Sister Cities : The Bonds of Friendship

Above: Sculpture in Loftus St, Sydney called The Bonds of Friendship. It commemorates the sister city relationship between Sydney and Portsmouth, England (for more about the sculpture and its significance - see the text at then end of this post*). This relationship goes to the very origins of Australia as a nation; the First Fleet bringing the first convicts to what was then known as New South Wales, left Portsmouth on 13th May, 1787, arriving at Sydney Cove on 26 January 1788. There is an identical sculpture at Sally Port (!!), Portsmouth, England:

Another link between Sydney and Portsmouth is that the first version of the naval cruiser, the Sydney, was commissioned in Portsmouth (not the more famous one sunk during World War 2). The first Sydney served during WW1 and was broken up on Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour in 1928.

Sydney has six sister cities (or does it?), and a sister port (which I've blogged before - see here).

The cities are San Francisco, Wellington, Nagoya, Florence, Portsmouth and Guangzhou. The port is Yokkaichi Port Authority, Japan. But, is there controversy? Is Wellington a sister city or not? Sydney City Council claims it is, but Wellington City Council has other ideas, relegating Sydney to the status of "Friendly City", saying "A friendly city relationship is less formal than a sister city relationship and it generally has a lower profile. It is likely to be a long term relationship, but the level of community support and involvement is not as high as with a full sister city relationship." So there, Sydney!

I've posted additional pics relevant to these cities on Sydney Daily Photo Extras.

Ann at Sydney Meanderings and Julie at Sydney Eye are also posting today, so we've divided the spoils. Julie is concentrating on Nagoya, and Ann has gone for Florence and San Francisco. That's why I'm bringing you Portsmouth (and some old pics of mine of Wellington and Guangzhou).

Below: Admiral Nelson's ship The Victory at Portsmouth (taken May 2003). We don't have a replica of that.

To see Sister Cities from all around the world click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Below: Pearl River, Guangzhou, May 1978. The river is now lined with skyscrapers.

Below: View of Wellington, New Zealand October 1984

* Sculpture - The Bonds of Friendship by John Robinson - further details.
The sculpture used to be located outside Customs House, closer to Sydney Cove where the First Fleet arrived. It has been moved about 250 metres inland, after disappearing altogether for a time around 2001.

The plaque in front of it says:

" This memorial commemorates the voyage and arrival in Sydney of the First Fleet which brought to Australia its forst European settlers under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip R.N. The fleet sailed from Portsmouth on 13 May 1787 and anchored in Sydney Cove at a spot just north of this memorial on 26th January 1788.

The fleet comprised eleven ships: H.M.S. Sirius Flagship, H.M.S Supply and armed tender, six transports Alexander, Lady Penrhyn, Charlotte, Scarborough, Friendship and the Prince of Wales, together with three store ships Fishburn, Golden Grove and Borrowdale. At departure they carried a total complement of about 1487 who embarked at Plymouth, Portsmouth and The Thames.

The plinth of the memorial was donated by the Fellowship of First Fleeters, all of whom are direct descendants of those who arrived with the First Fleet. The granite block above the plinth was quarried at Dartmoor, England and donated to the City of Sydney by the City of Portsmouth as a return gift for a similar block of granite from NSW given to them by this city. It was set in place by the Lord Mayor of Sydney on the 2nd July, 1980.

The sculpture Bonds of Friendship was presented by the Bank of N.S.W. It is a companion piece to one erected by the Lord Mayor's Australian Settlers Commemoration Committee of Portsmouth and which is located near the Sally Port at Portsmouth Harbour through which Captain Phillip and many of his fellow voyagers passed on their way to embark.

The Bonds of Friendship symbolises the closeness of the ties that were forged between Portsmouth and Sydney as a result of the voyage of the First Fleet and represents links in a chain joining both cities. It was designed by John Robinson. The donor, the Bank of New South Wales wa sthe first bank and the first corporation established in Australia."

Unveiled 17 September 1980.

Lamp

This unusual lamp made an interesting feature in a Newtown shop window.

