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Hi BBC. Great photos and info as usual.

Your story of the Lions Road reminds me of the history of what is now "Anzac Drive" in Kalgoorlie.

For many years, all traffic travelling up from Perth and continuing on either south to Kambalda, east along the Trans railway line, or north to Menzies, Leonora, Laverton had to pass through Kalgoorlie Boulder through one of two or three routes through the city, all of which passed through residential areas. This included the many road trains travelling these routes.

For many years, local residents and haulage companies requested that either the local council or the state government build a "bypass" road around the city, linking the western entrance (Great Eastern Hwy from Coolgardie / Perth) to the existing "Eastern Bypass" which ran north / south on the eastern side of the city. While both the council and the state government agreed that such a bypass was necessary, they could never agree on whether it should be built to the north or the south of the city, and who should build it. So with all the usual political hot air, nothing was done. There were also the claims that the construction of such a road would take at least 18 months, and cost a significant amount of money.

In the early 1990's, a group of local haulage, earthmoving and mining companies owners and executives got together in a local pub and decided - "bugger the authorities, we'll build it ourselves". A route south of the city was decided on, and this group built the bulk of this road in a single weekend, completing the works the following weekend. What we ended up with was a well designed and formed road, wide enough for the heaviest of traffic, which cut significant travelling time for the heavy through traffic and removed all through heavy traffic from the city streets.

Of course, the bureaucracy had to have the final say and barricaded off both ends of this road only a few days after it was opened, claiming that the road was "unsafe" and not built to "main roads" standards. In fact, the road WAS designed and built to Australian standards, and was to a much higher standard than many of the other roads in the region - but it was not sealed. After much public outcry, the government sealed the road, tied one end in to a set of traffic lights at the intersection with Great Eastern Highway and built a large roundabout linking the other end of the road with the north / south Goldfields Highway. Of course, these works took many months as is normal once governments and councils assume responsibility.

The road is now Anzac Drive, one of the busiest roads in the district, and the story of the "Rebel Roadbuilders" who constructed it is now part of the recent history of this city.

Glad you enjoyed your short holiday, and now that you're back in the thick of things, keep safe.

Cheers ........ Brian

I've got to really thank you for this thread BBC, I have enjoyed reading it over a long time now...

you have included lots of pics and info that most of us would never otherwise see or even be aware of

all the best and do take care ......

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

I drove that road last year, on the way to Lismore via the scenic route. It was amazing to think of a community actually building a road. Lovely drive too. The builders did well. Is it still a non-government road or does the local council look after it now?

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Thanks DiscoMick, the road is now under the maintenance coverage of the relative Shire Councils on each side of the border and, the Kyogle Lions still has a Road Committee that will drive and maintain whatever needs to be done.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BMKal

Hi BBC. Great photos and info as usual.

Your story of the Lions Road reminds me of the history of what is now "Anzac Drive" in Kalgoorlie.

For many years, all traffic travelling up from Perth and continuing on either south to Kambalda, east along the Trans railway line, or north to Menzies, Leonora, Laverton had to pass through Kalgoorlie Boulder through one of two or three routes through the city, all of which passed through residential areas. This included the many road trains travelling these routes.

For many years, local residents and haulage companies requested that either the local council or the state government build a "bypass" road around the city, linking the western entrance (Great Eastern Hwy from Coolgardie / Perth) to the existing "Eastern Bypass" which ran north / south on the eastern side of the city. While both the council and the state government agreed that such a bypass was necessary, they could never agree on whether it should be built to the north or the south of the city, and who should build it. So with all the usual political hot air, nothing was done. There were also the claims that the construction of such a road would take at least 18 months, and cost a significant amount of money.

In the early 1990's, a group of local haulage, earthmoving and mining companies owners and executives got together in a local pub and decided - "bugger the authorities, we'll build it ourselves". A route south of the city was decided on, and this group built the bulk of this road in a single weekend, completing the works the following weekend. What we ended up with was a well designed and formed road, wide enough for the heaviest of traffic, which cut significant travelling time for the heavy through traffic and removed all through heavy traffic from the city streets.

Of course, the bureaucracy had to have the final say and barricaded off both ends of this road only a few days after it was opened, claiming that the road was "unsafe" and not built to "main roads" standards. In fact, the road WAS designed and built to Australian standards, and was to a much higher standard than many of the other roads in the region - but it was not sealed. After much public outcry, the government sealed the road, tied one end in to a set of traffic lights at the intersection with Great Eastern Highway and built a large roundabout linking the other end of the road with the north / south Goldfields Highway. Of course, these works took many months as is normal once governments and councils assume responsibility.

The road is now Anzac Drive, one of the busiest roads in the district, and the story of the "Rebel Roadbuilders" who constructed it is now part of the recent history of this city.

Glad you enjoyed your short holiday, and now that you're back in the thick of things, keep safe.

Cheers ........ Brian

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Thanks Brian,

That is a great story, well put. The Lions Road was a significant undertaking because of it crossing a state border. More power to Jack Hurley because he was able to bring the authorities and politicos on both sides together.

Are there any written accounts of ANZAC Road?

Cheers,

BBC.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BBC

Are there any written accounts of ANZAC Road?

Cheers,

BBC.

