Frank Smith Memorial Park

About 10 minutes from home is a memorial park with something for everyone. Originally it was the site of a family farm bought in 1896 by Jacob and Mary Ellen Smith, parents of Frank.  Walking around the park there are obvious remnants of the farm.

Area largely cleared, where dairy cows probably grazed.

Old orchard

Remains of a planted Olive hedge

Poplars, remnants of the past

Old wall beside the creek

Natural environment beside the creek

Within the park are a BMX track, cricket nets, Picnic Shelter, an oval and playground.

Saturday morning Soccer match in progress

BMX Track undergoing renovation

In the background children are on play equipment

“The Fallen Log” where our grandkids like to play

Will we cross? Yes!

The dam is a very special place, digging this dam gave Frank Smith purpose when distraught at the death of his son, John. Over the years many local kids have come to swim in the dam after school.

Memorial plaque

Looking down on the dam dug by Frank Smith

The dam where you can sometimes spot a tortoise.

Dusky Moorhens

Black Duck

Tortoise

On a relaxing walk around the park you can see attractive plants and of course birds.

Red-browed Finch

Wren – tail a-twitch

Red Gum blossom

Tough little flower

New Holland Honeyeater after a bath

Masked Lapwing

Japonica -near the dam

Escapee from someone’s garden

Almond blossom

 

Lorikeet Loop Walk – Belair NP

The weather was perfect for another little jaunt and only about 10 minutes from home is Belair National Park, there are several different walks of varying lengths but I decided on the 3km Lorikeet Loop Walk.

The bush environment was a perfect antidote for the deluge of unhappy Covid 19 news.

Start of the Lorikeet Loop Walk

Magnificent old Pine – maybe a Bunya Pine

Moss covered stump

Wattle blossom in strands

Sun Dew

Wattle Blossom

Ti Tree -maybe

The Belair Native Plant Nursery and old Government House are at about the halfway point.

Native plant nursery

Side view of Old Government House

Probably the servants’ quarters

Image from an information board.

Gates were closed because of Covid -photo from Information Board

Back of the building looking through locked gate.

The old servants’ quarters were used between 1879 and 1885 to manufacture a poison which was used by farmers to try and control rabbits which were in plague proportions during the 1870s.

Downhill from Old Government House is a big Adventure Playground and picnic facilities, it was busy with families enjoying the sunshine.

Path down to the playground

Couple of riders

Post play

The Fort

Tunnels to crawl through

Old tree to sit in

Of course, there was wildlife all about.

Wood Duck

Musk Lorikeet

Kangaroo enjoying fresh grass

Galah

Eastern Rosellas

Crimson Rosella

Corella

I’ll be back to Belair NP again to try a different walk.

Colebrook Reconciliation Park

Driving west from Blackwood on Shepherds Hill Road you travel past Wittunga Gardens, Blackwood Primary and High Schools, Karinya Reserve with its playground, a Skate Park and football oval then you can’t help but notice a brightly painted low wall. The wall marks the beginning of Colebrook Reconciliation Park the site of Colebrook Home for 28 years.

Click on an image to see a larger version.

View from Shepherds Hill Road.

Something to think about

Colebrook Home -photo courtesy of Ruth Sabine

Colebrook Home painted on the wall.

The children who lived there had mostly been forcibly taken from their families and the statue of the grieving mother captures the desolation felt superbly. South Australian sculptor, Silvio Apponyi, created the wonderful works.

The grieving mother.

The Coolamon represents the child taken and the water their tears.

Detail from The Fountain of Tears

Celebrations are held at the Park every year during Naidoc Week and at other times.

The fire pit in the centre of the meeting circle.

I wonder if the children were allowed to play here.

On the western boundary is the reclaimed Eden Hills Rubbish Dump

On the southern boundary a passenger train heading towards the city.

Evidence of kids’ play

Carved rock

Paths head off in many different directions, it’s a lovely place to walk and enjoy the natural environment.

New plantings of native shrubs and grasses

Carpet of dropped Gum blossom – thanks birds.

Gum blossom

Eastern Rosella

Argumentative Red Wattlebird

Wattle

Sundew, an insectivorous plant

Sundew flowers