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+++ 194410 [2017/11/17 13:15] – tyreless
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-=====Stanzas From "An Australian Symphony".
+=====Stanzas From "An Australian Symphony".=====
 The silence and the sunshine creep\\
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-SEPTEMBER WEEK END TO CLRLONIS
+=====September Week End To Carlons.=====
-Garrai,
-It hea 'ceen uelnotonous jou7ney, aeew&-cl sz,ccii and outside driLzlir g ren and L heavy ocrez-7e-!t eky, 7eAdd,c1C:y howe7ez, as oe a,Yeroached
+E. Garrad.
-Lawson, everycne e: et ao If Mc:trifle& It wrtg: cnewn3: in Sep';eelber!
-Thera re.E.fel tYein windr-w?, and lniY;. pf ee-.!,(natea eee'-'ersation where
+It had been a monotonous journey. Crowded train, slow spped, and outside drizzling rain and a heavy overcast sky. Suddenly however, as we approached Lawson, everyone sat up as if eletrified. It was snowing in September! There was a rush to train windows, and lots of animated conversation where before everyone had been quiet and bored. As we climbed from one mountain town to another the scene became more and more beautiful. The snow had been falling some time and there were deep banks beside the railway line, and the trees which at first were just sprinkled with snow became heavily laden with their white burden.
-berere c,:eryene hr,d bPcn and bo-ed, Aa elimbed ':rem ol. e mountain
-tezA to Enetar the ,ec'cno beeane Lere utt moe'e 'oeeuttrul, The rincw had been
+Katoomba is a hideous town, but this day it was beautiful. The roof tops, the lawns, and the roadway were completelv covered with snow, and each shrub and tree was an exquisite thing. The japonaoas were amongst the most beautiful, as the red of the flowersglowed beneath the mantle of snow.
-:1:Lng some and. rerc t, oesidc T,he railway and the te whieh at finei, were ju teprink:.ed wi-eh eln:)w beoame heavily laden with their wh.:L:e buraen.,
-Ke,;;eer obe, a biec,us tevn,. but thic aay it ws bifui The roof
+We took the bus out to the golf links (our bare legs having been bombarded with snow balls by the local lads) and here the loveliness was breathtaking. The links were just one huge white expanse, and the trees between the fairways each had an individual beauty. They were cyprus and sundry English trees which vied with our gums in lovely silhouettes.
-tops; the lawns, and the roadway were eom-eletelv covree2 with snoArt and each
-shrub and WE1-9 an exci-eicite thing, The japonaoas we:ce amenrest the most beautiful, as the red of the flowers-glowed beneath the man tn cf ancw
+It was still snowing as we left the bus and proceeded towards the Devil's Hole. The track was slippery and the weighted bushes smothered us with snow as we descended. In the comparative shelter of the Hole itself we found patches of snow, and the way was slow and awkward. We looked ahead to a most extraordinary sight. The valley seemed filled with mist which had taken on a golden light from the westing sun, and through the mist there was a shaft of sunlight striking the orange faces of the Narrow Neck. As we went from the white tops into the green valley we regretted leaving behind so much loveliness.
-We took the bus out to the golf links (our bare le v h:e71n7 bee-n bombarded with k.,ncs w balls by the local lade) and here the loveldnes wae breathtakira., Tne links were just one huge white,-expnee, an'a the trees between the fairwaTs each had an individual beauty, They wore eyprus and seendry English trees which vied with o ar gums in lovely silhoueeetes,
-It was still nowing as we left the bu and pror:eeded towards the Tnvills Hcle, The track was slipnery arvi the weighted bushea-emtherod 119 with snow as we cesLeried, In the coma.' & shelter of the Hole itFelf we found patches of anor and the way was slow end awkward, We loe.,hed aheadtoa mest extraordinazy eight The valley seemed filled with mist which h'ed trIkon cee. a
+However it was quite dark and we hurried on our way. In the dark, sometimes in the rain, and by torchlight it was a slow progress, but when we reached the road near Duncans there were stars overhead and a brilliant coldness in the air.
