The SSSS tour of celebrations.

[drron]

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And that was the recreation grounds back in the day when many lived onsite.But the tour is over.Basically seeing the works you get a little pessimistic about the continued viability.The administrators have already sold off the profitable parts of Arrium but despite 10% wage cuts the steel mill still runs at a loss.In it's heyday it employed 6000.now 1600.If it is sold I don't doubt that number will fall.
As we were driving back to the Visitor centre the guide was asked if the Sub contract would make a difference.Well no.They will use flat steel and this mill doesn't produce that.
In the mid 70s Whyalla had a population of 36000.Now ~22000 but still the 3rd largest city in SA.

So back to the visitor centre.I had about 15 minutes before the Whyalla tour so walked around the gardens of the Maritime Museum-

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And an aerial shot of the shipyards when working-

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[drron]

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RIP was the ship's name after being decommissioned and taken over by Vic Ports working in Port Phillip bay.

 

[drron]

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Onboard and first examine the J cabin-officers quarters.

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[drron]

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Now down below to basically a store room-

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The back up Wheel.And below the Officers store for all their nice things.

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[drron]

The Whyalla began life 75 years ago just 2km behind her stern-

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The engine room-

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And now to the Y cabin-

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[drron]

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The ships complement was in the mid 50s so this space was for 50 men.but on occasions the Whyalla was used as a troop
transport and this was the sleeping quarters for 200.

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Lifeboats were another area where it paid to have rank.the officers had a lifeboat with motor,the midshipmen a lifeboat with oars.Ordinary seaman-large buoys to cling to.

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The air conditioning system.they could be turned to face the wind.

 

[drron]

Now the tour of the F suite.In navy days the captain had all of this area but when operated by Ports Victoria it was divided up and remains that way-

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The gun is WW1 surplus-

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And that's the bridge-next port of call.

 

[drron]

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That finishes the tour of the ship.now to the museum.First up their modern calculators-

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[drron]

The maps by Freycinet and Flinders-

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The last an aerial photo.Port Augusta at the top of the sqiggly blue line.Whyalla top right just after the start of the sqiggly line.
They have models of all the ships launched here as well as the original wooden model and plans of the Whyalla-

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[drron]

The launch of the Whyalla-

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And stills taken from a film of her return to Whyalla.You will note vic ports took a big bite out of her superstructure-

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Wartime photos.most 25 pounder shells made here-

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[drron]

So on my last day off in Whyalla I took a walk to the Whyalla Wetlands.

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It was a beautiful day for a walk and the wetlands are a popular walking spot with a ~ 2km track.It seemed obvious this was man made.From the main car park I got a clue as to what might have been here in the past-

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[drron]

Indeed this was the site of the original Whyalla airport.A little section has been kept with the terminal and a small hangar.Lots of info and photos there.

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[drron]

So back to the hospital the long way,First through the Industrial area and then past the Pony Club that doesn;t seem to be active-

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Silky oaks do well and attract lorikeets and parrots-

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An Orthodox church-

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Certainly a step up from the old church.

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[drron]

Quite a few interesting buildings in the old part of town.Comes with night cart lanes.Flowering jade that I have not seen before and examples of renovator dreams-

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Something you wont see in some states,a garden of lantana-

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And it really was a BHP town-

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And on my last weekend I went out for lunch picking shop small businesses.First Kafe Legana and a seafood platter.Quite OK for a quick bite if going through town.And then the Bayview Hotel and a Thai beef salad.A cheap option.

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Best places for meals though a bit expensive are the Watersedge restaurant at the Foreshore motel-excellent food.And Percy's on Playford at the Alexander motel.Good food and excellent service.And for a takeaway pie or pastie the French Hot Bread shop on Playford.Pretty cheap too.
So driving back to my unit-obviously a good Aussie company-

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[drron]

So the last post about Whyalla.These are early homes dating from 1914-17.A long row of them opposite the Harvey Norman car park.The earliest homes were at right angles to these built going up Hummock Hill.They were built 1901-3 of a similar design but no longer exist.

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They are very close to work-

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At the side of Harvey Norman is one of Whyalla's earliest public buildings but you soon realise it is just a façade stuck onto the side of Harvey Norman-

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One weekend a month Whyalla has a craft fair in another part of the workers accommodation.However unlike other places it is not say the 3rd or 4th weekend but any weekend.You have to seek out which one it will be.It was on the last weekend I was there so took a visit.A chance to go inside the buildings-

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It is a genuine craft market with women spinning,weaving and knitting with the men in their own building trying to turn wood into objects of beauty.

So that is Whyalla.At first thought it was a desolate place but I grew to enjoy my time there.Certainly some interesting things and a great place to walk-though not in summer when the temp gets to 40+.But as to whether I go back I was the only Physician for 5 days per week with junior support only 9-5 on 3 of those days.A comparison with a hospital of similar size city is chalk and cheese-
Whyalla-1 Physician with a private Cardiologist.1 registrar seconded from RAH.3 residents for the whole hospital.ED staffed at all times by an on call GP.
Burnie-3 physicians with a private Gastroenterologist and a Private Cardiologist.5 medical registrars-2 from Royal Hobart.A med reg on call 24/7.Each team with a CMO and intern.ED staffed with a FACEM and several residents.Until recently even an Intensivist.
Sorry SA but your Health Service is seriously lacking.

