Here's that bridge again! (Skywatch Friday)

The reason for bringing you this shot is a reminder that this is NAIDOC Week (see post from July 7 - all about NAIDOC), and here is the red, yellow and black Aboriginal flag flying from the top of the bridge. And at least one, if not two, groups of climbers!

Look at skies around the world.

Chiaroscuro

The old General Post Office building in Martin Place. A beautiful Victorian Italianate building with collonaded portico.

Set in concrete

In the pavement on Pier One at Walsh Bay, I found these signatures/imprints in the concrete. They date from the 1980s, and I guess they will fade over time. Many of the people will be known only to Aussies "of a certain age"....underneath the collage I've listed who they are.

How many do you know of?

Top: Rolf Harris - entertainer

Collage:

Slim Dusty - country singer (died 19 Sep 2003)

Betty Cuthbert - athlete

Stuart Wagstaff - actor

Ben Lexcen - designer winged keel on "Australia II" yacht, winner of America's Cup (died 1 May 1988)

Bazza (Barry) Crocker - actor

Brian Wenzel - actor

Kamahl - entertainer

Pro Hart - painter (died 20 March 2006)

Robert Helpmann - dancer, choreographer (died 28 Sep 1986)

Tom Keneally - writer

Julie Anthony - singer

Joy McKean - singer, and wife of Slim Dusty

Nat Young - surfer

Pat McDonald - actor (died 10 March 1990)

Dawn Lake (died 1 Jan 2006) and Bobby Limb (died 11 Sep 1999) - entertainers

Syd Heylen - actor (died 4 Dec 1996)

Santa Claus! !

Humphrey B Bear - children's TV character

Andrew Peacock - former politician and friend of Shirley Maclaine

Roger Woodward - pianist

Doug Sutherland - former Lord Mayor of Sydney

Abigail - actor

NAIDOC Week 5 -12 July

NAIDOC - National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee - Week is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in various fields.

Above: The 2009 NAIDOC Week poster features artwork by Queenslander Luke Mallie, winning artist of the National NAIDOC Poster Competition. Luke's artwork, created from acrylic, water colour and ink on paper, is titled Carrying On Our Culture and was judged the winner from a record 140 entries.

"Carrying On Our Culture was painted to reflect the 2009 NAIDOC Theme Honouring Our Elders, Nurturing Our Youth. It represents the elders teaching and keeping watch over their young as they learn and grow into adults to then carry on the culture."

"The painting also depicts past elders who watch over everyone to protect and guide us through our lives. We all have the ability to connect to those spirits if we need guidance or inspiration."

Sydney City Council's banner at left is the work of artist Bronwyn Bancroft, a Djanbun (pronounced Jaan’bun) woman from the Bundjalung (Bun-jaa-lung) Nation of Northern NSW. She was born in a small country town in regional NSW, but lived most of her adult life in Sydney. She is a well known Aboriginal artist who has exhibited her work both nationally & internationally. Bronwyn Bancroft stated, “I am pleased that the design will be used throughout the city, as I would love to see more permanent visual Memorials to Aboriginal People…Past, Present and Future.”

Activities take place across the nation during NAIDOC Week in the first full week of July. All Australians are encouraged to participate.

The theme this year is Honouring our Elders, Nurturing our Youth.

NAIDOC Week grew out of a "Day of Mourning" held in 1938. The Day of Mourning was declared due to the lack of response from the Commonwealth government to a petition from Aboriginal people in 1935 and 1937 seeking representation in the Parliament and the establishment of a national department of native affairs and state advisory councils.

Campbell's Cove

Campbell's Cove at west Circular Quay is an area of jazzed-up waterfront. The former bond stores are now upmarket restaurants. The glass and steel building at left in the photo at left is the Overseas Passenger Terminal where the large cruise ships tie up. The bar I showed two days ago ("Cruise Bar") is in this building looking out over the water.

The distinctive looking building with the spire was built 1883-4 and is of Anglo-Dutch design. It was the Australiasian Steam Navigation Building and was a warehouse. It is now a gallery space and theaterettes.

Campbell Cove is named after Robert Campbell, a prominent Scottish merchant in the early days of Sydney. He purchased this land in 1799 and constructed a private wharf to house imports such as sugar, tea, and spirits from India. He was the only merchant that broke the monopoly held by the British East India Company. From 1838, he began construction of 5 sandstone bays (Campbell Storehouses, which is where the restaurants are now.)

These photos were taken last Saturday. How's that for a brilliant winter sky!

So cool it's hot

This is the coolest hotspot, or hottest coolplace in Sydney at the moment: the Apple store. I'm not advertising, honestly. I went in yesterday to get a couple of things, and fell truly, madly, deeply in lust. Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! I wanna Mac. I wanna MacBook.

So, looking around for more stuff to sell on ebay. Fast!

Have a great weekend

Maybe you're going to go out on a photography expedition? Maybe you're spending a relaxing time with family or friends? Maybe you prefer your own company, or circumstances keep you alone? Maybe you have to work?
Whatever it is, be it catching up with people amidst the bright lights of a city bar like this one at Circular Quay, or lolling on a beach - enyoy!
Or as they say in these parts Avagoodweegend (which is Australian running-words-together slang; it was originally from a TV ad for insect repellant, Aeroguard)

Evening falls over the Opera House

Look at skies around the world.

Curves of steel

Back to our walk around the Circular Quay / Dawes Point area under the southern end of the Harbour Bridge.

Can you see the BridgeClimb group up on the curve of the arch?

No, I haven't done it; it's quite expensive, but I do mean to one day. Can't take your own camera. I support that idea, despite the cynicism it engenders (that you are beholden to the operator's expensive photos). Well, actually, the photos are included in the cost, and it's a regulation imposed on the operators. Just imagine the devastating effect if some clumsy tourist dropped their camera hundreds of metres below through the windscreen of a car passing over the bridge? There have been deaths on motorways from idiots throwing rocks off much lower bridges into traffic. It just doesn't bear thinking about.

Empty (July theme day)

This empty shop near me speaks to me about lots of things, including the increasing emptiness of suburban life. I am lucky to have a corner shop, a pharmacist, hairdresser, and a couple of small mixed businesses (groceries, fruit & veg) within a couple of hundred metres. However, this old butcher's shop on the next corner to me, speaks of a time when all shopping was done locally. Now in Australia about 65% of meat is bought in supermarkets (which is less than the UK or US; there are still lots of butchers shops here.

Local shops are also a place to meet and converse with your neighbours - the ones you count as acquaintances if not friends, and count as part of your community. The people who would recognise your face if you had to seek help in an emergency.

Today's first-of-the-month theme amongst the city daily photo community is Empty. See how others have interpreted the theme.
Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

And today, a supplementary photo! When I'm thinking stuff like the thoughts above, in order to stop myself getting depressed about things, I like to find beauty, humour, or a combination of both, in the world around. As I was walking to the station this morning I spotted this empty crate on the footpath, with a banana peel inside. Do you think maybe a monkey is loose on the streets of Postcode 2205?