-golden light from the resting sut,and through the mist there wao a shaft of sunlight striking the orange faces of the Narrow Neek, As we orent from the white tops into the green valley we regretted leaving behind to much lcveliness,
-However it was quite dark and we hurried on our way. In the dark? sometimes in the raini and by torchlight it-ras a slow re?cgres. but when we reFei:,hed the read near Duncans there were stars o7erhead and a brilliant coli3L neEP in the air,
+We arrived at Carlon's about 1 1/2 hours later than our schedule - a somewhat cold, tired and very hungry trio, but still excited. Mrs. Canlon served us with one of her typical dinners, and did we enjoy it!
-We arrived at Carlon's bcut hours later than our sehedule - a somewhat cold, tired and very hungry t.J:io but still eed, YErs. Canon' served us with one of her typical dinners: and did we erjey it;
-We were ontert'lined es,rcie-nd the firc by o grout of lade from Lithgow, and when Zinally we Plipred very contentedly !ecneath our blaakets, it vas very pleasant for c=nt_.c net to have to 'worry about tent poles ana-gathering b-racken
+We were entertained around the fire by a group of lads from Lithgow, and when finally we slipped very contentedly beneath our blankets, it was very pleasant for once not to have to worry about tent poles and gathering bracken and dead leaves for a bed.
-and dead leaves' for a bed,
+Next morning was bright and clear with a cool breeze - excellent for walking. After a hearty breakfast (including __cream__ on our porridge and jam!!!) we took the sawmill track and as we reached the higher slopes the views across the valley were fine. Our route was via Mitchell's Creek on to the Narrow Necks. The creek was full of tall tree ferns and other attractive foliage. Not so pleasant were the lawyer vines which lacerated our legs. We came at length to the tree in which some thoughtful soul had some time ago placed nails to assist those not quite sufficiently monkeylike to climb without aid. We had previous1y looked at this tree from above but hesitated to descend with packs in case we could not get up again. (Would suggest that if anyone is going through that way they take a supply of good strong nails as those at present in the tree have served their day). The party having safely negotiated this hazard, we made our way to the overhang at the top of Mitchell's Creek, and had lunch with the sun pouring down upon us. When we reached the main tracak along the Narrow Necks the wind had dropped, and visibility was excellent. We admired once again, as we always do, the lovely valleys and ridges extending into the Burragorang and beyond, and the cloud shadows and sunlight gave an everchanging variety to the Megalong Valley. We had time to be leisurely, to pause when we wanted to, and joy of joys - we had no heavy packs. I assure you it is a good thing to go away for a week end with a pair of pyjamas and Sunday's lunch! ...
+----
+=====De-mosquito-ing Bouddi Natural Park.=====
+Marie B. Byles.
+The possibility of getting rid of mosquitoes by means of fish first came into ny mind from hearing that the Army Medical Corp was stocking with fish certain malarial streams in North Queensland/ Enquiries from the Board of Health showed that there was little danger of dengue or malaria from our Sydney streams, but that did not alter the unpleasantness of mosquitoes in our popular Bouddi Natural Park.
+The enquiries were pursued and it was discovered that a fish called Gambuoa Aginia found the mosquito larvae the most delectable of foods, that Mr. Meadows, the Newcastle Health Inspector had some of these estimable fish under his care, that if they were placed in fresh water to begin with, they did not mind getting acclimatized to the salt lagoons, and best of all that they were very prolific breeders. Mr. Meadows kindly gave me full directions about feeding them on rolled oats and putting them in the streams, and rang me up when he had put a kerosene tin full (about 200) on the train for Woy Woy. Eckhart Heilpern (Bush Club) and Laurie Raynor (S.B.W.) collected them here and transported them to Putty Beach and Maitland Bay.
