Chernobyl

This month marks the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. I’ve been watching a series of documentaries on TV, made in different parts of the world, but all showing footage, again and again of the nuclear plant exploding. It was truly shocking. Perhaps the worst thing was the giant cover-up as the Soviet authorities tried to keep it secret from the rest of the world: until they couldn’t. Finally the whole town of Pripyat had to be evacuated: some 4,500 people in an enormous convoy of 1,500 buses.

There were interviews from survivors, including hospital nurses and doctors, firefighters and other first responders, schoolchildren in Pripyat, bewildered local officials who didn’t know what to do. There were photos of many who didn’t survive, as well as horrific footage of radiation burns on the bodies of victims. One documentary relied heavily on this book:

I actually bought this book in 2020. I had been sitting next to someone on a plane who was reading it on the flight. As soon as I got home to Perth, I went out to buy it. The book is detailed and dense, representing years of research.

In 1986, at the time of Chernobyl, I was working at Vienna International School. I’ve been trying to remember how it affected us. I know that our students were not allowed outdoors at lunchtime. I also daren’t pick the herbs growing on our balcony. Apart from that, I remember very little. I suppose we were lucky in that the radioactive dust was blown north-west of Austria, eventually being identified in Scandinavia and even being known as “acid rain” falling in the Welsh mountains.

In order to see what we were doing at the time, I’ve been looking through my photo albums. A few months after the disaster, in June 1986, C and I were on holiday in Venice. This is us feeding the pigeons:

So it seems we were completely unaware of the seriousness of the tragedy. For us, life was going on as normal.

Much later, I was reminded of the repercussions of the nuclear fall-out. JL had a Polish cleaning lady at his house in Quinns Rocks. Her son married a girl who was a recent Polish immigrant. Soon, they had a child. Tragically, it was a hydrocephalus baby.

Hot Walk Through History

Sunday’s bushwalk was around the old quarantine centre at Woodman Point. We are now into the “winter schedule” of late starts, but the weather played tricks on us and we found ourselves walking in 31 degrees. Arriving at Nyyerbup Circle, Coogee for 9.30 am, it was virtually impossible to find a parking spot. There were so many people there, including skuba diving groups. Fortunately I had my secret weapon, in the form of JL’s old disability sticker.

We followed Sue along the disused rail tracks, which had previously been used to carry ammunition to bunkers along this part of the coast:

The quarantine station was established in 1886, to house people arriving by boat at Fremantle who were suffering from contagious diseases. It operated up to 1979. This is what it looks like today, when it is used as a recreation camp:

We observed a monument at the nurses’ graveyard, since many of them succumbed to the diseases:

We also passed the small crematorium, where bodies were disposed of:

 

Three of us decided to take a short cut back to the start, since it was getting really hot and not easy to traverse the sandy tracks.

We all enjoyed lunch in the shade at the end of the walk:

What an interesting excursion, in spite of the heat!

Meanwhile back at the ranch, the destruction of Burswood Park continues:

Easter

On Good Friday, C and E came over to have dinner at Burswood. Only Rocky was missing, as big dogs are not allowed in this building. On the menu was Salmon Wellington from Aldi. I have sworn off Kailis since the price of fresh fish has gone through the roof. Snapper now costs ten times more than when I first started shopping at Kailis. For dessert we had kiwis that claimed to be from WA, but I couldn’t believe this as I didn’t know they were grown here.

We should have gone down for a swim, as Friday was the best day in terms of weather, but we were too lazy.

I was keen to get some exercise on Saturday, so I walked around the perimeter of the fenced-off area of Burswood Park. I took this photo directly opposite from where I live:

The picture shows the complete destruction and the pond they are trying to fill in with blue metal. It’s taking them a long time.

On the way home, I walked past Crown and was looking for somewhere to sit down. I accidentally found a secret back way into their pool area. I followed a sign that said Great Lawn and found an unlocked gate. Normally you would need a key card to go through to all their outdoor facilities. Without my swimming costume, I couldn’t take advantage of the situation, but I wonder if I could repeat the experience?

Their trees were just coming into bloom:

Canning River Bushwalk

SUNDAY 29^TH MARCH

Canning River Reserve 2

Location:      Wilson 

Time:            8.45 am for 9.00 am start

Meet:            Carpark, end of Kent Street, (Kent St Weir) UBD Map 310, D10

Details:        The walk is an easy one along the banks of the upper Canning River utilising footpaths with a short section of bush track.  Coffee stop at Masons Landing which has shaded seating and toilets around 1000.  The walk is between 4 to 5 km. 