On my last day I had a bit of fun-the SA cabinet was in town for a Country cabinet meeting and on the Sunday the Premier officially revealed Whyalla's new symbol and tourist slogan.I arrived just behind Windmills Weatherall and was neatly dressed with a business shirt so you could see people wondering who I was-a few did talk to me thinking I must have been something to do with the purchase of the steel mill!
I went and stood next to a similarly dressed gentleman with grey hair and we struck up a conversation which quickly became a discussion on the proposed nuclear dump-there were protestors present.It turned out he was the Minister for Regional Development.The Channel 7 cameraman saw us talking and approached and when he heard the word nuclear started recording us.Probably made the local news but unfortunately I left at 0830 the next morning.

I do hope some got something useful out of this section of the TR.Whyalla makes the 18th regional city I have worked in.Yes I do it to earn the money to continue our travels but I have thoroughly enjoyed the experiences.We do have a country worth exploring.
The TR proper is next.

 

[drron]

So Thursday arrives and we are off on this,for us,uncomplicated trip.For our international flights we have booked awards leaving us to get to Sydney and back on our own dime.Back in January when the trip came together we decided to fly MCY-SYD on VA.Little did we know what Velocity had planned for us so that this flight has become,barring miracles,our last ever flight on Virgin.Just to add a little spice mrsdrron got the Velocity status offer so had become a pointless VA Gold.So we enjoyed priority checkin and priority baggage.

VA 482. MCY-SYD. ETD-1035. Push back-1035. Take off-1041. Seats 8C,D.
ETA-1305. Landed-1301. At gate-1309.
An uneventful flight.The snack was a 2 bite Carmen muesli bar.Actually could have done it in one bite but was trying to be couth.The CSM pretended he was on JQ-shut the curtain on the front galley and was only seen again when the curtain was pulled back for landing.The other crew were efficient.
When it comes to priority baggage VA does seem to have taken lessons from QF and learnt them very well.In times past they did this well but today the priority baggage only appeared after all other bags.Our 2 were the first and last of the priority bags.

So off to Avis.Their priority system has become hit or miss with me.Had to go to the agent and was told it was because I used an old credit card.Now I have had at least 3 agents say they have changed it in my profile and I myself have changed it-this CC is nearly 2 years since issue.It seems their system isn't that great.Soon sorted though.

The purpose of our stays in Sydney are to see family especially as this year is our Christmas off and we will be away.One night was dinner with mrsdrron's family at Medusa-a Greek restaurant.We do enjoy this and to add a little extra it is also an Amex small business.I had their octopus and the baked shoulder of lamb with potatoes-my favourite 2 dishes.Mrsdrron had a scallop entrée that was a special and shared the lamb with our neice.

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The other event was having an early 70th birthday celebration.This is what makes life just wonderful-

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The eldest granddaughter wants to collect a letter from the Queen.Explaining that the Queen probably wont be around in 30 years even if I am just didn't cut it.
My Grandson had just become the school chess champion.He is in year 1.He was runner up in kindergarten.Makes a grandfather proud.
To celebrate dinner was at Guillaume in Paddington.More delicious food pics next.

 

[drron]

My early 70th birthday dinner at Guillaume.Sadly wont be repeated as the restaurant closes next month.food was simple but expertly prepared and cooked.Service excellent-

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The first pic is the amuse bouche-corn and mussel.Was absolutely delicious.Forgot to take a pic of the kingfish but another excellent dish.The pea soup with mudcrab again excellent.The other pic missing will be the hens of the woods.A mushroom dish so not appealing visually but fantastic flavours.The waygu beef was also a favourite.Next the Murray Cod.Much better than I expected.Then the duck and the lamb dishes.cooked perfectly but too well known tastes to shine.The lamb was served with a bowl of delicious creamy mashed potatoes.

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The desserts were special.The apple dish so light yet full of flavours,the soufflé excellent but you do have to like passionfruit.

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A very nice selection of petit fours was offered and on leaving a small box of chocolates for everyone.
A most enjoyable evening.

 

[Pushka]

My early 70th birthday dinner at Guillaume.Sadly wont be repeated as .....

Oh. I thought you were going to say because you don't plan on turning 140!

 

[Denali]

Whyalla, SA?

Ive been trying to get there for years and havent made it - love the pics

 

[drron]

So the rest of our stay was babysitting duty.But today was a rest day.Mrsdrron did a bit of shopping and then I went over to the DJ's Food Hall and bought some sushi for lunch.After that we moved to the Stamford at the airport ready for our OMG start on Tuesday.Our view went from our Navy to weel.....

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And I wonder what they are cooking up for us tomorrow-

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Our room.Seriously in need of a refurb-

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Went to their restaurant for dinner.Mrsdrron had the Argentinian burger-spicy but physically only just warm.I had the Waygu rump-cooked as ordered but very chewy-

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Rydges has better meals.