Rockdale Park

A peaceful suburban park, with lots of specimen trees of all kinds, many evergreen. This was taken on a mid-winter day.

Costa Living

NSW public sector workers, including the fire brigade, are looking for pay increases more than what the state treasurer and givernment is offering - 2.5%. Inflation is currently over 4%, so it would mean an effective pay cut.

The name of the Treasuer is Michael Costa, so this banner on the side of the fire engine is a "cost of living" pun on his name.

The Green Iguana

From Women's Playing fields to View St

Dignity

These two ladies were taking it quite slowly. I fancy the woman on the left (a sister? daughter? friend?) is keeping a wary eye on her companion's progress.

Donna

The story of Donna from a plaque underneath:

Donna, friend and constant companion to John Hogan of Pyrmont, Sydney, Australia was born on the 14th February, 1975. At the time of her death, on 6th May 1995, she was recognised in the Guinness Book of Records as the World's Longest Living Hearing Guide Dog.

Donna travelled extensively on trains throughout NSW and John affectionately remembers her first journey from Sydney to Murwillumbah in 1985. "During the 14 hour trip, Donna was well behaved and waited until Casino where she left a very large puddle on the grass behind the station."

This memorial also recognises the love and companionship that all Guide Dogs for the Visually and Hearing Impaired give their owners.

It has been provided by the State Government of New South Wales with assistance by City Rail and the Department of Public Works and Services.

Unveiled by Hon Brian Langton, MP, Minister for Transport and MInister for Tourism on 10 May 1996.

Sculptor Ian Shaw.

Coffee shop, Surry Hills, or Pompei?

On 24 August, 79 AD - 1 929 years ago - Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried Pompei and Herculaneum.

The counter of this coffee shop opening straight onto the street reminded me of similar shops in Ancient Roman sites like Pompei (below 1), Herculaneum (below 2) and Ostia Antica.

If catastrophe were visited upon our cities today, I wonder what archaeologists would deduce about us in years time? I sometimes ponder how much difference will there be between us, and our descendents 1 929 years hence - 3 937 AD? Visiting places like Pompei and Herculaneum and reading books about Ancient Rome make me think : "Not all that much!"

What do you think?

Afternoon sun

This bougainvillea blooms throughout a sunny winter, though the blossoms will become more abundant as we move towards spring and summer.

Bicycle Couriers

As I walked through Farrer Place in the city yesterday morning I saw all the bike couriers who wait for jobs there. Farrer Place has the huge Education Department building and 41 storey government tower facing it, so there's probably plenty of work. I introduced myself and these guys were Ok with me taking their picture.

I told them I thought they should be over in Beijing winning gold medals for Australia, cos this year's cycling team went from 6 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze medals in Athens to 1 silver this time!

Demolition

All that remains of this local house is the front steps and the fireplace. I wonder what will arise in its place?

Raise the red lantern

Traditionally the sign of the doctor's surgery, I don't see very many of them these days. This one is in the heart of Arncliffe.

Bus stop

Perhaps the seat at the bus stop wasn't quite comfortable enough?

Weekend

What were my son and his friends doing in my boy's bedroom last night?

Watching a DVD on his portable player! (The grown ups had the TV glued on the Olympics.)

Go-Karts Go

This Go-Kart must have been the subject of one attack too many.

Milk Crates

....stacked on the footpath outside St Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Arncliffe, opposite Arncliffe Park.

Azaleas and threatening sky

Mid winter azaleas at Centennial Plaza in Surry Hills

Is Felix Australian??

On another wall in Surry Hills, a Very Big Felix (and look at that bizarre small sticker in the bottom right hand corner. What's THAT about???)

Some claim that Felix was first by New Jersey cartoonist Otto Messmer. Others say that Felix was the brainchild of Australian cartoonist and film entrepreneur, Pat Sullivan.

Wikipedia says:

"...evidence seems to back up both claims. However, many historians, such as John Canemaker argue that Messmer ghosted for Sullivan. Other historians disagree. What is certain is that the cat emerged from Sullivan's studio. "

Here's a post I made about Felix in 2006

Felix the Cat 3

There must be a Felix fan spreading the joy around Sydney! Is it a concerted campaign? Yet more tomorrow....when we ask the question "Is Felix Australian?"

