JOURNEYS..
To Kensal Green Cemetery in north London yesterday to attend a very special occasion. 150 years ago yesterday, John McDouall Stuart and his Companions finally completed the first overland crossing from South Australia to the north of the continent, returning safely after no less than five attempts. In doing so, they blazed the trail for the overland telegraph - linking Australia to the rest of the world - and also the route of the Stuart Highway. So there were quite properly events to mark this remarkable achievement not only at Stuart`s grave in London but also in Adelaide and at Point Stuart in the Northern Territory.
After his death in 1866 at the age of just 50, Stuart was buried here in Kensal Green and there are also memorials to him in his home village of Dysart in Scotland, in South Australia and other locations throughout the route of his various expeditions. The memorial in Kensal Green is, as shown in my picture, an impressive tribute to an impressive man and along time hero of mine, but during World War 2, the needle was destroyed and it has taken much time, effort and expense from a number of individuals and organizations to restore the grave to its original condition.
Yesterday`s ceremony was therefore also to mark the restoration at a significant and timely anniversary and it was pleasingly appropriate that Stuart`s needle is once more pointing skyward, pointing up to Heaven. I was privileged to be there in the company of not only admirers, like myself, of Stuart and his achievements but also to meet direct descendants of Stuart and some of his companions, the Australian High Commissioner and other dignitaries.
It was a particular pleasure to finally meet the sister of my Adelaide correspondent, both of whom are direct descendants of F.G. Waterhouse, one of Stuart`s Companions; her journey of 13,000 miles making my own `reservations` about London, the heat of summer and the Olympics mayhem seem trivial. When I think of her journey and those heroic journeys of the man we were there to honour, I think it`s time I stopped grumbling about South Eastern trains and the London Underground.
For much, much more on John McDouall Stuart, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McDouall_Stuart
(Footnote : Kensal Green is no ordinary cemetery. It covers 72 acres, has over 65,000 burials and includes those such as Brunel, Wilkie Collins, Harold Pinter, Trollope, Sir Terrence Rattigan and those cremated here include Freddie Mercury and Ingrid Bergman. Stuart is in good company. For more please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensal_Green_Cemetery.)
After his death in 1866 at the age of just 50, Stuart was buried here in Kensal Green and there are also memorials to him in his home village of Dysart in Scotland, in South Australia and other locations throughout the route of his various expeditions. The memorial in Kensal Green is, as shown in my picture, an impressive tribute to an impressive man and along time hero of mine, but during World War 2, the needle was destroyed and it has taken much time, effort and expense from a number of individuals and organizations to restore the grave to its original condition.
(Inscription on Stuart`s memorial - click on picture for larger image)
It was a particular pleasure to finally meet the sister of my Adelaide correspondent, both of whom are direct descendants of F.G. Waterhouse, one of Stuart`s Companions; her journey of 13,000 miles making my own `reservations` about London, the heat of summer and the Olympics mayhem seem trivial. When I think of her journey and those heroic journeys of the man we were there to honour, I think it`s time I stopped grumbling about South Eastern trains and the London Underground.
For much, much more on John McDouall Stuart, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McDouall_Stuart
(Footnote : Kensal Green is no ordinary cemetery. It covers 72 acres, has over 65,000 burials and includes those such as Brunel, Wilkie Collins, Harold Pinter, Trollope, Sir Terrence Rattigan and those cremated here include Freddie Mercury and Ingrid Bergman. Stuart is in good company. For more please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensal_Green_Cemetery.)
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