+Our attempt to "fish" the first stream was done by gingerly dipping a cup into the kerosene tin and after the third or fourth try landing one tiny fish about an inch long, and placing him (or her) in the pool. After about a quarter of an hour we had managed to catch eight fish, and praying that the sexes were properly mixed, we went on to the next stream. There was then a long controvery as to whether it might be possible to pour the fish out. The majority considered they would either come out en masse or stop at the bottom. EventlIally Laurie stopped the debete (rather unlike his usual self!) and started to pour. Much to our delight about 25 fish swam out happily into the pool. We then started off over the hill to Maitland Bay. Eckhart conceived the brilliant idea of putting the kerosene tin in his rucksack. But it did not work. The water slopped out of the holes, and we found, not only water, at the bottom of the pack, but one of our precious fish. So there was nothing for it but to carry the tin in the hand, not the easiest or lightest thing to carry along the rough rather overgrown footpath, where Eckhart's giant frame was usually bent double to get under the trees.
+However, the job is now done. The streams at Putty Beach and Maitland Bay have all been "fished", and we shall do the one at Little Beach, which never dries, when we have the next working bee in May 1945. At the same working bee we proposed to make a concrete dam at Tiny Beach below the best of all the camping spots in teh park, and perhaps we may stock this at the same time.
+So far, so good. There is only one little trouble, and that is that these fish bring forth their young alive, like sharks, and not in the form of eggs. This means that if teh streams dry up, they die, and there is this risk with regard to most of the streams, and even the little brackish lagoons, around Sydney. It is therefore up to some promising you science graduate, who wants his B.Sc. to invent a fish which produces spawn as indestructible as mosquito larvae. Until then we only pray to the rain gods not to send us a drought like the last.
+----
+=====Fireworks.=====
+The arrival of the notice of the Half Yearly General Meeting with its frightening threats and ghastly alternatives, arrived unestatiously into the homes of many unsuspecting Bushwalkers. Such a crowd turned up on Sept. 8th, the day of the meeting. that we suspect the date had been viciously marked on most calendars for some time.
+Apart from some GeneralBusiness the really beligerant portion of the notice read:
+. "To consider the following motion by Mr. A. Wyborn:
+that the following be inserted in Section 5 after sub-section (a) of the Constititution.
+bb. "Members are expected to lead at least one walk per year if requested. Failure to comply will result in transference to non-active membership. The Committee may waive this rule in special cases."
+. "To consider the following motion moved by Mr. J. Hunter:
+That the foilowing be inserted in Section 5 after sub-section (a) of the Contstitution:
+bbb. "Members who do not complete three or more walks with the club per year shall be automatically transfered to non-active list. The Committee is to use its discretion in exceptional circumctances."
+Fighting words to Bushwalkers. But they rose to the occasion. A full house, stirring speaches by the opposition and sarcastic interjections and the meeting was almost pre-war. Old members who perhaps haven't seen a track for years emerged from their hideouts (marvelous service P.M.G.) and entered the ring to do battle in the war against regimentation.
+Mr. A. Wyborn and Mr. J. Hunter each touched delicately if insistently on the increasing decadence of the Club as a walking club and had several supporters. There were several against the motion as well. Marie Byles gave a very forceful speech the gist of which seemed to be that most of the old members who did not go on official walks were those who were doing a large amount of work of some kind or another for the club. The others apparently were really concerned about the birth rate and were doing something practical about it. Official walks and the birth rate are things apart. After this and several speeches in teh same vein we did think the Walks Secretary had an awful nerve expecting leaders for his walks. May we suggest that Mr. Wyborn refrains from asking any who appear deeply interested in the birth rate to lead walks, as a refusal often offends. Tom Herbert, Ch. Colberg, M. Harrison and others all gave impassioned speeches.
+Yes, you guessed it. The motions were defeated.
