Sunday 24th October 2021
Another day in sunny Townsville.
Today we had another swim in the Tobruk Memorial Baths. It is difficult to train hard as the water is so warm, about 29° and we both boil over any time you put in some effort. Although we did manage an ok session today. We then headed back to the hotel to pack up.
Next we went for a walk around the Jezzine Barracks at Kissing Point. This had a lot of history from World War II and also some artworks around the walk. There was also a lovely view out to Magnetic Island.
We then enjoyed a lovely walk along the boardwalk and path along Rowe Bay towards Pallarenda. On the way back we decided to hire some battery powered scooters as David had been wanting to give the a go since we first arrived. It was quite fun (45c a minute) and I handled it a lot better than DB thought I would.
After lunch we went to the Tropical Museum of Queensland. The current features were Ancient Rome and the HMS Pandora, along with their normal showcase of rainforest, barrier reef and north Queensland animals. We spent an hour and a half here, as always never enough time.
Following this we walked the streets of Townsville city looking at the amazing street art. The task to paint such huge artworks on the sides of buildings always amazes me. they were fantastic.
We then headed on the hour drive to Alva for tonights camp. We have headed a little further south again. We are now 6 hours 13 minutes and 515km south of Port Douglas which we left on 17th September. Hopefully we move a little bit quicker so we make it home for Christmas.
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View out to Magnetic Island from Jezzine Barracks Kissing Point, Townsville
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Nice sculpture at the top of Jezzine Barracks ..
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..Cannon..
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Jill Chism First Contact 2013, Timber, LED lighting, stainless steel
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Walking along the boardwalk from Jezzine Barracks towards Pallarenda
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Carly Kotynski Gavin Kum Sing Belonging 2013, Concrete, paint, ceramic tiles, stainless steel
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Dreamtime story.
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Billy Doolan Amanda Feher Canoe People 2013, Painted galvanised steel
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Rurik Henry Jordan Wyles Crocodile 2013, Stainless steel
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As always most swimming spots have the emergency vinegar for marine stingers.
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Some more artworks at Rowe Bay..
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..this one was a little scary – looks like a witches face..
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Another crocodile – but this one is safe to stand close to.
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Getting ready for my first electric scooter ride..
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..I took to it like a pro.
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Amanda Feher Billy Doolan Gabul Ceremonies 2013, Painted galvanised steel, pebbles, granite, aluminium
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Rurik Henry Dooey Dooey 2013, Stainless steel
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Jenny Mulcahy Return to Country 2013, Sandstone, wharf timbers, corten steel
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Rurik Henry Crow 2013, Stainless steel
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Rurik Henry Jeremy George Brolga 2013, Stainless steel
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Real size replica of HMS Pandora
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The Colloseum in Rome with statues of gladiators in the foreground.
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A little trick photography..
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..David’s head for afternoon tea..
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City Street Art – ROA Untitled [Croc and Turtle] 2015 ROA’s most ambitious Townsville wall, this work is indicative of ROA’s inclination to ‘stack’ native fauna as part of his designs. Featuring a large-scale crocodile and turtle, the work took just a week to complete. ROA commented on the Street Art movement during his time in Townsville, stating, “It can provide inspiration and offer much enjoyment… Street art is a global movement with different practices and ways to approach it.”
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Hafleg Under the Sea 2020 Hafleg draws inspiration from his identity as a Larrakia artist, the Larrakia people being the Traditional Owners of the Darwin and Cox Peninsula regions of the Northern Territory. The mural inspires wonder and respect for nature and for people to appreciate their relationship to the natural environment. Under the Sea is eye-catching with vibrant colours, dynamic composition as well as incorporating crosshatching in deference to Hafleg’s Larrakia heritage
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continuation of Under the Sea
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CLAIRE FOXTON Sound & Movement Personified 2018 Australian artist, Claire Foxton, collaborated with Dancenorth, a local dance company, to have a photograph taken of a contemporary dancer in motion. Claire then undertook a process of personifying the essence of sound and movement represented through explosions of colour and gestural marks, melding the different arts and inviting an emotional response from the viewer.
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815K1 Cat and Mouse 2020 815K1’s, Cat and Mouse, is a dynamic visual play that blends with the surrounding contemporary urban kitschiness of giant animals and portraits in the Townsville CBD, while making clever use of the laneway space. The game of Cat and Mouse is easy to identify with, while the neartouching limbs of the cat and the mouse praises and parodies Michelangelo’s “The Creation of David” (1512), with termination of a rodent.
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Garth jankovic and nicky bidju pryor Girroogul and the Soap Tree 2016 Recognised Townsville-based artists Garth Jankovic and Nicky Bidju Pryor have collaborated on a work that depicts the story of Girroogul, with an intent to “create a mural that embraces the stories of the traditional owners of this land, and showcase the unity and power of working together between two cultures.”
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Unknown..
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Leans Mother Earth 2017 Mother Earth provides a vision of the movement and ecstasy felt when exploring the depths of the Great Barrier Reef and captures the colourful charm of the evening sky. The piece consists of a rich dose of patterns and colour taken from glimpses of the coral and fish specific to the area. Fruit, human form and liquid splice their way through an amalgamation of elements, collectively working and breathing together to create a colourful interpretation of Townsville’s ecosystem
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the run collective Space Trails 2017 Space Trails depicts a surreal dreamscape incorporating outer space themes where multi-coloured clouds leak out of planets and morph into different objects such as UFOs, eyes and patterns. The RUN Collective is a group of Townsville-based, multidisciplinary artists, whose self-directed, independent and experimental practice has spawned numerous exhibitions, gigs, street artworks, zines, publications, films and workshops throughout the North Queensland region.
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ALL HOURS Transmission 2020 ALL HOURS is an arts collective that emerged out of the infamous RUN CREW. Their multidisciplinary arts collective works with equal aptitude across traditional and non-traditional forms of media. The collective work together combining different styles and elements, forming a collage of imagery based on both their individuality, their connection to the community, and landscape of North Queensland.
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james Giddy Collective 2019 Western Australian artist, James Giddy, is heavily inspired by the French technique of en plein air painting, revolving his practice around themes concerning the unknown, and environmental conservation. His work, Collective, depicts the native kookaburras in an impressionistic-realist style, emphasising the blue hues in the wings, and their natural beauty. The mural provides a welcoming familiarity; reminding the viewer how closely nature interacts with their everyday life.
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beastman Converge 2016 Beastman is a multidisciplinary artist from Sydney. Influenced by the beauty and symbolism behind nature’s repetitive geometric growth patterns, landscapes, and organic lines, Beastman’s tightly detailed and colourful work depicts an unseen world of new life, hope, and survival. Beastman’s use of vibrant colours reflects life in the tropics.
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ROA Untitled [Goanna] 2015 ROA’s mammoth painting of a goanna was first inspired by an encounter during a previous trip to Australia. He explained, “the last time I was in Australia, I witnessed my friend Keith, who lives in the Pilbara region and is native to the land, catch a goanna to barbecue with his family. It was amazing to witness how he caught the lizard – he asked the goanna for permission to kill him and feed his family, all in his traditional language”
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kennie deaner Untitled [Agora House] 2014 Commissioned by Townsville City Council in May 2014, this mural was completed by Townsville artist Kennie Deaner, and combines the artist’s traditional graffiti influences with a portrait of Captain William Howard Smith, a historic figure after whom the building was once named. Agora House was erected in 1910-11 as new offices for the Townsville branch of the Howard Smith Company Ltd, a coastal shipping company.
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A few portraits
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Today we walked over 7km, scootered 3.3km, swam 1800m and drove 115km from Townsville to Alva.