Balmoral (D25)

Today we went to Balmoral beach. This is one of the posh parts of Sydney, exclusive and rich. There's a fine beach which over looks the Sydney Heads, the opening point of Sydney Harbour or Port Jackson onto the Pacific Ocean. With a name like Balmoral it was bound to be posh. Interestingly it has a Chinaman's bay

The Aussies seem rather ambivalent about the monarchy. They had a referendum about ten years ago which asked a rather awkward and complicated question. Cynics suggested that it was drafted by a Monarchist deliberately to confuse. Anyway the upshot was that they decided for no change.

The view amongst my fellow travellers is that , while not being Monarchists, they don't feel strongly enough to upset the apple cart at the moment. Things will change when this present queen dies.

Australians are nevertheless proud of their country and are fiercely independent minded. They like to play their part on the world stage. Many are also genuinely concerned about the future, and in particular the influence and power of China. They are allies with America and support them in Iraq and Afghanistan directly because of any future threat from China. I have referred earlier to many of their attitudes to the Chinese.

Australia is also a growing nation. People who come to Australia may decide to become residents, or after a while to become naturalised. In the later case they have to go through a ceremony declaring allegiance to their new country etc. They can still hold dual nationality and passports. So I understand.

Earlier in the day we'd been round Balmain again on foot. We went to Elkington Park and from there were able to see Cockatoo Island (Warianbah) which we had kayaked around the previous day. In the harbour is also Gong-Ul (Spectacle Island) and Mullinagal (Snapper Island). From this park we can also see the Iron Cave bridge, Birkenhead Point, Drummoyne and the City itself.

This area of Sydney was formally the home of many Aboriginal tribes. The Eora people were on these very foreshores, but also the Wanagal and Caddigal tribes further inland. Now there is little left of their presence. Aboriginals have been here for about 40,00 years. Some people are trying to say that they themselves drove out a pygmy people in a brutal manor before they settled here. There is little evidence that this happened and I get the impression it is the sort of story that is all too convenient for some people. It excuses, for them, some of the atrocities perpetrated towards the Aboriginal. We shall never know the truth I guess. Whatever your prespective it is difficult not to escape the feeling that a people, it's culture and wisdom is being destroyed. And it's sad.