+----
+=====Letters From Lads And Lasses.=====
+Letters were received from the fol1owing members during September:
+  * Jack Adams
+  * Bruce Simpson
+  * Jean Ray
+  * Betty Pryde
+  * Ted Paterson
+  * Chas Jones
+  * Bill Burke
+  * Barney Evans
+  * Max Gentle
+  * Les Douglas
+===Betty Pryde - 23-8-44 - Deniliquin.===
+Remember Me? I have once again changed my abode and am now, as you can see, out in the dead heart of Orstrilyer, the land of opportunity, the golden west where men are not men but 18 years old air trainees or elderly civilian labourers. Sacramento, I do get stuck into some strange spots, don't I? But what I did to deserve this, I don't imagine, my life is entirely blameless, (well almost) and nothing I've ever done could possibly warrant banishment to this far flung out-post of the Empire. It is quite the most uninteresting country I've ever been in - not a hill between here and Perth to break the howling gales that sweep across the prairie. Last stand-down I went for a walk - trotted about 6 miles but might just as well have stood on one square foot and lifted my feet up and down for all the change in scenery. Never in all my life have I seen so much sky at one time. I'm all for the wide open spaces where men are men, but these spaces are a bit too wide and the men are only 18 or cripples. What a life.
+This is a flying training school and every one dashed about looking most terribly important, but having been in the Air Force for 2 years I secretly suspect that it is all just a lot of hooey and that nobody is important and that nobody has anything to do and just dashed about in such manner to sort of draw a red herring or two or three over the trail. Of course I may not be right but it is just a theory I have.
+The unit is about 2 miles out of the town and for all the good that is it might just ao well be 200. The town is just a town and the whir1 of reckless social gaiety is confined to movies and a dance put on by the local Comfort's Fund on Tuesday. There is a __ball__ once a month to which the farmers and their numerous female offpring give their patronage, clad in the most astonishing array of "evening gowns", with sequins and things scattered will-nilly over the entire ensemble.
+We have a dance on the unit on Mondays and most of the girls trot along very resplendent in their chiffons and their organdies with much trilling and flouncing and much in the way of floral decoration in the hair, and eye-shadow and gord knows wot-not. All their finery is covered by the Service great-coats, airwomen for the use of, and they trot off clutching their 2/- and appear to have a wonderful time. I am afraid that I have lost my joie de vivre, because I am no longer anxious to wear my very best-go-to-meeting evening gown and silver slippers and wait to be asked to dance by pimply 18 year old youths with their hair plastered down with petroleum bought at the canteen for 8 1/2 per -jar. I am afraid the rot is setting in, because I prefer to sit by the little stove in the hut and do my knitting and read my book and make myself a cup of tea at 9 o'clock and then go to sleep on my couch of straw, and snarl inwardly at the roysters coming home at the indecent hour of 11.30 and stumbling over the kit bags in the aisle of the hut.
+I have found it so cold here after the warmth of Queensland's sunny skies that I have only been out at night to the movies on the station (and then under loud protest) about twice in the two months I have been here. It has been bitterly cold - (refer 1st paragraph, in regard to cold and wind coming from Perth). The last couple of days have been considerably warmer, but not enough for me to cast off one of the numerous layers of clothes in which my body beautiful is swaddled.
+I am not on my own work, which is also a blow but am working (or taher, in attendance) at the Hospital in the orderly team, and muddle about with medical records and specialise in being sympathetic with the wrong patients. Somehow I seem to have a faculty for being nice to the wrong sorts and usually find that the "poor man" who looked so terribly ill and was waiting to see the doctor wasn't really ill, but only had to see the doc. to have his physical fitness verifed for his week's hard labour, for on account of because he was drunk in town and battered a harmless civilian to death, or such. I have learned to call the old common cold a "coryza" and talk nonchantly about "appendiscotomy" and "tonsilectomy" with carefree abandon.
+I won't comment on your very news letter because it was written on 24th May (Shame on you, Elizabeth) and you will not have the remotest idea what you wrote on the 24th May, but it was really a most entertaining screed and I enjoyed it today re-reading it as much as ever. Your letters always entertain me. 'Scuse this being typed, but if I wrote a letter here at the hospital it looks as though I'm just loafing and could be better employed, but if I type, and make a great clatter with the keys, everyboby thinks "Poor girl, she is terrib1y busy, we must not disturb her".
