The Sulphide St Railway & Historic Museum didn't really enthuse us but it has history and old locos so it was on the list. A very interesting place, particularly the historic attack on a Picnic train, by Turks, that had left the station.

WW1 was in its infancy on the 1st January 1915, when two Turkish patriots launched their own war in Broken Hill, and attacked a train carrying 1200 men, women and children to a picnic for the annual Manchester Unity Lodge picnic.   They hid behind an ice-cream cart, raised the Turkish flag and peppered the train as it was pulling slowly up a hill.   10 passengers were hit, with 3 killed instantly.   The Turks fled the scene but were later located and fired upon incessantly by local militiamen.   One died at the scene and the other in hospital later.   Another victim of the incident was a resident chopping wood in his backyard, who was hit by a stray bullet.

Things got worse in Broken Hill. The local people were incensed with the slaughter of their own that they wanted revenge.   With the Turks and the Germans at war with the Allies, the townsfolk took to razing the German Club to the ground.

So with the ugliness of war behind us, we headed for a top up of good news history and inspiration, at the Royal Flying Doctor Service base here.   A big operation, with 4 planes and the services, 24 x 7, of doctors, nurses, and the like, at their fingertips.   These dedicated people are the lifeline to anyone living or travelling in the outback, including us, when emergency calls!    They are also the lifeline of communities that have no medical service except for the clinics the RFDS set up and attend.   We went into the operations and communications room and then into the hangar to observe their operations.   Being a Sunday, no-one was around these areas and instead, were on call.   The work they do is incredible.   Thanks God for such an amazing service and the people dedicated to working the outback.

We are getting a bit weary at this point, having started out early with the Pro Hart Gallery. The weather is fabulous and hot, so we head home for an hour or two for a rest (poor old buggars) and at 4:30pm we head out to the Sculptures in the Barrier Ranges, for the sunset.

There are 12 massive sculpture located in the 'Living Desert’ Reserve.   Completed by 12 artists from 5 countries in 1993, these sandstone works celebrate the link between art and the environment around this region.   Perched atop a hill, the landscape is breathlessly beautiful, as you look out at the panoramic view to the west and await the red rays of the dying sun to drench the land and the sculptures with its colour.   And what a sight!   Stuck for words so I will let our photos take you there!

Although not all the statues grabbed me, what I found much more fantastic was the landscape, the rich ochre red of the dirt and the shale rock formations glistening in the dying rays of light.

Definitely worth the drive out of town – it was a great sight!