places he had visited. He spoke of the pyramids of Egypt and how these unusual burial places were built by slaves.
“Slave people?” they wanted to ask him. “Are they like us or the same as you?” But they were too timid.
George told them about the many races of people in the world. The girls liked to listen to his tales about thecountries that he had visited and also about the places that he would like to see. Sometimes he and Gwen encouraged the three youngsters to go for a stroll on deck in the evening, while it was pleasant and warm. They were good sailors, George told them. During their evening walks he taught them the English names for the stars. On calm nights he would tell them to look to the night skies.
“Look over there. That’s the Southern Cross,” he would say. “If you are ever lost in the bush, let it be your guide. If it’s a clear night, look for it. Remember, the Southern Cross is found in the south-west of the dark sky.
“And there’s the Big Dipper, see up there,” he said, pointing to the thousands of twinkling stars. The girls saw it but said nothing. They just nodded silently.
“Now, it’s off to bed you go. In a couple of day’s time we’ll berth at Fremantle,” Gwen told them, as she escorted them back to their cabins. “Good night,” she said and she closed the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The girls didn’t see George the next morning, he was on early shift. Raymond Baxter was escorting them instead. “Gwen is busy with other passengers. She’ll come down later,” he explained.
Raymond was a lanky sailor with red hair and freckles all over his face. His bright blue eyes twinkled as he laughed and yakked with the others. He wasn’t as old as his friend George but they liked him as well. They were all leaning against the rail around the deck when Raymond shouted excitedly, “Look over there. Porpoises.” Porpoises, thought the girls from the Western Desert, what are they? As if reading their minds the red haired sailor explained, “They are the smallest species of dolphins. You see them in all the oceans of the world.”
The girls watched with great interest as the six graceful mammals sailed into the air and nose dived smoothly into the turquoise ocean.
The porpoises lept up in pairs as if the movements werechoreographed by some unknown being. The girls stood mesmerised while the ship rose and fell as the huge waves swelled and heaved beneath them and they watched until the beautiful creatures were out of sight.
“It looks like we’re in for wet weather,” said Raymond, breaking the magic spell. “The clouds seem to be building up in the west.” Just as he finished there was a roll of thunder followed by a flash of lightning.
“Yes, we’re in for a wet night. You’d better go back into your cabin. Come on then,” he said.
They settled back in their cosy, warm cabin, and “read” comics that the sailor had given them. Although none of the girls could read, they looked at the pretty illustrations and tried to guess what the pictures were saying. The sea was getting very rough and they were beginning to feel frightened and worried. What if this ship tipped over with too much water! They might get drowned. But the stewardess Gwen, supported by Raymond, reassured them that the Koolinda was a big, safe ship and certainly would not sink.
“You all go to sleep now. It will be better in the morning. The worst part of the storm will be over,” Gwen told them.
The three girls and Mimi-Ali, all from the rugged Pilbara region, had a most pleasant experience sailing down the coast of Western Australia. The weather was sunny and warm from Port Hedland to Geraldton but the further south they sailed the colder and wetter it became. The winds were strong and cold, and the rain made it impossible to stroll on the decks of the ship. Even the beautiful blue-green ocean was changing as they neared the outer reefs of Fremantle Harbour. It turned a dark green
“Slave people?” they wanted to ask him. “Are they like us or the same as you?” But they were too timid.
George told them about the many races of people in the world. The girls liked to listen to his tales about thecountries that he had visited and also about the places that he would like to see. Sometimes he and Gwen encouraged the three youngsters to go for a stroll on deck in the evening, while it was pleasant and warm. They were good sailors, George told them. During their evening walks he taught them the English names for the stars. On calm nights he would tell them to look to the night skies.
“Look over there. That’s the Southern Cross,” he would say. “If you are ever lost in the bush, let it be your guide. If it’s a clear night, look for it. Remember, the Southern Cross is found in the south-west of the dark sky.
“And there’s the Big Dipper, see up there,” he said, pointing to the thousands of twinkling stars. The girls saw it but said nothing. They just nodded silently.
“Now, it’s off to bed you go. In a couple of day’s time we’ll berth at Fremantle,” Gwen told them, as she escorted them back to their cabins. “Good night,” she said and she closed the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The girls didn’t see George the next morning, he was on early shift. Raymond Baxter was escorting them instead. “Gwen is busy with other passengers. She’ll come down later,” he explained.
Raymond was a lanky sailor with red hair and freckles all over his face. His bright blue eyes twinkled as he laughed and yakked with the others. He wasn’t as old as his friend George but they liked him as well. They were all leaning against the rail around the deck when Raymond shouted excitedly, “Look over there. Porpoises.” Porpoises, thought the girls from the Western Desert, what are they? As if reading their minds the red haired sailor explained, “They are the smallest species of dolphins. You see them in all the oceans of the world.”
The girls watched with great interest as the six graceful mammals sailed into the air and nose dived smoothly into the turquoise ocean.
The porpoises lept up in pairs as if the movements werechoreographed by some unknown being. The girls stood mesmerised while the ship rose and fell as the huge waves swelled and heaved beneath them and they watched until the beautiful creatures were out of sight.
“It looks like we’re in for wet weather,” said Raymond, breaking the magic spell. “The clouds seem to be building up in the west.” Just as he finished there was a roll of thunder followed by a flash of lightning.
“Yes, we’re in for a wet night. You’d better go back into your cabin. Come on then,” he said.
They settled back in their cosy, warm cabin, and “read” comics that the sailor had given them. Although none of the girls could read, they looked at the pretty illustrations and tried to guess what the pictures were saying. The sea was getting very rough and they were beginning to feel frightened and worried. What if this ship tipped over with too much water! They might get drowned. But the stewardess Gwen, supported by Raymond, reassured them that the Koolinda was a big, safe ship and certainly would not sink.
“You all go to sleep now. It will be better in the morning. The worst part of the storm will be over,” Gwen told them.
The three girls and Mimi-Ali, all from the rugged Pilbara region, had a most pleasant experience sailing down the coast of Western Australia. The weather was sunny and warm from Port Hedland to Geraldton but the further south they sailed the colder and wetter it became. The winds were strong and cold, and the rain made it impossible to stroll on the decks of the ship. Even the beautiful blue-green ocean was changing as they neared the outer reefs of Fremantle Harbour. It turned a dark green
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