+We live in long tin huts, there is not a two storey building on the entire estate and from the distance it looks like "Stalag 999999". The WAAF are in what we refer to as the Compound, sounds like an enclosure for wild animals. There are not many girls here, and we have about 24 to a hut, and you can imagine that it is about as private as a zoo. Isn't it extraordinary the ritual some girls go through when preparing for bed? We have little fue1 stoves in the centre of the hut and all sit around it at night cursing our unhappy lot and discussing what the sergeant said and what we said to the sergeant, and sooner or later we get down to the subject of food and leave and then we start all over again. One day, when I find a girl who is ready willing and able to discuss some matter other than the above mentioned topics on a RAAF station I will fall flat on my face in a foaming fit and will then be a patient in my own hospital. We have no sports facilities on the unit but can play tennis in the village on Saturdays on the town courts. This is pleasant enough if we can manage to get a game, but it usually is rather crowded, so we just take a packet of biscuits and an apple and go out and sit and brood and watch the sky.
+----
-Next morning was bright e nd clear with a coo: b:ocese - excellent for wa7lring., After a hearty b:eeakfr-i_et (includin crm on :)1),- norrldge -and
-M) we tock the sawmill track and as we roaehed the higher slopes the views across the valley were fine Our,rout t: we,s via h:itcholl/F Creek on to
-the Narrow Necks, The creek was full of tall tree.;ferlls and other attractive foli_age, Not so pleasant were the lawyer 7f,nes hich la7,erated our leRs, We came Pt length to the tree in which some thoughtful Soul had (pme tme
-ilaced nails to assist-, those not quite sufficiently monkeylike to climb without
-We had 1,revious1y looked at this tree from above but hesitated to deocemq with --tp,acka In case_we could not get up again, -(Would suggest that f aryoT going thou11 that way they take a supply of good strolig nails ate these at preoen, in the tree have served their day), The ;party having safely negotiated th.5_2 hazard/ we made our way to the overhang at the top of Yitchellls Croek, and hzed lunch. with the clan pouring down upon us, When we reache the re,in trai eaong the Narrow Necks the wind had dropped? and vis:Ibiltty was. ex,I;ellaff7,-, We aced once acain, as we always do? the lovely valleyE; and ridges extendis i-nto the T3urragorang and beyond, and the cloud shadows and 61ilaight gave an. overchangingovarietY to the Megalong Valley, We had time to be''Icfsurely, to pause when we wanted to., and joy of joys - we had no
-ioa7y rc..to- s, I es;.7;ure you it je3 a good thing to go away for a ek and with a pair of pyjamas and Sundays lunch? ..
-laTe-M0:=70-ING BOUDDI NATURAL PAPK,
-Marie B,Byles.
-The possibility cf getting rid of me,squi by mean of flah first cane into ny miud from hearing that the Army Medical Corp was stocking with fish certain malarial streams in North Queenel,-nd, Enquiries from the Board of Health showed that there was ij ttle danger of dengue or malaria from our Sydney streams, but that did not alter the ionpleasahtness of mosquitoes in our popular Bouddi Ee..t:YTj Park,
-The enouiries wero pursued and it was discovered that a fish called
-Gambuoa AE- Iela found the moFquito. larvae the most delectable of foods, that Mr. Meac'..ow2 the Newcastle Health Inspector had some of these estimable fish under his flare, that if they were placed in fresh water to begin with, they did not mind getting aoolimat!_zed to the salt lagoons, and best of all that they were very prolific breeders, Mr, Meadows kindly gave me full directions about feeding them on rolled oats and putting them in the streams, and rang me up when he had IrJt a kerosene tin full (about 200) on the train for Woy Woy, Eckhart Heilpern (131)ch Club) and Laurie Raynor (S.B.W.) collected them here and transported them to Putty Beach and Maitland Bay.