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I haven't seen any really detailed write-ups on it, but if you google "Rebel Roadbuilders Kalgoorlie" you will find a few mentions. In particular, Matt Birney's maiden speech in the WA Parliament (he was the first Liberal to take the seat of Kalgoorlie in over 100 years, later became the leader of the opposition, and later still bombed out in pretty unremarkable fashion), he gives a brief outline of how the road was built as an example of the "spirit of the people of Kal".

Cheers ........ Brian

Saw these marks down at the very...very....very end of the Mogadishu runway about 4mths ago...God knows who made them and what type of aircraft it was...but, how much of the runway do you need to bloody use?

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/11/884.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/11/885.jpg

Looking at the approach I can only imagine how low the aircraft was..and how close this incident was to being an accident...crikes!

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/11/886.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...010/11/887.jpg

Was that a landing or a takeoff?

BBC - always great to read your posts and see some pics! Hope you're well.

Regards,

Dave.

PS. I'd expect common things like landings/take-offs in a country like Somalia to be fairly sub-standard (not based on anything other than vague perceptions from the other side of the world), how is the rest of the country? I know there's poverty through a lot of these nations, but how 'comfortable' is the rest of the population? I hate to reveal my ignorance, but you appear to have spent a great deal of time in the region...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dmmos

BBC - always great to read your posts and see some pics! Hope you're well.

Regards,

Dave.

PS. I'd expect common things like landings/take-offs in a country like Somalia to be fairly sub-standard (not based on anything other than vague perceptions from the other side of the world), how is the rest of the country? I know there's poverty through a lot of these nations, but how 'comfortable' is the rest of the population? I hate to reveal my ignorance, but you appear to have spent a great deal of time in the region...

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Dave,

I am well, thanks for asking.

Somalia, in a word….complex.
I have never seen so many weapons and this is just in the streets. You are vulnerable if you cannot defend yourself. The individual depends so much on the strength of his family, clan, and tribal alliance. Alliances switch and sway according to the perception of benefit by the tribal leaders. The individual here keeps track on his existence and allies by being able to remember & quote his ancestry and connections stemming back 7 generations…off by heart.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...10/08/1308.jpg

The Transitional Federal Government (TFG), being backed by the US, EU, and the UN, is up against the two insurgencies of Hizbul Islam and Al Shabab.
Hizbul Islam is at its core nationalist and largely based on clan membership. Members of its Ras Kamboni group, for example, belong to the Ogaden sub-clan of the Darod, whose territorial claims extend from the Jubba and Gedo regions of southern Somalia into Ethiopia's Ogaden region.
Whereas al-Shabab, is a transnational extremist group, with out-of-country alliance to Al Quaeda.

Both groups tussle for power and power in Somalia is all about the commerce and funds that flow through it…essentially, to me, it is Africa’s tax free zone. If you can have a look at the port photos and see the amount of trade that is being moved into the country, it is quite amazing. I have never seen so many wide screen TVs and electrical items. I’ve been told by more than one person that they estimate 70-80% of the port trade is controlled by Hizbul Islam.

Al Shabab have control over Bakara Market, the commercial centre of Mogadishu and allegedly, have control over Hormuud, the most popular telephone company in town.

Much of this trade is being done over the borders surrounding Somalia and, when you are in Nairobi, you can see the wealthier parts of the tribal enclaves in Nairobi are Somali. All the money out of the Somali trade is being invested in real estate in Nairobi and toward the coast. What will powerful men do if they live in and promote violence? Almost anything they want.

The average person in Mogadishu is either, there because he can’t get out or, he is of a powerful clan and he has come back into Somalia from Sweden, Canada, US, Germany, Holland, the UK, and the odd Aussie Somali is there to see if they can do business. The President of Puntland, to the north, is Abdirahman Mohamud Farole a Somali Australian, and a former PhD candidate in the history department at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs for the TFG is Ali Ahmed Jama, another Australian Somali, who was surprised as hell to hear my ‘Straaaarlian’ drawl. He is a Carlton supporter, so naturally, I don’t give him much credence.
GEN Gelle, a German national and the National Security Force Commander (there are some earlier photos with me dining with him and the AMISOM Commander) was a former Officer in the Somali military with Barre. His previous job before coming back to Somalia was as a McDonalds manager in Germany.

The average Somali male in Mogadishu, who has been able to get out of the place, has lived in conflict for the past 20yrs. He has a weapon, he has not been educated, and he will often be part of a tribal militia which will try to control and influence what happens in the locality they live in.

Surrounding the city are many Internally Displaced People (IDPs) generally families from minority tribes who have been displaced by their neighbouring majority tribes. Their existence is very hand to mouth, they have poor health, no education, and will do whatever they can to exist. Poverty reigns. The powerful are and, the powerless remain so.

Since the time my brother was here in 1994 with the 1 RAR Bn Gp the security of the place has become even worse. Despite sanctions, there are more weapons and now, there is the ubiquitous presence of mobile phones….the transmission of information is almost instantaneous and…they have eyes everywhere.

It all sounds pretty gloomy but, it will all be about representing and being able to maintain a position of influence that will present as being of a better option. To me, this will be very much about being able to wrest control of the trade and money flowing through the place.

Something that is not yet known to the world but, the TFG has gone into a commercial lease with a civilian company to come in and take over the running of both the sea and air ports….this will prove to be very interesting. If successful it will force the two insurgency groups to rely on either Kismaayo or Haradhere for the passage of their business, ports to the North and south…..IF Mogadishu can be secured, moves to takeover these other two locations will be far less of a challenge…we shall see.

Very interesting. Do you feel personally secure?