Cowra, NSW

We drove through the very picturesque Yarra Valley after we left Gundaroo.  Wineries are interlaced with sheep and beef grazing and many many acres are under cultivation.  Philip and I laugh because we have no idea what the crops are.  To us they are either Sorghum, Lucerne or Cotton  because that is all we know 😂😂

Cowra is a gorgeous place.  It is just under 200km north of Canberra and around 300km west of Sydney (please don't quote me....just guessing).  I was doing a little research on Cowra as we were driving along and I had forgotten just how much history there is to Cowra.  Philip and I had both read David Crookes fiction novel "Someday Soon" that touches a little on the POW camp established in Cowra and the outbreak of prisoners in 1944 that saw 234 Japanese prisoners and 4 Australian soldiers killed in combat. This terrible incident was kept under wraps for a long time because of the devastating loss of lives. 

Since WW2, Australia in true blue Aussie form, has forged a friendship with Japan and that friendship is abundantly clear in Cowra where the Japanese have contributed many $$$'s into the town in a clear showing of mutual friendship. 

As soon as we arrived into Cowra and unhitched the van we walked the short distance to the Information Centre that has showing a hologram presentation where "Claire" tells her personal story of the POW breakout. I can understand why 60,000 visit this information centre each year.  It is amazing. After talking with one of the volunteers at the information centre he suggested that we make our way to the Cowra Art Gallery where there was a John Gollings photography exhibition depicting the "history of the built world" on display. I love anything photographic and this was right up my alley! 

There are so many things to see and do in Cowra and we only had one full day so we earmarked the Japanese Gardens, the POW Camp, War Memorial and Peace Bell as places to visit.  The Japanese Gardens were first on the list.  We have been to quite a few  Japanese gardens around the world and this one is right up there with the best.  It is spread out over 5 hectares and even though there were many visitors here the place just exudes serenity.  I love the Japanese use of water.  No matter where we were in the garden the sound of water was tinkling away in the background.  I didn't want to leave here and if we had packed a lunch I would have gladly stayed here all day!

But we still had places to visit so next on the list was the POW camp.  My first thought was "it's huge" but considering it held more than 1000 prisoners, it was not so big.  In fact the number of prisoners is what caused the prisoner outbreak.  It was decided that 200 of the Japanese prisoners should be moved to another camp and the prisoners rebelled at being segregated.  The very next night the prisoners decided to breakout.  It is a little sad that Japanese considered death to be better than being held a prisoner. 

After the POW camp we drove to the War memorial.  We didn't spend much time here as I just feel so sad when I think about the horrendous loss of young lives. I was reading something today that just horrified me.  It is estimated that between 50-85 million lives were lost in WW11.  It makes Covid seem like a trivial matter......

And last but not least of our things to do in Cowra was to ring the Peace Bell.  

AUSTRALIA’S WORLD PEACE BELL…

Made from melted down coins donated by 106 member countries of the United Nations, Australia's World Peace Bell is a testament to Cowra’s long-standing contribution to world peace and international understanding. Recognised by the World Peace Bell Association in 1992, the bell is proudly housed in Cowra's Civic Square where visitors can read the interpretive signage, listen to the audio presentation and even ring the bell itself.