Spending the weekend in Wagga Wagga is a clear demonstration of my lack of geographical nouse. I thought it was almost to Melbourne and therefore would be cold! So I absolutely sweltered in the allegedly 32 degree heat yesterday and gave a lot of financial support to the local taxi service to avoid arriving at appointments dripping with perspiration.
My colleagues in Sydney were perplexed and asked in disbelieving tones why I was going to Wagga Wagga. Well true, and with reference to the previous post, the person I am with is the key reason, and he is preaching here tomorrow. And it is the location of one of our clinical schools for 2011 so an opportunity to visit Calvary and learn more about Mary Potter. But above all it is an interesting place. With a quilt exhibition. And a botanic garden with a free zoo.
Walking back from a riverside wander yesterday afternoon I came across the 'war memorial'. Such a huge list of names, from what is even now a relatively small community, who served "God, King and Country' in the Great War. Interestingly the dates on the memorial were 1914-1919. Curious. Did they acknowledge the aftermath of war as well as the duration? Did they update to include those who made the 'supreme sacrifice' after warfare ceased? Or did a stonemason just make a mistake?
And behind it an ever-burning flame (with an empty Coke bottle floating in the pond) and a wall acknowledging all who served in previous and subsequent military encounters: Anglo-Boer War, WW2, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam etc. And another curious corrections plaque listing additions, alterations and deletions from the main bronze plaques. Deletions puzzled me, were they later identified as traitors or cowards, or again was this just simple human error?
Such memorial inspire conflicting emotions for me. Pacifist feelings mingle with pride and a kind of patriotism, with grief at needless waste, with sadness at the scale of it. Good to take stock and think. Before shopping for summery clothes.
2 comments:
I haven't gone wayfaring to Wagga Wagga, perhaps we will include it in our Christmas trip this year. I read your story with interest. I also have those mixed emotions when seeing the memorials which are at the heart of every town.
It's a problem knowing what to wear at this time of year. We found it very warm when we got to Dubbo (current Wayfaring trip) but the next day was almost chilly. It was good to seem some sunshine this weekend, I was feeling a little fogged in and dreary.
Interesting to hear about you and Wagga Wagga.
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