A breakfast menu from the Ghan revived memories of a college trip to Alice Springs.

It was 1958 and we joined Melbourne Teachers' College on a 16 day trip, costing £63  all inclusive.  We'd been paying it off all year so there was great excitement when we finally boarded the Overland for Adelaide.  We had a day to look around, then early the next day we headed to board The Ghan, which was quite luxurious for its time.  We were four to a compartment, a bunk bed pulled down at night.  There was a dining carriage, a kitchen and a lounge with a piano, besides an observation area at the rear of the carriage.  It travelled very slowly, taking two days and nights to get to Alice Springs.  The meals, served by waiters in bow-ties, were very good.

Compared with Victoria, the country was so different.  I was amazed by the flatness and vast horizons, the red soil, stunted scrub and trees and the clear blue cloudless sky.

Boarding buses in Alice, we headed off on a circular tour west of Alice, camping in the open in sleeping bags around a camp fire.  The days were hot and the nights very cold.  The bus drivers were the cooks and provided plain, nourishing meals. 

We travelled over cattle stations, crossing dry river beds, sometimes bogging in the sand.  We then turned back to Palm Valley with its oasis like pools and cycads.  From here we visited Hermansburg Mission and Stanley Chasm.  We were lucky to arrive at midday when the sun turns the chasm wall a vivid red.  Namatjira was painting at this timeand his paintings sold for only £50  In the local gallery I was lucky enough to buy an unframed water color of Adolf Inkamals for a few pounds which has since increased considerably in value.  

I felt so lucky to have seen the outback in a relatively pristine state and to see the beauty of the country through the eyes of the aboriginal painters.  Friendships were made on that trip which have lasted a lifetime.

​
Margaret Nelson,
​June 2019

Two Olympic Games programs brought back memories of 1956. 

It was my first year away from home.  At 17 and a raw country girl, I found myself at Larnook Teachers' College in the big city.  It was the year of the Olympic Games, and Melbourne was abuzz in preparation of new stadiums and an influx of overseas visitors. 

The Melbourne Cricket Ground was updated, a new big indoor swimming complex was built along with other venues for cycling, wrestling, etc.  There was free entry to the pool and at times we watched the teams practising.

The Opening Day arrived and we were given a day off to join in the festivities.  Swanston Street was closed to traffic.  We found ourselves a spot near the Town Hall, squashed in a crowd, and from our vantage point watched the Duke of Edinburgh arive and wave from the balcony.  As the dense crowd dispersed, we wandered along the route to the MCG.  Sitting on the edge of the road, we ate our sandwiches and awaited another glimpse of the dashing young Duke on his way to open the games. 

Later in the week we had tickets to see two days of the athletics.  I remember seeing Betty Cuthbert and Shirley Strickland winning their heats.  There was great excitement in the crowd, especially amongst the Australians.

The Closing Ceremony fell on a Saturday and we managed to get standing room tickets.  It was a very simple ceremony compared with later years.  A foot ball final, then the athletes marched in.  This was followed by the handovers of flags to the next host country and the extinguishing of the flame, a rather sentimental moment.  The games were over for another four years.  It would be a long time until Melbourne would host them again. 


Margaret Nelson
Jun3 2019