I quickly found my way back
on deck and immediately started exploring. I eventually leant on the railing to
watch the passengers boarding via the gangway. Almost immediately, a chap my
own age befriended me; his name was Steffan nicknamed Stef. We both watched the
passengers boarding and then went off together exploring the ship.
When I noticed that the crew
were casting the SS Australis adrift from the Bremerhaven wharf I returned to
the railing on the aft part of the open Promenade deck. People threw streamers
to and from the ship symbolizing that last link with loved ones. Slowly the
tug-boats pulled us away from the
terminus. Everybody cheered and screamed as the streamers broke. The wharf
became ever smaller as the ship was towed away by the tugs; eventually land was
out of sight.
When we were well on the way
to Southampton, the second sitting dinner bell was chiming in rhythm with the
growling of my tummy. It was 8:45 pm and I went downstairs to the Atlantic
Restaurant and found my parents already sitting at the dinner table along with
another family, this left one spare chair and I had all sorts of visions as to
whom may actually sit there. It was to be my lucky day! A young woman about
nineteen years old walked towards me, stopped and asked me if this was table E4
and I said yes. She sat down and introduced herself as Marion. We ate, we
chatted and I invited her to join me at the Captains cocktail party, which was
to be held in the ballroom that evening after dinner. Marion agreed to meet me
there.
Later on after dinner Marion
and myself met in the foyer by the ballroom where we were introduced to the
Captain, we then proceeded to indulge in a few cocktails and dance to the live
band. Well, the first few hours on board had already been very eventful.
The next morning I got out
of bed early for breakfast; then I went up on deck. It was freezing cold having
left Germany in winter and the ship was punching her way through some enormous
waves. The sensation was awesome and one could feel the power of this ship
displacing the ocean in front of her. I found a door that was meant only for
the crew and being the curious teenager, I went in and down the stairs. It was
another world down here, a maze of corridors and catwalks. I found my way to
the engine room and what a noisy environment that was! I could barely hear
myself think. All of a sudden I had the living daylights scared out of me, a
crew-member tapped me on the shoulder and with broken English told me that I
shouldn’t be down here. He took me to a quieter area and asked a few questions
upon which led to us having a good chat, I discovered he used to work on the
sister ship named, R.H.M.S Ellinis. This revelation created instant rapport
between us. We somehow ended up in the galley where I saw the cooks preparing
lunch. The galley staff gave me some fresh bread rolls and the crew-member took
me aloft. I will call this crew-member Nick from now on, as I can’t remember
his name.
I was back on deck now and
met my friend Steffan; we spent some time talking and exploring the ship. I was
desperately waiting for our lunch bell at 1:45 pm, as I knew Marion would be
there. We did meet and spent the rest of the day together. Well, that was to be
my routine of sorts, breakfast at 9:30 am, then exploring the ship, lunch and
spending the rest of the day with Marion, every evening we would go dancing in
the ballroom and burn the midnight oil.
On the 18th of February
we docked at Southampton in England, Steffan and myself went wandering around
the city. I purchased a camera for 20 English Pounds then we found ourselves in
a pub somewhere. We met a local chap and had a few too many to drink, somehow
we managed to get to the ship before it sailed that evening; a third party put
us in a cab and took us to the wharf. After establishing to the authorities
that we were passengers they had to push the gangway back up to the ship so we
could get aboard. Yes! It was that close. We nearly missed the boat!!
Marion was waiting for us as
we got on board, Steffan was given a scolding by Marion, she then suggested we
both go up to the mezzanine in the main lounge where I could relax, have a
coffee or two and sober up. The sofas were really comfortable up there. We both
fell asleep in each other arms on the sofa. When we woke, we found that a night
fairy (one of the crew I guess) had put a blanket over us. Well we had
breakfast together then I took Marion into the bowels of the ship on one of my
adventures.
