An interesting month March this year. No one alive will see Easter this early again. Apparently it will be a hundred odd years before it happens again. Easter weekend as usual, I was in Canberra for the National Folk Festival, 5 days of great music and catching up with old friends and making new ones, not to mention unfortunately falling out with an old friend! It happens doesn't it? While I was in Canberra, Kim and Laura Jane were in Mt. Gambier at a Showjumping event which they enjoyed immensely. Laura Jane is into horses and in a big way. She controls the horse when on it and the horse knows that. Very unlike me, should I be on a horse. The horse knows who is in control and it ain't me! Laura Jane is very confident and I am reliably informed has a good seat!

The Great Eastern Steeple Chase was on at Oakbank as usual over the Easter Weekend. This year no horses died thank goodness. Again a very large "picnic' atmosphere and massive crowd in attendance. During the month, the Adelaide Festival has been on, as has the "Fringe". A very busy and cosmopolitan Adelaide.

I had an interesting, but not funnny experince. I went to the Folk Centre to see Bob Fox (a singer from north of England) Great concert Good evening out. Next morning I went to the car to go to the shops. That's strange I thought, as I noticed my driver's side hubcap was gone. I don't remember hitting anything. Glanced at back wheel--no hubcap, checked other side of car-- none there either!!! A very unhappy Eric!!!! Notified the police, neither in hope nor anticipation. Need to do that for insurance of course. Fortunately, a couple of days later, a wrecker gave me a number to call. End result four brand new hubcaps for a bit less than the price of one. I should add, legitimately, into the bargain. So a happy outcome.

We had the heads of government meeting in Adelaide (State and commonwealth). At last they have reached agreement on the Murray River. $10 billion will be spent on it to ensure it's future. Perhaps too little too late, as will be a few years before we see anything, well they have to set up the board(s) structures etc, before any actual activity to save it takes place. Interestingly enough, it is almost exactly the same proposal as put forward fifteen months ago by the Howard government. Victoria would not have a bar of that! Today all Governments being Labor, Victoria agreed. Oh, they got an extra billion for doing so!!! Politics anyone. We at the end of the Murray still have major problems. We have had good rains in the last few days but need lots more. We are told it will probably be another three years before we get the good long soaking rains needed to fill our reservoirs. We wait in hope.

This month the resting place of HMAS Sydney was found, cR.I.P Sydney, a very profound and moving event in Australia's history. HMAS Sydney was a light cruiser (9900 tons) which distinguished itself in the Mediterranian campaign in the early part of the war, sinking an Italian battlecruiser among other feats. She met the German merchant raider Kormoron (19000 tons) in November 1941 off the West Australian coast. There are various reports of what happened. Sydney went down with all 640 crew. Kormoron sank also with 300 survivors. They, the ones to give explanations, differ. Being a light cruiser Sydney's 'side' were less armoured than her decks. This due to expectation of long range battles and plunging shellfire rather that close range direct fire. The theory is that the Svdney approached the Kormoron (which was disguised as a Dutch merchantman) too closely, Kormoron then opened fire and from below the waterline torpedo tube, torpedoed Sydney. Sydney returned fire severe enough to sink Kormoron, but was then last seen sailing south easterly on fire before an explosion was heard. Probably the magazines. Since then, there has been investigation, conjecture and of course speculation about the event. It was the largest losss of life in the Australian Navy's history. The site is now an official war grave. There will be further studies in an attempt to finally clarify what happened. In the meantime familes and descendants of the crew have a measure of closure. The Navy held a service above the site in honour of the crew and their sacrifice. R.I.P.Sydney.

During my visit to Canberra I visited the War Memorial (my usual practise) a new post 1945 Memorial area has been opened. It is magnificent. Should you ever come to Oz and especially Canberra it is a place not to miss. It is a remembrance of and not a glorification of Australia at war. In the new post 1945 there is the bridge of HMAS Brisbane (now decommissioned) a very interesting experience, and popular, also I have to admit that I am always very moved when I visit the Memorial. It is a fitting tribute to the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen and Women of Australia at war and at peace. There is a large portion dedicated to Australian peacekeepers.

Sport begins to hot up downunder. The Footy season is upon us again. The Crows and Port Adelaide favoured to do well. We will see. Adelaide United are at the moment engaged in the Asian Champion's league. Won both their games so far, which is good for them. International rugby seven's come to Adelaide early next month. Our swimmers have been breaking world records in their Olympic trials. That augurs well for the actual games. Mind you Australian swimmers usually do very well at the games.

So that has been us for the month of March, here in at the moment, not so sunny Adelaide.

Until next time, Eric

(article by Eric Ford, Australia)