The Coorong

On our second day in Adelaide we took the light rail again about 40 min into the center. We were headed to the Migration Museum when we heard a band playing the overture to Carmen. We followed our ears to the lawn of the Governor’s mansion where they were holding a yearly open house. The band we heard was the South Australia (SA) police band. The governor of SA is the king’s representative to the state, a largely ceremonial position. She is in office for 5 years. The title is her Excellency the Honorable Frances Adamson with whom we snagged a photo. Those “pushy” Americans getting in there again! After chomping down on a sausage on white bread sold by the Girl Scouts of Australia, we listened to the Girls Choir of Australia. They travel the world representing their country. The Migration Museum told the story of how Australia developed into a multicultural society that became less reflective of its British heritage over time. With a population of only 27 million, Australia encourages immigration to keep its economy humming. It was back to the botanical garden to see the fruit bats hanging like leaves from the trees. On the ride back, we stopped at Port Adelaide which has a rich seafaring history. Right next door is Port Dock where the federal government has invested billions in submarines to counter Chinese power in the region. It is a huge economic boon for the region and is the result of the alliance created between the U.S., Japan and Australia.Read more