The Australis sailed onwards
to Las Palmas, an island in the Canary Islands group. I finally met my cabin
mate when I went down to change for dinner. He was an older gentleman, a
retired army Major around 45 to 50 years old. He had put his things on the top
bunk so I offered to swap which he eagerly agreed to. He was a nice guy and we
got on quite well throughout the voyage. The Major always went off very early
to breakfast whereas I left it to the last moment. At night the Major would already be in bed by 24:00
so when I eventually got in I climbed up the bunk ladder and quickly fell
asleep. The weather was getting
noticeably warmer on approaching Las Palmas, on went the bathing costumes and
we milled about aft by the swimming pool. Marion, Steffan, a few others and
myself had formed a little group and we were often together. The ship slowly
approached the port of Las Palmas around noon one day. It was only to be a
short layover and we had to return to the ship by 22:00. Marion and myself
decided to go ashore and check out the markets around the terminus. Steffan
decided to invite himself along as well, humph!! He seemed to be hanging around
a bit too close lately. We explored the shops where
I purchased a large black sombrero with colourful embroidery that I still have
to this day. The atmosphere ashore in Las Palmas was great, live music was
being played; the stalls and shops were really colourful. Dusk soon came along
and after a moonlit stroll along the beach, we headed back to the Australis,
all her lights were on, she was lit up like a Christmas tree, a sight to
behold. The next morning after
breakfast I met the crewman Nick whom I had befriended. Nick told me that while
the ship was docked at Las Palmas, one of the crew who went on shore leave was
slain!! That gave me a bit of a shock and later on it was confirmed to me by
the Master at Arms whom I had got to know quite well. We were heading to Capetown
in South Africa, which was to be a ten-day journey. The weather was warm and
many passengers were really taking advantage of the sunshine. Some people
rushed forward to view an oncoming ship that was allegedly on a collision
course with us. Sure enough, we appeared to be heading straight for it. The
approaching ships beam was facing us and the vessel appeared to be stationary.
The Australis slowed right down, corrected course and we eventually came to a
stop. From what I could find out the apparently stranded Greek cargo vessel
transferred an injured crewman via small boat to the Australis. A few days on when I was
down below in the bowels of the ship I got nabbed by a senior crew member who
insisted that I accompany him. We ended up in some sort of control room
and he told me in broken English to sit
down and wait. I thought, oh oh, I’m in trouble now. Another crewmember came
along and the two men went out of the room to speak, I used this opportunity to
abscond through another door. What a relief that was to get away. We celebrated the passing of
the equator with all sorts of on deck parties and functions. Many passengers
went absolutely looney (in a friendly way) which was perfectly acceptable on
this day. During the evening there was a costume party with the crowning of
King and Queen Neptune. The days and long nights
went by, Marion and myself wined, dined and danced the time away. There was
much to do on the ship and we often spent time in the disco and by the jukebox,
watched films in the picture theatre, played all sorts of deck games and
frequented the fabulous indoor swimming pool on C deck. Quite often we would
just cuddle up for hours on end. Marion and myself were young adults, I had
found a partner for life and we were inseparable, this love at first sight was
destined to last forever, well so I thought! It just had to happen didn’t
it! One evening about 2 days away from Cape Town we had a little quarrel. My
best friend Stef saw what happened and used this opportunity to prise Marion
and myself apart for good. His lies and deceit and my stubbornness finished off
the relationship that Marion and myself had nurtured. I did experience more
romance on board the ship with another young woman, she was nice but much more
reserved. I did pursue this new relationship and we did have good times
together; but that’s another very long story. For the next couple of days
the weather was extremely rough and I was feeling rather sorry for myself
regarding the incident with Marion. The Australis was rocking and rolling in
the heavy seas, the waves were like mountains and often the ship would be in a
trough with a swell on each side that was higher than the mighty ship. This was
to be a photo opportunity and I went forward as far as possible and took a few
photos of the bow slicing through the waves. I then went to Main Deck aft, down
below where the crew always went to have a cigarette break and to chat. I gained access via the waterproof iron door
at the end of the Main Deck corridor, just beyond my cabin. This area was
