or so and at some point it was home for about 80 monks of the Benedictine order. The fact is that it is a beautiful bit of  architectural and cultural history. Building started around 1849 and continued into the 1960’s. Most of the later buildings are disappointingly utilitarian but some of the older ones are phenomenal……….IMG_0116

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We ended up spending the day here. Also unfortunately no photos were allowed in the museum following a major theft of the most significant works of art  some years ago. The works were selected for theft from photos taken by the thieves and subsequently valued by the end receivers for targeting. The paintings were all, bar one, apparently recovered and continue on display and they are beautiful, stunning, collectable religious  works. There are also some modern religious renditions but they left us cold. The artefacts in this place are priceless.

New Norcia covers some 20,000 acres and includes a productive farm, a vineyard, an olive grove  producing oils and wines and even bread and it raises funds otherwise today through renting out facilities for conferences and  study groups. It is however some millions in debt and the nine remaining monks average 70 years of age so there will come a time when the place cannot be sustained. There are already signs of serious deterioration. The monks are totally responsible for the income, expenses and maintenance of the township. I don’t think prayer will suffice. It will be a shame to see this place lost from our history.

The journey however continues. We’re back in Albany for the long weekend of vintage motorsport but that’s a report for another day.

 

 

One Response to “Mini-mounts and monks”

  1. From g@z:

    So was the Ferrari a nice drive? Still got your licence I hope 🙂

    Regards,
    g@z.

    Posted on 6 June 2013 at 8:31 pm #

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