Tuesday 17 March 2009

Naval Review, Wooloomooloo Bay


Australia is an island continent that is impossible to protect via the sea. Australia is a massive land mass that is probably impossible to defend - full stop. We are comparable in area to the USA but whereas they have a population of over 400 million people, Australia has a population of just over 20 million. We tend to punch above our weight in some areas ... and have pretensions in others ...

On Saturday the CBD was shut down so that the navy could march. Once we escaped the melee, I took Dad down to look at the fleet anchored at Garden Island.

6 comments:

Lowell said...

Impressive! And the colored flags and blue sky set off the grey ships beautifully!

Joan Elizabeth said...

Another great capture. I have driven around there when American ships have been in port and the sight is impressive. Did you see the Queen Mary when she was in recently ... I didn't ... a shame I think it would have quite a sight.

Julie said...

I didn't see her this time, but last year when both the QM and the QE2 were in harbour at the same time I did. I had breakfast on South Head watchibng the QM steam toward us at 5:30am and then sat at the Opera House gates to Farm Cove when the two crossed as the QE2 left about 7pm that evening. A most exciting day.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful pictures. I do love ships, real working ships. (never heard the expression "punch above over weight" b/4)

Julie said...

Karin, there was a typo in that expression that I have now corrected. The expression is "punch above our weight". I am surprised that Americans don't use it: it refers, as you will realise, to boxing and their attempts to ensure that competitors are evenly matched in stature.

Anonymous said...

I like it, I'll introduce it to the states.