This week
Back Roads is heading into silo country, taking a journey through Victoria’s Wimmera.
Host Heather Ewart visits towns that could not sound more Australian if they tried, Rupanyup and Minyip (where
Flying Doctors was filmed).
Heather meets the hard-working and humble people of this part of Australia, who have made their homes on the wide-open plains.
Rupanyup has been enjoying a steady stream of tourists thanks to its massive silos in town, which were painted by a Russian street artist for the Wimmera Mallee’s silo art trail. Like all the small communities dotted through the Wimmera, ‘Rup’ as the town is affectionately known, is trying to keep the momentum going and attract more people to move there.
But her trip to Gallipoli in 1990 stands out above the rest.
Working for the Australian War Memorial as an education officer following a career in teaching, she made the trip to Anzac Cove with a number of diggers all aged in their 90s to be part of the 75th anniversary service.
Nothing could have prepared her for that day.
“Standing with those people at dawn and being a part of the service was an incredible thing,” Ms Mackenzie said.
“But what I remember most is after the service. We walked along the beach with a few of the soldiers.
“While we were walking, one of them found where his best friend was buried. It s as emotional a moment as you will have.”
Lonely Planet writers reveal their travel resolutions for 2021
Kerry Walker
Lonely Planet writers share their 2021 travel resolutions.
While Lonely Planet writers donât have a crystal ball to predict when unrestricted travel will be back on the cards in a COVID-era world, we certainly never stop dreaming about when we can head off into the wide blue yonder. But has the pandemic changed the way we think? And will we become more mindful, eco-conscientious and considerate travelers as a result of all this?
We asked a few Lonely Planet writers to reveal their travel resolutions for the year ahead. Reaching from the heights of the Himalaya to the depths of the Amazon and far beyond, here s what they said.