-Cu: attempt to "fish" the first stream was -done by gingerly dipping a cup
-into the kerosene tin and after the third or fourth try landing one tiny fish about an inch long, and placing him (or her) in the pool, LY.,r Rquai7.-tr
-;ee% 70 had managed to catch eight fish, and praying thot the sexes were
-p2:riT,372i7 ri. xcd, we went on to the next stream, There was then a long coni-e:ciPer171- as to whether it might be possible to pour the fish out The mocity consideed they would either come but en masse or stop at the bottom, EventlIally Laurie stopped the debete (rather unlike his usual self;) and started to rur. Much to our delight about 25 fish swam out happily into the pool. We then started off over the hill to Maitland Bay, Eckhart conceived the brilliant idea of putting the kerosene tin in his rucksack, But it did not work. The water slopped out of the holes, and we found? not only water, at the bottom
-of the paclk. but one of our /precious fish, So there was nothing for It but to carry the tin in the hand, not the easiest or lightest thing to carry along the rough rather overgrown footpath, where Eckhartls giant frame was usually bent
-double tn get under the trees.
-However, the job is now done. The streams at Putty Beach and Maitland Bay have all been "fished, and we shall do the one at Little Beach, 14hich never
--11...............
-d:r1c,:e, when we have the. nextworking bee in May 1945, At th s.Ame working bee wri a,cnncree dam. rl t TjrLr '&7?ae7h halc,W the 1:'.eFt of all the
-aroF in thE perhrrIE 7ve at th(? s.-mo
-So ,I;(7 T.7,c(1, There only one littI tr:rZnIe, and 1,1,,5.i; is tha the
-fiEih ycung nn in th f,.)-2m of egg.9
-an*Ipt 2,f the rieayil 1.17 thcf,r die: 7tnd is this ri7k with
-rega t fs1.3s,-Jt th7- ,7;tromoi and e-ien th Ii ;.e loaokh lagoorol
-Synr q,1 c-. 7romisix y.-)un gr%duRP,
-inJ-cnt a fich whi ( rf!-In r,o ind--PtrutabIc as mc;squ.:.;:o
-thon we only pray to the rain enc,t to icint us a drought like
-the last
-FIEWO 1?. 7 S
-The arrival of the notice of the Hai '1F=7-1.y C7crncra:l. Moeting with its
-frightrY:ninp; threats and ghncltay .L.,.:12410.tic)usly into
-the hox%cs of glan-j unsuf;'net!ting Burhwalker. Such G3.71P:1, ;:urned ap en Sect,
-th, the day of the meting7 that we '12,.rnec t the date hae, been vi.-Aously marked on most calendars for Rr7..me hirr.(4,
-kart from some eneral DI:sinc,ss the really belia, portion of the
-notice read7
-, "To consider the foll(,wing motion by Mr. A,Wy1-.c:n;
-that the following be inserted in Section 3 aftor Dub-2ection (a) of the Con!l-titi,ztion,
-bb, "M:mbers are ex-cected to lead at leaPt oue,. walk per year if requected,
-Tailure to comnly w.L1 result in trancr?n:e memb-;.r-
-f-:ip. The Committee may waive this rule in e-7. 111 cases," 6, "T:1 ,-;oactor the following motion moved by Mr, J,Eunicr,
-the foilowing be ins;:rrtf.,d in Seotioa 5 after su')-section (a) of h Cont:titutien,
-bbb, "YclYbPrs who do not complete three or more walks with the club - year shall be automatically tranr-ed to nz...n-active list. The Cummittee is to use its discretion in exceptional circumct nces,"
-Fighting words to Bushwaakrrs, But they rose to the occasion full hcmse,
-pt*7_rri.-.Dz spachsE; by tht) owcsi'c ion anc9. intertions an', the meeting
-wa2 almost :pre-war. Old members who perhanr haven =t ce.,:n a tr;:lck for years encIT,c,d li-ol:ta their hideouts (m.,rlious cor7ice PMl,) and entred the ring
-to dc, in the war against rogimentaticm,
-.Tr, A,!JTcoz n and Mr,J,Hunter e=7,.ch touched 6.rlicptel7 if inPistently on the
-c:ec;acionce of the Club as a wr,)Akil ag clab md had oPv2ral 5u-01)ort:.s9 There worsr( f] against the m,-tic,r Po well Mario'ByLt:o L;c,-.7-0 a vc,ry forceful epeo..h the git of which 3,,,ened to be thi m.:-)E.t of the od miero h e not go
-on ctii cial alks were those 77ihn were of kind
-or Rrtrar for the c11:,b. The others appo r%=ntly wE:rc really f1L.-ut the
-birth rate and were dcing something practr3cr,I about it. Otfc7_,i):1 tiae
-birr.,12 rrlt-e are thingo apart. Lfter thia and oe-elal or c hcs in 1-1- ,,cn we
-did i:;hink the Walks Secretary had an awful for 0,Ea1es,
-May To r,uggest that Mr,Wyborn refrains from a7Dcar :Lntor-
-t'izLEd in the birth rate to lead walks, as El cJ":rcnac, 1i:to II-r,ert,
-Ch,Col'oerF, M.Harrison and others all ga've mo ueiene. sprecn:
-you guos ea it, The motions' were &,,atcd.
