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Tag: Hunter Valley

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Warbirds Over Scone Air Show 2022

Curtiss P-40N

Warbirds Over Scone Air Show 2022

Having purchased tickets pre-covid, we were pleased to be finally going to the Warbirds Over Scone 2022. Unfortunately, the wet weather that has plagued the summer in Eastern Australia paid a visit. The Sunday we attended was particularly wet. Constant showers and low cloud cover resulted in no planes taking off, which was understandable. You do not put pilots at risk, just for an air show. Anyway, we did get to see the planes on the ground, even if not flying.

Some planes were able to fly the day before, so people who attended on Saturday saw the warbirds in the sky. The big drawcard this year were three Spitfires, four P-51 Mustangs and four P-40 Kittyhawk fighters. This was a record for an Australian air show, with crowds on Saturday seeing them in the sky all together.

Getting There

Driving the hour from Singleton to Scone was an easy drive, despite the wet weather. Parking at the airport was well organised, with a field opposite the entrance set up for cars.

Tickets

We purchased gold tickets online beforehand, but because of covid the air show was delayed almost two years. With no planes flying due to the weather, the advantage of gold class, which was grandstand seating to get a better view of the flying was not there. Because the planes were directly in front of us, we had a close-up view of them. Unfortunately, there was no undercover seating here, so we spent some time in the general admission area, where we could shelter from the rain.

The Air Show

Walking around the airfield we saw the planes that were on display, with several we had not seen before. This included several of the Spitfires and P-51s.

By midday, the organisers cancelled all flying for the day, but opened the flight line, so that spectators could get up close to the warbirds. We thought this was a great fall-back option and jumped at the opportunity. Being able to get up close to the warbirds and talk to the owners and pilots was a real bonus.

We also spoke to the owner of one of the kubelwagens (a German car from World War Two). It turned out to be a survivor from the Battle of Kursk on the Eastern Front. He was great to talk to and very knowledgeable about its history and historic armour vehicles in general.

So, despite the weather and no flying, we saw some great planes, armoured vehicles and spoke to some interesting people. Not the day we had planned, but still fun.

Curtiss P-40N Warbirds Over Scone
Curtiss P-40N
Curtiss P-40N Warbirds Over Scone
Curtiss P-40N
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII Grey Nurse
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VIII Grey Nurse
North American P-51D Mustang Warbirds Over Scone
North American P-51D Mustang
Focke-Wulf FW 190 Warbirds Over Scone
Focke-Wulf FW 190
Lockheed Hudson Bomber Warbirds Over Scone
Lockheed Hudson Bomber
de Havilland DHC-4 Caribou Transport Warbirds Over Scone
de Havilland DHC-4 Caribou Transport
PAC CT4 Airtrainer
PAC CT4 Airtrainer
Curtiss P-40 Line-up
Curtiss P-40 Line-up
Kübelwagen - A veteran of the Battle of Kursk
Kübelwagen – A veteran of the Battle of Kursk
German Half-track Sd.Kfz 251
German Half-track Sd.Kfz 251

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Archibald Prize 2021 in Maitland

Guy Warren at 100 by Peter Wegner

Archibald Prize 2021 in Maitland

Displayed at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery until March 6 2022, the Archibald Prize finalists for 2021 showcased a great variety of painting styles.

The Archibald Prize is Australia’s most prestigious portrait prize, having been awarded since 1921. Named after J. F. Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin who left a bequeath for the prize it is currently worth $100,000.

Every year the Archibald Prize visits regional centres around Australia, which lets people who can’t get to a major city enjoy the art. This year, Maitland was one of the lucky towns to get the collection for a few weeks.

Guy Warren at 100 by Peter Wegner
The Winner Guy Warren at 100 by Peter Wegner
Kate by Kathryn Longhurst
Packing Room Prize Winner Kate by Kathryn Longhurst. The painting voted as favourite by the people who unpack and hang the painting
Kerry O'Brien All Along the Watch Tower by James Powditch
Kerry O’Brien All Along the Watch Tower by James Powditch
Del Kathryn Barton is a Good Listener by Matthew Clarke
Del Kathryn Barton is a Good Listener by Matthew Clarke
Les by Matthew Kentmann Archibald Prize 2021
Les by Matthew Kentmann
Firass by Jeremy Eden
Firass by Jeremy Eden
Fozzy by Julian Meagher Archibald Prize 2021
Fozzy by Julian Meagher
Making Noise by Kirsty Nielson
Making Noise by Kirsty Nielson
Professor Mabel Lee by Hong Fu Archibald Prize 2021
Professor Mabel Lee by Hong Fu

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.

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Beaumont Street Pillar People

Horse and Buggy Beaumont Street Pillar People

Beaumont Street Pillar People

Beaumont Street Pillar People

Following on from her work in Newcastle, Rebecca Murray has transformed the look of Beaumont Street Hamilton (New South Wales, Australia). Telephone pillars are now the Beaumont Street Pillar People, each distinct and reflecting the shops they sit outside of.

We discovered them on a Sunday morning walk down the street while getting a coffee. Well known for its eateries, the addition of street art adds to the fun of going to Beaumont Street.

Flight Attendant Beaumont Street Pillar People
Flight Attendant
Cleopatra Beaumont Street Pillar People
Cleopatra
Postman Beaumont Street Pillar People
Postman
Bank robber Beaumont Street Pillar People
Bank robber
Bank robber Beaumont Street Pillar People
Bank robber

Large Electrical Boxes

Not only have the telephone switches been decorated, but the electrical switch boxes have been transformed.

Decorated Electrical Box
Decorated Electrical Box
Decorated Electrical Box Beaumont Street Pillar People
Decorated Electrical Box
Cyclist Decorated Electrical Box Beaumont Street Pillar People
Cyclist Decorated Electrical Box
Cyclist Decorated Electrical Box
Cyclist Decorated Electrical Box
Sunflower Electrical Box Beaumont Street Pillar People
Sunflower Electrical Box
Horse and Buggy Beaumont Street Pillar People
Horse and Buggy
Circus
Circus

Small Electrical Boxes

Smaller electrical boxes haven’t been forgotten either, because each is transformed to a mouse sized building. It was fun to see what the next one would be painted as.

Mice School
Mice School
Mouse Frutteria
Mouse Frutteria
Mouse Temple
Mouse Temple
Professor Alchemouse
Professor Alchemouse
Mouse Library Books Beaumont Street Pillar People
Mouse Library Books
Electrical Box
Electrical Box

Mosaics and Planter Boxes

Decorating the pavement along Beaumont Street mosaics located outside many businesses add even more colour. Unfortunately, foot-traffic has damaged some of them over the years, but many are still in good condition. We are not sure which artist did the mosaics and planted boxes, but they are colourful and great to see.

While walking around, don’t forget to look up because there are some great old buildings there too. We enjoyed our Sunday morning walk here, great coffee and food, along with the great artwork.

Mosaic outside Scots Kirk
Mosaic outside Scots Kirk
Beaumont Street Mosaic
Beaumont Street Mosaic
Decorated Planter Box
Decorated Planter Box

To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.