On Our Walks

@Zoffiel
My mother often talked of her evacuation trip from Darwin to Perth. Of the forcible evacuation of the women and children, no choice, of not really knowing where they were going.

Of not being able to say goodbye to their menfolk, or not being able to leave notes for their men, in case the Japanese invaded. It took my father 5 months to find my mother and baby sister.

She talked  of 8 women and children being crammed in 4 berth cabins. Of waiting on the Darwin Wharf, in the December wet season heat and humidity from 7:00am to 4:00pm to board the Koolinda.

My mother mentioned that the Koolinda was accompanied from Darwin to Carnavon by a minesweeper, and she spoke of how the women slept on deck at night wearing lifejackets.

The most memorable event she often mentioned was how seasick she was. She said that she was so seasick she could cheerfully have pushed my 3 week old sister through the port hole whenever she cried! I have this vision of my older sister dressed in a nappy and singlet being bundled through the port hole of the cabin.

I do think that it was these experiences that made my mother the hard tough unemotional woman that she was.

It is indeed a small world. Your father an engineer on the Koolinda, @arpie father an army dentist in Darwin during those times and my father working for the Public Works Department building the airstrips along the Stuart Highway. 

@"Annie C" my father was the chief engineer on the Koolinda. He was up there during the war, merchant navy . From the Koolinda  he went to the hospital ship Wanganella which brought the Changi survivors home. He'd have been 113 this year. Horrible man, but he lived in interesting times.

@"Annie C" and @arpie  enjoy your adventure.  Hope the weather has laid it on nice for you and not too windy this time of year.  Great Pic's both of you. Keep them coming including the Barra.  Hope you enjoyed Mindle Markets. 
@Afraser   great photos of your trip.  xo
  

Goodness travelling in 1937! What an adventure! 

@Sister
Back in 1937 my mother travelled by car from Perth to Darwin with her friend and her friend's supposed Italian "Fiance". Imagine how adventurous that trip must have been. Took 3 months!

My mother's first job in Darwin was in the Hotel Darwin. She used to tell us that she was a Dining Room Maid NOT a Bar Maid! But, boy she knew how to pour a beer.

My parents were married in Darwin in December 1940. My mother and 3 week old sister were evacuated south on the "Koolinda", 19 December 1941.  My father stayed as manpower for the building of Darwin's defences. He had just left the Darwin Post Office when the Japanese bombed Darwin on 19 February 1942.

My parents often spoke fondly of their time in Darwin and of the life they had prior to being evacuated. Sadly they never returned.

Dear @arpie and @"Annie C" , lovely to think of you both having a holiday in Darwin. Keep up the photos please. Best wishes from jennyss in Western NSW

Used to love staying in the old Hotel Darwin on the esplanade.  Such a shame it was demolished.

@Afraser  :*

Enjoy! Look forward to more photos 
Take care 

@arpie and I are having a great time in Darwin. Found the Parap Village Markets this morning.

Still hasn't caught a fish yet, but I reckon it will be soon.

Being the fishing mad person that @arpie is, we found the best fishing tackle shop in Darwin. The guys in there loved her. They should do, arpie  just about bought up the shop.

Some Darwin scenery photos of the waterfront and harbour.


Along the esplanade overlooking the harbour.





Watch out for more photos in the days to come.