-,
-LET= FROM. THE-LADS AND LASSES
-Letters wore received frem the fol1evein3 members durirg September;. Jack Ade ns Bruce Simps_on Jeen Pny
-Batty P-7de. Ted Patercen Ueas Jcnes
-Dill Burke Larney Evans Ma-J. Gentle Les Douf;Iae,
-Betty P--- e - 23-2-44 - Donilieujn, Remember Me? I have once again changed mor aboe e nd. eea ncee, ar3 yeet (;o1.1 eee, out in t7ee dead hnart et Ortrflye r., the Dancl of -er eortunity, tile Tolden weet where men ar-e not mon bat J. years olr air t:i:Tliees or el,ie-rD.y ci7ili an lc:heurers, Eacromentc: I..do get stuck into come straego srette, den't 1? But what T. did to deserve t his, IT. dteet J.aiee, rey
-life ent7i:eely bleneless, (well almost) and nothing Itvii ever done ecield
-pcesib4. TRT-r'Cr.(117 banishment to this far flung out-pont of the Eneeire, Tt ia
-quite tne most unnterosting country flve e7er been in - not a hill between
-he7:e) and Pe-rth te beieak the howling gales that sweep'aorees the praire, Last - atar d-r v'n went for a walk - trotted about 6 miles 1),It might oust as well have etood on one square foot and lifted ny feet up and down for all the change in scenery. Never in all my life have I.seen so muoh sky at one time I'm all for the tide open e-naces where ion are men, but these spaceS are a bit too -wide and the men are only 18 or cripples, What a life.
-This is a flying training school and every one dashed about looking  most terribly important, but having been in the Air Force for 2 years 1 secretly s7cpect that it is all just a lot of hooey and-that nobody is important And thet :eobey as anything to do and just dashed about in such manner to sort of draw a red herring or two or three over the trail. Of course I may not be right but it is just a theory I have.
