Angry Face / Sad Face

ANGRY FACE This is the angry face of the HMQS Gayundah.

During the early 1880s Queensland had established its own Navy with a fleet of 10 ships, with the most well known being 'Gayundah'.

It was built in Newcastle-on-Tyne, in England and was first launched on its journey to Australia on 13 May, 1884. After 10 months of sailing, the 'Gayundah' finally arrived in Brisbane and became the Navy's flagship.

As it was a vessel with a shallow draft, the 'Gayundah' was to protect the coast line by operating in the many bays and estuaries along the coast.

The 'Gayundah' was 36 metres long, 7 metres across the beam, had a top speed of 10 knots and weighed 360 tons. She was heavily armed with weapons for a ship of her size. Although she was fully equipped to handle any circumstance, the 'Gayundah' never engaged in heated battle with the enemy.

In 1903 she became the first warship within Australia to use wireless telegraphy.

In later years, the 'Gayundah' became a tender sea ship and a mine sweeper. By 1919 her services were not required by the Navy and she was sold to civilians. She was stripped and converted into a gravel barge

After 40 years of transporting gravel, the 'Gayundah' was considered to be of no further service and was towed to the base of the Woody Point cliffs and left to act as a breakwater. Over the years the salt water has taken its toll and now the 'Gayundah' is a rusted shell.

There is a commemorative plaque erected at the top of the Woody Point Cliffs just above her resting place.

One may consider this is a sad end to a once proud Queensland naval ship. However we can be assured, that the 'Gayundah' still protects the Australian shoreline from erosion.

SAD FACE
This was the last photo jaunt for me in Brisbane with my friend, work collegue, photography mate and last but not least the other half of the Crazy Cats Photography Duo. I found out on Friday that I was to be relocated to Darwin for work. It is an exciting opportunity for me but is also a bit scary and sad to be leaving behind my friends and family. It is funny how I am feeling like this about it when I am only going interstate and I have my Husband that will be with me, when my mate CB did the same thing only she was moving across the seas and on her own. Christine you are an inspiration to me not only by your talent in photography but you strength and courage you possessed to come halfway across the world on your own and leaving all your family and friends behind. I am glad fate brought you to our little project at Murrumba and we got to meet, work together, play together and share our passion of photography. I will miss you and our photo jaunts and look forward to when you come snapping with me in Darwin..