A DAY IN DARWIN
We always have things to catch up with in Darwin. Already we knew that our favourite art shop "Framed" had closed due to the retirement of the lovely, elderly lady owner. We wondered about Beth's favourite dress shop "Red Pearl" but did not know that it had closed too, replaced by a shop of different name, management and style. Change can't be stopped can it so, after Beth had her hair trimmed by an unusually silent hairdresser, we just walked along the mall and drove on to the Art Gallery for lunch with Veronica - only to find the cafe there closed for renovations.
Texts swung into action and we changed the lunch venue to another favourite, "Cool Spot", at Fannie Bay. The one success of the visit to Darwin was getting some maps that we needed.
In the mall.
Along the waterfront.
Government House
Parliament House
Motels and more motels
The Art Gallery
had a new exhibition of indigenous art - very modern and mostly confronting. We left feeling that something has been lost.
had a new exhibition of indigenous art - very modern and mostly confronting. We left feeling that something has been lost.
The nearby Contemporary Crafts Studios and Gallery had a wonderful display of art around a theme of the wetlands, supported by some excellent fabric and glass. We had a great discussion with the artist in attendance but resisted the temptation to buy.
A walk up the hill took us to Darwin High School and the School of Distance Education where Veronica works. The old Vesteys Tank has been incorporated creatively into the school design. It is enormous and impressive, particularly providing the assembly hall - gym.
Veronica works upstairs in an adjoining building with magnificent views
over Darwin and the coast. The facilities are vey high-tech with special teaching areas equipped with computers, skype video and more so that lessons can be conducted with distant students on line. They cater for around a thousand students in distant schools and stations.
