Stanley – Day 2

Got a late start as we were shook around all night during the wind. It wasn’t much better in the morning, but it eased enough to allow us to nod off occasionally. Enjoyed breaky at one of the many eating establishments in town. We then felt empowered to try and crack The Nut. First we strolled around town and then down to the graveyard. We found these beautifully carved sandstones scattered around the town keeping the history out where people could find them. The oldest grave appeared to be 1815 but we can’t be sure as it was quite illegible as the sea and wind had scoured its sandstone cuts. The cemetery was really well placed on a hill overlooking the crashing waves crossing bass straight. It was eerie and tranquil all at once.

The walk to The Nut was fraught with wind. We staggered up the very steep incline and met some people walking down who offered us their tickets to ride back on the chair lift. We walked the 2km track around the top of The Nut, almost being blown off at points around the cliff edges. They’d had some tree replanting (?) and it provided a fabulous windbreak, but many of the lookouts were dangerous and blocked off as they didn’t have the money to repair them and fix them up.

view from Highfield to The Nut

I took the chairlift down, which was quite scary as it was so steep! Steve braved the walk down the hill.

We then hightailed it over to Highfield, the HQ of the VDL Co Agent. What a fabulous house. Steeped in history and with $3m already spent you can hardly see where its gone! The National Parks & Wildlife who run the estate, have done a fabulous job of interpreting the history and famous people connected with the site. They have great plans for the site including café and further renovations throughout.

We made it back in time to await the 5:30pm opening of the pub for the Bush Slam night of nights! It looked like most of the town turned out to see it. What it is is a 6 part program hosted by HG Nelson. He is given 6 different locations around Australia that are unique and interesting. He takes along a famous poet and they meet up with a local poet and they have 3 days in the town to meet the locals, tour around and then they have 2 minutes to recite a poem on the meaning of the town. Its quite interesting. When we met James Blundell yesterday after the filming, we were admiring the building and he offered to take a photo of us in front of it. Steve said he’d rather a picture of him with me. We walked and talked with him back to his cottage and he was just fascinated with the appeal and history of the town. He ended up doing his poem, and as it turned out a song he wrote that afternoon also, on Juliana Curr, the nearly 3 year old daughter of Edward Curr who tragically died on the property while playing with their pet dog in a cart. There is a memorial in the garden to her. It apparently affected her mother so much, she was never the same again. I was quite taken by his poem. It was quite heart warming when you knew the tragic story of Juliana.

Anyway the show goes to air around Grand Final time we were told. It was quite interesting being part of a studio audience as it were. HG had to make the legal announcement that; anyone who was in the room agreed to be filmed and if there was anyone in the room who was with someone they shouldn’t be with then they should leave. It was really funny, but they had to give their legal statements before they could begin filming. We also had to do some pre-recorded clapping so they could dub it in later if the sound wasn’t quite right! It was quite surreal. And as quickly as it started, it was all over. Then they got on to James doing his song and everyone kicking back and enjoying the band for the rest of the night. We were the last ones to leave the bar for the night. Met some interesting people from Sydney and chatted to them for most of the night. I think Steve is going to have a saw head in the morning.