Hello,
The website is on it’s way! The launch date will be 11th November 2010. The site will have the story of Robbie and his mates who went over to England on the Strathnaver; how we found out who wrote the diary; how Robbie was found, and a lot more. It will also explore the two themes which stood out from all the stories: courage and inspiration. I apologize for the delay and hope you’ll join us in November at www.sealikeglass.com
Kind regards,
Ann
“Lovely day. Filled in Customs Declaration. Brisbane tomorrow. Good old Australia”.
Monday, 20th September 2010
“Good old Australia” – So these are the last words in Alice’s diary and so ends the voyage. Why did she stop writing here and not in Melbourne? I had wondered if TSS Tanda had been damaged badly in the typhoon and the voyage had to end in Brisbane. However, on checking out the Passenger List, through the Adelaide National Archives office, I was able to see that Alice and Andy disembarked in Melbourne. Seeing their names on the list was quite a moment for me. It made them really exist outside the diary.
So, here ends the first part of the story. Alice’s Diary has taken me on quite an adventure: to Robbie and his mates, to their training at RAAF Point Cook in 1936 and their eventual voyage to England. It also led me to the extraordinary Jimmy Melrose, a young aviator from Adelaide who, I am 99.9% sure, was the inspiration for Robbie wanting to fly. Check out this great website www.jimmymelrose.com to find out about this forgotten Australian hero. The diary also took me on the voyage and I feel very fond of TSS Tanda. I’ve discovered parts of the world I knew very little about and have enjoyed it all very much. I will be doing the website, but due to moving to Queensland, it won’t be ready tomorrow. I’ll leave a message on the blog when it’s ready to go, so check back towards the end of September.
If you look at the photo at the top of the page, you might make out two A’s in the struts of the Tiger Moth – one for Alice, the other for Andy and also, one for Alice and one for Ann! And yes, Dear Reader, I really did take the photo. It was a magic ride in my favourite aeroplane courtesy of my two daughters who gave me the flight of a lifetime for a Mother’s Day present last May (I can highly recommend Adelaide Biplanes at Aldinga Aerodrome – if you don’t want to fly, go and have a coffee in the lovely cafe and enjoy the atmosphere – check out the website www.adelaidebiplanes.com.au) . It was the most wonderful experience – well, I had to do it didn’t I? I had to know what it felt like; to be up there open to the wind. I didn’t expect to feel so at home or comfortable. That was a shock. I loved it! It really felt familiar and ‘deja vu ish’ which freaked me out. Alice started me wondering about courage, then Jimmy Melrose, Amelia Earhart, Robbie and his mates carried it on. Where did they find the courage to do what they did? Where does it come from? This is what I hope to explore on the website. See you there.
Flying High
“Day is nice. Play golf all the morning. In the afternoon I finish packing. Bed early.”
“My darling birthday. 23 today. Oh that God had spared him to us. We went away to forget. What a farce. There is no forgetting. We miss him more as the days go by. It’s much cooler today for which I am thankful. and so to bed. One day nearer home and Rob.”
Saturday, 18th September 1937
Rob was born on the 18th September 1914. I think of Alice as an extraordinarily brave woman. The kind of person who had the ability to summon up the everyday courage to just get up and keep on going. The kind of courage that doesn’t come easily as it’s needed over a long period of time. They obviously thought that getting away from the usual surrounds would be of help. Then they end up in the nightmare of a typhoon where Alice plays the piano, if she’s able to stay upright on the seat, to try and help others. What gripped me about this diary is that the story is timeless. Wherever there’s a war, there are parents grieving the loss of a child. It doesn’t matter what nationality you are, the pain is the same. It’s age old and yet it still goes on. I would like to have met Alice. There are so many questions I would have liked to have asked her. Most of them about Robbie. I think you’ll like him too.
“Just a lazy day”.
Friday, 17th September 2010
That’s the shortest entry in the diary so I’d better fill up a bit of space! Being so far away from Adelaide now I feel as if I’ve left the story behind. As if whatever was meant to be done has been done. I haven’t heard back from Point Cook Museum and I emailed them a while ago trying to find out more information about the group of young flying officers who set sail on the Strathnaver. I’m starting to feel that the story ends with the end of Alice’s Diary.
Below are some photos taken at the Temora Aviation Museum which is well worth visiting. The display of aircraft is excellent and if you go on the right day you can see some of them fly. It is brilliantly run and should be classed as a National Treasure for the work that is done there. Australia is very fortunate to have such a place. I really enjoyed my visit. The place has a very special feel to it. So does the town of Temora. It has a certain charm, a character, which has been preserved instead of being demolished in preference to something “modern”. Visiting The White Rose Cafe was delightful. It was a trip back in time. To sit in a booth again – drink good coffee and eat a delicious slice of Hummingbird Cake! Magic!
On the road to Temora
Spitfire at Temora Aviation Museum
Tiger Moth's Upside Down Engine, Temora Aviation Museum
The White Rose Cafe, Temora
Great Coffee, Great Cake, Great Atmosphere!
“Up at 6 a.m. Captain Roberts is taking us to land on the volcano. Very hot but most interesting morning. Had to rush back as we sailed at 12 noon. Back tired, hot and thirsty. A really wonderful trip. Have to meet Mrs. Roberts in Sydney.”
“Up early for Doctor. Rabaul. Had breakfast. Along side now. Most interesting place. Get taxi up to township. Went to bank with Mrs. Kirinoscky. Walked to native markets and China Town. All very interesting. Walked back to boat through native huts. After dinner motored all round to hot springs, Govt House. Back to see them loading logs. Meet Captain Roberts of the John Boulton . Invited up to dinner on same. Lovely night. Took us to P & O Co to meet Captain Parry, late Captain of the Durour which got caught in volcano eruption. Happy night. Back to J. Boulton for supper. Native boy put on a song and dance for us. Delightful. Loaded us with presents. When we got on Tanda at midnight, Mrs. Naullty, late of S.A.R. was wanting to see us. Had chat. Off to bed.”
Wednesday, 15th September 1937
From the point of view of deciphering Alice’s handwriting, this entry is one I have only just been able to crack. The name of the SS Durour was almost unreadable and I thought it was probably Durham or Durom. Then I tried Durour and up popped these two remarkable eyewitness accounts of the volcanic eruption in 1937. I’m really quite pleased that I’ve been able to work it out and with such a result.