Here the Felix song by clicking here.

Felix the Cat, the wonderful, wonderful cat
Whenever he gets in a fix, he reaches into his bag of tricks

You'll laugh so much your sides will ache
Your heart will go pitter pat
Watching Felix, the wonderful cat.

Felix The Cat 2

Felix is wedged in the corner between former warehouses, now renovated as apartments in inner city Surry Hills.

Felix The Cat

Where did I encounter this metal Felix? I'll show you tomorrow.

Scorched

Back to one of my favourite places in Sydney yesterday - Belvoir Theatre. This is a section of a series of panels showing the names of some of the theatre sponsors. There's some fairly famous names amongst this lot.

The play we saw was called Scorched. The playwright is Lebanese born Wajdi Mouawad , who moved to Paris and then Quebec. He writes in French. The play was extraordinarily powerful. It was based on ideas of love and hate, breaking cycles of revenge, set during the Lebanese Civil War (though the conflict was unstated - it is relevant to many such conflicts).

There is a review here and another here if you are interested in knowing more.

Spice I Am

Thai restaurant in Elizabeth St, Surry Hills. Say "Spice I Am" fast to understand the pun.

Later: There are many, many Thai restaurants in Sydney, and they are mostly very, very good. Some use the word "Thai" in their name to make a sort of pun: examples include Thai Foon, Thai Tanic, Thai the Knot. Thailand used to be called Siam. So "Spice I Am" becomes Spice Siam if you run the words together....

Sun reflected

Yesterday I was driving home down the Princes Highway at about 5pm when I looked left (eastwards) and saw that the setting sun from the right was hitting these buildings at Sydney airport. They were glowing gold, and reflected in the Cooks River. As well, there were patches of blue sky, and some quite heavy cloud cover, to create a happy convergence of such wonderful colours. I found the next available parking spot and rushed before the sun disappeared (about 10 minutes later).

I had a hard time deciding which picture to post, and decided (with the help of my son) on the one here. But maybe there's another you like better. Have a look here if you want to see the others.

Shrub

I saw this gorgeous shrub on one of my walks. I imagine it is a variety of grevillea, but can't remember seeing it before.

Reflection (Circular Quay 2: Tree). Hiroshima Day

The 63rd anniversary of Hiroshima Day. A time for reflection and memory.

Relection (Circular Quay)

Circular Quay

More Headless Barbies?

Many small fashion companies and designers have their headquarters and outlets in inner city Surry Hills, often in converted terrace houses. I loved the fabrics contrasting with the brick and wrought iron on the tiny front verandah of this place.

Wrap, and Rap, With Love

Wrap With Love is a not for profit organisation motivating the knitters of Australia to make beautiful, colourful wraps (blankets) to send to people wherever they may be cold. They have sent 157,000 Wraps to people in over 75 countries. From their Sydney warehouse , over forty non-denominational and non-political aid agencies distribute them to those in greatest need. They have no annual membership fee and rely on an Australia-wide network of caring volunteers to knit, transport and assemble Wraps.

Every year Sydney radio station ABC 702 holds a "knit-in" at its studios in Ultimo. The whole huge atrium is taken up with people (99% women) knitting and crotcheting together the thousands of squares. And having lots of fun, laughing, chatting and enjoying each others' company, as you can see! This year it was held on Monday 1 August. I would have shown you it then, but it was theme day. My friend Maureen from the gym and I both knit, and are plannign to go along as knitters next year.

Part of the entertainment was a percussion duo, Aurora Percussion. They had the knitters percussing with their needles, and singing along with their Rap (For Love).

I managed to take a video of the end of the rap.

Where was Barbie?

I came across Headless Barbie stuck in the metal shutter-gate of the old Children's Court building in Surry Hills. You can see her stepping out from the left of the portico metal shutters. The building now houses the offices of several social welfare agencies. I thought it was rather poignant. Perhaps someone was making a statement?