Walter McKenzie to Colin McKenzie 10 June 1920

-
  If you've just tuned in to the McKenzie story, you may want to read the introductory post here.


Postcard with four views of Adelaide, including: Jubilee Exhibition ; Cathedral ; Botanical Gardens. Gift; Mrs E. M. Derrick; 1984. http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/174892

 RMS "Ormonde"
2 days from Colombo
10 June 1920

 My Dear Colin

 We are now into hot weather.  I wrote to you last from Adelaide enclosing the transfer which I hope you got safely.  We were not supposed to call there at all but as we had engine trouble we put in there for two days and left at 7am in the morning.  We were making good pace until 11:30 the same morning when something went wrong with the other engine this time so we had to turn round and make our way back to Adelaide which we reached about 4pm the same day.  There was another large boat at Adelaide at the same time & the crew of it gave us a great welcome back.  Asked us if we wanted a pull & c.  However after staying there for 2 days more we sailed again at 4pm arrived safely at Fremantle on Thursday morning about 2am and started taking cargo & mails at once.  We had a walk through Fremantle & bought some fruit & sailed again at 12 noon same day.  It was quick work so we could not get into Perth.  I think Brisbane is as good as any of the Australian towns I have seen.  There is more method & brians about Brisbane than any of the other towns except Adelaide.  Adelaide is a well planned town although it has not many decent buildings except the Govt Bldgs which are all in one street.  Then the Botanical Gardens exceed any I have seen.  They are a long way before Sydney or Brisbane.  We have a large crowd on board in fact.  I believe we have more than what is allowed.  I have not heard the exact figure but there are cabins numbered up to 1122 in the 3rd class alone & I hear that there are up to 12 in an 8 berth cabin.  Children having to go 2 in one bunk which is a disgrace in this hot weather.  We had a death on board the night before last.  It was a french lady died of pneumonia so the boat was stopped & it was buried at sea.  The food is very midling (sic) although not bad.  It is a case of eat what you want & leave the rest.  

 I am in a six berth cabin & am on the bottom bunk under the porthole.  If I had picked any cabin out of all the 3rd class I don't think I could have done better.  I think this is all my news at present.

 Walter

 PS Remember me to the lot at "Strathfield" especially Mrs Reeve. W
Four people on steps of Palm House, [Adelaide Botanic and Zoological gardens, South Australia, 1920]Copyright expired oai:espace.library.uq.edu.au:UQ:136186 
Note from Alex: supporting pictures have been found through searching Trove, courtesy of the National Library of Australia.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Family Lore

-
Image
Image by hurk from Pixabay Amy Johnson Crow challenges us to write about our Family History again in 2024 using her 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge.  The theme for Week 1 is "Family Lore." Many of us have heard stories from our grandparents about incredible feats our ancestors did or a famous person we're related to. What's a tale that has been passed down in your family? Did it end up being true or did it turn out to just be a good story? You can join the challenge too her e. The most famous/shocking story handed down in our family was that my father's great-grandfather was meant to have shot himself.  Lo and behold it wasn't the entire truth (he lived to tell the tale) but there was certainly a large kernel of truth in the story handed down by my grandmother.  You can read the story of Edward Conner's life here . Of course there's always more to be done isn't there?  I ordered his death certificate years ago but it was lost in transit so...
Read more

52 Ancestors in 52 weeks - Week 3 - Favourite Photo

-
Image
      The theme for Week 3 is "Favorite Photo." Amy Johnson Crow has devised these prompts and you can participate too by signing up here. Tell the story of a favorite photo: Who is in it, when and where it was taken, and why it was taken. (That last part is often left out!)   Barbara Conner hanging up washing in Edinburgh     This is a photo of my mother hanging up the washing when we were living in Edinburgh in the 60s. I think my father took it to record what ordinary life was like at the time and to send back to the folks at home in Australia.  I'm sure my mother was not pleased but I am so grateful because you can see so much in this photo.  They had a kettle, something like a Sunbeam electric frypan.  I think I can spot a toaster and a radio up on the top shelf.  You can see that the glass came in milk bottles in those days and that the twin tub washing machine was in the kitchen.  There are canisters for things like tea and c...
Read more

Barley Sugar

-
Image
  Photo by Alex Daw Barley Sugar It's been a while since I've blogged and boy do I miss it. Have you received an email from Ancestry lately suggesting you check out new traits?  DNA doesn't lie, so they say, but I beg to differ.   This will probably be an intensely boring post for those of you who don't really know me but I feel compelled to record my responses to the alleged traits for the amusement or interest of posterity and my family. 16 new traits have been identified for me.  There are 56 identified traits altogether. Let's tackle the new traits first: Competitiveness - likely to be competitive - influenced by my maternal side apparently.  Yes I agree but not with the side of the family.  If you'd asked me I would have said the paternal side.  My paternal grandmother was I believe intensely competitive - witness the articles I have written about her swimming prowess.  I'm struggling to recall any competitiveness displayed by my mother ...
Read more