WILL THE BOAT FLOAT?

During the 60's I was teaching in the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. By 1967 I had completed my compulsory three years but I had made many friends and I loved my job so I returned to live there some more. I had a boyfriend too which helped me decide to return.

I taught in Pt Moresby at Korobosea Primary 'A' School. That means a school teaching the Australian Curriculum for expatriate children mostly from Australia but some from Europe and some local children too.

 I taught Grade 3 most of the time and I enjoyed that age group because they were developing independence but were not too old to be cheeky. They wore nice dresses for photo day. There are two children in this old photo who have recently found me on Facebook. Social media can be quite amazing.

The building in the background was the medical college behind the hospital (I think)

Time to return to the classroom for lessons. The buildings were built high off the ground to help keep them cool. No air-conditioning in those days just louvred windows and fans. The children ate their lunch under the buildings in the shade.

 Besides work there was play. My boyfriend at the time J, and his friend, F, spent weekends building a boat. J, on the right was very proud of his effort but on this day it was going to be put in the water for the first time.

  I wondered, "Would the boat float?" I wasn't popular for having doubts. It was early morning so J could get the boat transported by road without traffic hassles. 

 The boys managed to get the boat onto the truck which took the boat to Ela Beach from Boroko.

 The moment of truth, the launching.


All seemed good so now it was time to add the outboard motor.

It did float and we had some fun trips in the boat. We went fishing in it too. I was amazed at how easy it was to catch fish in the tropics. I hung my line over the edge of the boat and you could see through the crystal clear sea and watch the fish come and feed off the hooks. You could see when to give the line a tug and hook the fish. One after the other we landed into the boat. There was hardly any waiting for a bite. We had some great fish dinners on these days. However, I was not mad keen on boating or fishing it is okay now and then but I find it a bit boring.

1967 went fairly quickly. I had a fabulous trip around New Guinea mentioned in earlier posts, and I had enjoyed  going out with friends but it was always exciting at the end of the year when it was time to fly back home to Sydney (at the governments expense) and spend Christmas with my family. The photo above is the road to Jacksons Airstrip with its tiny terminal.

 We only have a small family. Mum, Dad, my brother, David, his wife Ann and children, Liz, David and Michael. David and family were also on leave from TPNG.

 It wasn't often that we were on leave together so this is a rare photo of the four of us. (Now I am the only one left)

David and his family. Ann lives in London. David Jnr lives in Wodonga, Victoria, Liz lives in the Cotswolds in England and Michael lives on St Lucia Island in the West Indies. Ann had her 80th birthday this year. That was a sad story and post.

My mum could cook the best Christmas dinner, English style.