Water rushing over the weir

We began the walk at Kent Street Weir. Kent St is off Albany Highway, but is not well marked. It’s easily missed as you drive along, which is what I did and arrived 5 minutes late. Luckily, the group had not set off as there was a sudden heavy shower of rain so they were all sheltering at the cafe.

On the walk, we kept seeing lone white herons in the trees and I tried to photograph them taking off, which proved impossible!

White heron and reflection

Another heron

Don't feed the birds!

Morning tea at Masons Landing

Margaret always brings her knitting

We didn't see a snake!

Val admiring the scenery

This was her view

Val and Sue scoffing at the end of the walk

Short Bushwalk

Garvey Park to Gould Reserve 

Location:     Garvey Park, Ascot to Gould Park, Ascot, and return.  UBD (2022) Map: 250  L14  (at end of Fauntleroy Ave, Ascot)

Time:          8.45 am for 9.00 am start

Meet:          at Walk Trail Sign in front of the Swan Café near the car parks/play area.

Details:       Easy walk, about 3.1 kms return, mostly formed paths alongside Swan River. Bring water and morning tea to eat  at Gould Park.

This was the first of our new style, easy walks for us aging bushwalkers. It went along the Swan River, starting only 15 minutes drive from my home. I’m surprised I never knew about it before. The group had done a longer version of it in the past and I realised it would have taken place when I was in Spain on the Camino.

It was a lovely sunny day: a lot of people out walking and a few too many cyclists on the narrow path. I felt pleased that I could walk 6000 steps, as I’ve done very little since the Shingles attack.

Resting at the turnaround point

Our view of a small jetty

Selfie

Stream flowing into the river

Australian misletoe

The last photo shows the orange parasitic misletoe climbing up a tree along the river bank. These are quite different from the European misletoes which bear the traditional white berries at Christmas.

Destruction of the Park

This began just over a week ago. All reticulation stopped and the grass was allowed to die. Big machinery moved in - lots of it, working in different sites. Suddenly I could hear chain saws and six palm trees were felled in minutes, one after the other, falling like dominoes. It was heartbreaking. I’ve never felt like hugging a tree before but I did on that day.

If you’ve ever killed someone, it takes a long time to dispose of the body (illegally as in a murder mystery). It’s the same with a tree. Removal of the dead trees is still ongoing. A huge shredding machine works all day, reducing the wood to a massive pile of sawdust. I’m not sure where this will go, but it will have to go somewhere.

The secure fence keeps protesters and others well away from the action. This includes the black swans trying to find their way to the ponds:

The adults obviously remember where to go, but are frustrated by the new fencing.

From my balcony, I can see the desert-like scene with the dead grass in most of the picture. Beyond the fence on the left is the Crown Resort land, which is still green:

I could easily host a sniper to eliminate any more people with chain saws.

On Sunday there was a football game at the Stadium (the Asian Women’s cup with the Matildas vs the Filipino team). Spectators would normally walk across the park, having left their cars at Crown. I was interested to see if anyone tried to break down the barriers, but they all obediently followed the signs and went round.

On my way home, I passed by the 3 B’s and heard someone calling my name. It was Brian, a neighbour of mine, who said: come on in and I’ll buy you a drink. That was an offer I couldn’t refuse!

We commiserated about the state of the world, while I admired the huge selection of drinks available. There’s a big investment tied up in all those bottles!

Bushwalking Group at Crossroads

On Sunday, the Bushwalking Group met for the annual planning meeting. The aim was to agree on the walks for 2026. In the days prior to the meeting, there had been a number of emails which created some misunderstandings and a few people took offence when none was intended. It is clear that we are all getting on in years and can no longer do the long and strenuous walks that we used to enjoy. I personally used to think nothing of walking 15 km and on the Camino I could do this day after day: no problem, but not any more! 

Three long time members of the group decided to resign and join a more active walking group (Perth has no shortage of these). It was assumed that these three would not attend the planning meeting, so Margaret M and Sue drew up the agenda between them. We met under a shady spot on Hackett Drive near the river. There were only seven of us and we were all given a chance to say our piece about the future of the group. Most said they valued the social side as well as the walking, but we really needed to shorten them. Everyone was asked what contribution they could make in 2026. I was reluctant to put my hand up, as I’m still suffering from the after effects of shingles which sapped all my energy, not to mention the awful coffee poisoning episode. I don’t feel confident to lead a walk and the group really needs leaders.

We had a break for morning tea, with everyone providing a contribution.

 My banana bread.