Our annual ANZAC Day outing

Just last week I decided to try and be more regular in my posting and then both my husband and I got sick.  Nothing serious - just that tummy bug that seems to be doing the rounds in Canberra at the moment.  We are still feeling a bit seedy, but I think we are getting better.  So this post is a bit late, but here it is!

Every year around ANZAC Day we head up Mount Ainslie.  We do this for a few reasons.   ANZAC Day is such an important day in Australia that even if you feel the year is rushing past and you have lost track of time, this holiday always reminds you of the date and that winter is fast approaching.  Mount Ainslie gives the best views of Canberra.  Mid-autumn is a great time to see the full colours of the season.  (I posted a photo of Mount Ainslie earlier this year - you can see it here).

For my non-Aussie readers - ANZAC Day is the commemoration of the 25 April 1915 landing of the Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli, Turkey.  Like far too many military campaigns, Gallipoli saw the loss of many lives and almost no gain for either side.  However, the Gallipoli landing, and campaign, was viewed as the baptism of the newly independent Australia.   Now it is commemorated with a dawn service, a march and, for many people, a visit to the War Memorial. 

Last year Tansy's puppy legs were too young to go on a long walk up and back down Mount Ainslie, so we drove, but this year she was very excited to come with us on the 1.5hr walk [Note: if you are reasonably fit and mobile the walk doesn't have to take that long.  But if you have a dog that wants to stop and sniff EVERYTHING allow at least that long!].

Everlasting daisies

A lone wallaby

A termite mound

One of the plaques beside the walking path on Mount Ainslie - telling part of the story of troops on the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea during World War 2.

Beautiful native trees - their leaves don't change colour with the move to Autumn, but many of them are preparing to burst into flower within the next few weeks.

Trunk of a scribbly gum tree with the Australian War Memorial in the background.  The 'scribbles' are caused by the burrowing of the larvae of the Scribbly Gum Moth .

One romantic larvae made a love heart!

Looking down Mount Ainslie to the Australian War Memorial - Lake Burley Griffin - Old Parliament House - New Parliament House

The centre of Canberra - it really is a rather small city!