Broken Hill Remembers 100 Year Anniversary of RMS Titanic Tragedy 15 April 2012

RMS Titanic

On my trip to Broken Hill in January 2012, I attended the opening night of a photographic exhibition by the controversial photographer Bill Henson, at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery.  It was there that I met a gentleman called John.  I told him about my www.ilovebrokenhill.com site, and he proceeded to tell me about the surprising connection between Broken Hill and the famous RMS (Royal Mail Ship/Steamer) Titanic.

Broken Hill Titanic Memorial

Memorial

There is a memorial for the Titanic in Sturt Park, Broken Hill.  The memorial, in the form of a ‘broken column’ monument, was the “brainchild” of the Broken Hill City Bandsmen and was completed in late 1913, the year following the sinking on 15 April 1912, of the luxury ocean steam ship whilst on her maiden voyage.  Of the 2,201 passengers (approximately) and crew, 1,490 people drowned.

The column monument (pictured) is broken off at the top, according to Broken Hill volunteer guide Jack Harris, “because it’s a symbol of an old Greek mythology that you didn’t accomplish everything that you set out to do in life and so your life was snapped off”.  In an interview with ABC’s Guy Noble’s on the “Dimensions in Time” program, on 15 April 2002, to mark the 90th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking, Jack noted that “1913 was the worst year ever on the mines” with “31 killed on the mines”.  Just as the mine deaths should not have happened, so too the drowning deaths should not have happened.  This fact was also part of the inspiration for the memorial.

Service for the 100^th Anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic

April 15, 2012 is the 100^th anniversary of the Titanic sinking, and the event is being marked worldwide with various ceremonies.  In Broken Hill, there will be a special service held at 12.30pm on Sunday 15 April 2012 at the memorial in Sturt Park (corner of Sulphide and Wolfram Streets).  The service will include prayers and the story behind the monument.  The Barrier Industrial Unions’ (BIU) (brass) Band (formerly the Broken Hill City Band) will also perform.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

The connection of the BIU band to the Titanic is that it was reported that as the ship was sinking, the ship’s band played music to help calm the passengers.  Notably “Nearer My God to Thee”, was played/sung close to the end, as members of the band, and about two thirds of the passengers ultimately drowned in the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Let us hope there is never another sinking of any ship causing loss of life.

Vale…

If you have a personal story regarding the RMS Titanic or the Broken Hill Memorial please feel free to share your thoughts.

Jane D

Broken Hill 2012 - Great to be back

Hi all, a brief update.  I have just returned from a four day trip to Broken Hill and although it was unusually wet for the area - it rained pretty much steadily from a big storm Friday evening (27th), all Saturday and most of Sunday, I still had a really wonderful time.

I arrived early evening on Australia Day (26th January) and was promptly invited to a BBQ that very night, with a group of poets who were having a long weekend get together at the Tourist Lodge where I was staying that first night.  The host was the very hospitable owner of the Lodge - Dallas.

Interior Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery
(from gallery website)

Art Scene

Socialising continued the following evening at the Broken Regional Art Gallery for the opening of a Bill Henson photographic exhibition.  Also opening that night was a linocut and 'story poles' exhibition by Kevin (Kat) Cattermole - a Paakantji artist from Wilcannia, together with another linocuts exhibition by Robyn Nelson who spent some time in Broken Hill as she grew up.  The event commencing at 6.30pm was initially called off after the Friday night storm caused the power to go out, but fortunately, not long after, the power was restored and the event was able to go ahead.  It was great to meet so many friendly locals.

During the few days I was there, I managed to catch up with a number of local artists including Andrea Blundell, Jenny Cattonar, Ian Lewis, Eric McCormick and Deirdre Edwards.  I had a good chat with Angela Fitzpatrick (over the phone as she wasn't in her studio that day).  I was meant to go out to Silverton to catch up with Albert Woodroffe who owns Horizon Gallery, on the Friday, but unfortunately with the very wet stormy conditions, he advised by phone that if I came out that afternoon, I might get stuck there as the creek was likely to cut the town off, so that was the end of that part of my trip.  I caught up with a few other people which was great, and met a few new people as well.

On Saturday night there was dinner at The Palace Hotel and later dancing to the music of the local band the Silver City Comets.

Silver City Cinema with owner John Wren
courtesy Barrier Daily Truth

Sunday was a Red Cross fundraiser film and afternoon tea event at the local cinema where the premier screening (for the city) of 'The Iron Lady' was on.

It just seemed to be non-stop events, which I'm not complaining about at all.

The Palace Hotel

A few people I was hoping to catch up with had gone away, as summer is a popular time for locals to leave town for a while as it is a very hot time of year and if you're in business, the tourist numbers are usually down around this time.

I stayed at the famous The Palace Hotel for the other three nights I was in town, which was fun.  The hotel is very slowly being 'renovated' after the new owners took over in 2009.  The hotel itself is huge (three storeys), so it will take some time for the project to be completed.

More updates soon.

Cheers, Jane D