-The unit is about 2 miles out of the town and for all the geod that is it might just ao well be 200, The town is just a town and the whi-r1 of reckless social gaiety is confined to movies and a dance put on by the local Comforts. Fund on Tuesday, There is a ball once a month to which the farmers and their numerous emale offpring give their patronage, clad in the most astonishing array of "evening gowns", with sequins and thi ngs scattered will-nilly over the entire ensemble,
-We have a dance on the unit on Mondays and most of the girls trot along very resp].endent in their -chiffons and their organ:l ins with much trilling and floumeizg and much in the way of floral decoration in the hair, and eyephadct aed gord knows_wot-not, All their finery is covered by the Service great-ceats, airwomen for the use of, and they trot off clutching their 2/- and aelt,ear to_ have a wonderful time. I am afraid that 1 have lost my joie de vivre, because I am no longer anxious to wear my very best-go-to-meeting everling gown and silver slippers and wait to be asked to dance by pimply 18 year old youths with their hair plastered down with petroleum bought at the canteen for Si per -jar, I am afraid the rot is setting, in, because T. prefer to sit 'by the little stove in the hut and do- my knitting and rd my beck and mak,emyselt a el7T of tea at 9 olclock and then go to sleep on my couch of straw, and snarl inwardly at the roysters coming home at the indecent,hour of 11,30 and stumbling over the kit bags in the aisle of the hut,
- I have found it do cold here after the warmth of queenslandts sunny - skies that I have only been out at night to the movies on the station (and then
-,
-under loud protest) about twice in the two months I have been here, It hao been bir-)237 (refey. 1st 7.)argrR-oh, -17ard and winc7 coming
-frnthjrh Th? r.-*ple of :a ys hi71 i 0-7,rM;:rrs but not
-me to off =-7t7Ya r.,f the layors if ciothea in -which
-my by swadd:1,
-r n M7 but:r:n (cIr
-atcy r.J.E (0; th(.. th nn, oa7J1s E-,br)11'; Tti-h
-p=r=7,thctio with the wrong patients,
-Sum,F,how I havo a f;lcult for 4.;_o the wrg scrts atpit usually
-f2.ad tha tl-tpoor mann who locd!.7(-; ::;:c n.bly ill and vas waitAg to see
-aEn't really ill, bui: ny ha ee the d:.c, to have his
-ptj!=i:;.cal verifed for fcr nEoccint, because
-he was dr,Lk in totn:a na. e hamic,o (7.L'r1177Lan to eath r mich, I.
-ha7e. lead to, pall a old -, .711=a cold a "r_r;r4a and ;1-...alk nc rt c.h!TtntIy about
-"a7nelldltand "tansUccomy" -. arcfree abandor,
-worfh cbmment on your ,.rer's InttEr becautze it vas writte]'1 on 24th May (Shame on you Elizabct:2) (11,. you will not h ve the'remotol
-what you wrote on the 24th Mayl but it raf7 really a most entortainj ng screed anl I enjoyed it today rereadir s dl as muc as ever,-Y.,Your lettrers
-en.Gortain Me, uScue this being typed, btif I Wf0(1,i. etter 11, rt? at
-hospital it looks as though Im just 1:)afin:o, and ccud be bc=tter emi:loyed, but if I VD.9. and make a great clatter with 1 c c,evt-)ryboy thinks !'Poor irL she is to7rib1y busy, we must not disturb he:c.
-Wo lv in long tin huts, there isn'pt a two E%orey builczin:, on the entire rsto7.e and from the distance it looks like Sa 999999," :Pho
-WAA7: are in.,?+;hat we refer to as the ComQouud. rounds lie an orcl3F-Jre for wild aninals, '211,:ro are not many girls her anCA IFA-1 hove about 24 to huti and you
- -0:et it is about as ',oriva+,e as a :oo, Isn't Pxtraz)r(qinary the
-griF go th..rol:An -hen 2remarinEz fflr bed? VI,- have lttt]n f1,a
-E:oves in 1,he tr of the huh pnr', al: a:m.1nd it at night our
-unhappy lot r-ad .1.scur7,sing whHL the sea..gan c and wnt w id To
-sergeant, and ooa or later vm gFt (r-Tvia o hh subject of food end
-ac d then we start ail over e.Faan One whri I nirl who 's
-willing and ablP TO d'Irc,us so7lc c:LI;or than the a'cv)ve mcntioned. To7)ics on
-a 'RUF station f;7-11 flPt in a foan:::ig fit and wi:11 then he a
-pent on my own orspf_tal, no snorts on the unit bob :an
-plrv tennis jr. the village on Sz turCLPT- on the tr,wn This 7"Ls
-enough if we can nanag to ot P amo but i. -c.:5-r1.1:1,y is ratI= cix0(1-.d; R: lust take a larsi---t of and R11apnl. onL go -2.1)t and sit in r,Le and brood and watch th7
-.0 ...........
 FEDERT710N WO7ES
 PLAXIAND B7-T.LLKT7G CLTT At the Ausw:st meeting the newly formed Blaxl:ard