strictly off limits to the passengers especially in rough weather as one could
be swept away by a freak wave. This area was very wet; I figured some waves had
obviously penetrated that part of the open deck. So I quickly took some photos
and got out of there. The next day we arrived at
Cape Town and I went into the city with some friends. I thought it was a
beautiful city, but my friends soon pointed out to me that this was an
Apartheid state. This fact disappointed me and in my view cast a shadow over
Cape Town far greater than that of Table Mountain. We didn’t go to Table
Mountain as it was shrouded in cloud so we wandered up through the city and
into the hills. We were high up and the Australis stood out like a beacon even
from that distance. This enormous vessel dwarfed everything around it. We
returned at dusk and once more the ship was lit up like a Christmas tree, a
truly fantastic sight. We sailed away from Cape
Town and I got changed for dinner, I dreaded dinner now, as I couldn’t get used
to that vacant chair next to me where Marion had always sat. I still went to
the ballroom, as I loved music and dancing. I sat alone until another group of
people asked me to join them at their table. I guess they were used to seeing
me with Marion and wondered why I was alone all of a sudden. We were a few days away from
the port of Fremantle near Perth in Western Australia. The weather got really
rough, the wind was coming from the west and heavy seas pounded the Australis
on her starboard beam, (right side of the ship) the huge waves smashed against
the ship and on occasion would cause the whole ship to shudder. This was the
only time on the voyage that I became a little concerned about my safety. I
enjoyed the rocking and rolling near Cape Town but these waves near Australia
frightened me somewhat. The overwhelming desire to take some photos took over,
so off I went to get my camera. That same night it was still
rough going, the captain was in the ballroom for a function and I had my camera
with me. I asked the Captain if I could take a photo of him and his guests and
he agreed. The photo never did turn out very good as the ship suddenly lurched
and shuddered. Passengers who were walking past were thrown against the
Captains table knocking a couple of his guests out of their chairs. The master
at arms and myself helped the lady sitting next to the captain; a falling
passenger hurt her leg, so we helped her down to the ships hospital. Later on I
found out that a freak wave had hit the ship. My cabin mate the Major
became ill, some sort of virus I believe, and so I didn’t sleep in my cabin for
a couple of nights. I slept alone on a sofa in the mezzanine of the main lounge
(my favourite place). Somehow I had hoped that Marion would pass by, but that
didn’t happen because she was avoiding
me. My interest in the workings
of the ship had waned somewhat, but I needed to know where that infernal
vibration was coming from. It was aft on the ship; I noticed it when eventually
going to bed each night. On that last stormy night I heard a clanking sound,
typical of a pump, pumping water. I ventured down below to see what was going
on; eventually I ran head on into some crewmen and an officer. I was well and
truly caught this time as the officer led me by the arm up to the bridge. While
waiting for the Captain the officer asked me questions about what I saw. I said
I didn’t see anything (what ever he meant by that) and that I was just
interested in seeing the engine room because all that sort of thing fascinated
me. The Captain arrived, he and the officer spoke and then the Captain started
to raise his voice at the officer. The officer left the bridge and the Captain
just smiled at me and with a hand gesture ushered me out of the bridge. He
didn’t say a word to me, I guess I’ll never know why the Captain never snarled
at me. Maybe it was his way of saying thank you for helping with the lady who
had the accident at his table in the ballroom the other night, who knows? According to records, on the
18th of March 1970, the ship docked at the port of Fremantle, in
Western Australia where 235 passengers would disembark, I bid the Major
farewell, as this was his destination. This meant that I would have the cabin
all to myself for the four-day voyage across to Melbourne Australia. I went
ashore at Fremantle with some friends and in the evening we set sail for
Melbourne where 1044 passengers were to disembark, some of them would travel by
train to Adelaide. We arrived in Melbourne on
the 22nd of March and docked at Station Pier, this was my stop and
at the time I was filled with mixed emotions, I was sad about leaving the ship
and the friends that I had made, sad about what happened with Marion, happy
that I was home in Australia. While still on the ship I informed my parents
that I would find my own way to my Uncles house. This gave me the opportunity
to linger about with some friends and take some last photos of my white lady
(the Australis) I stood back in awe and gazed at this magnificent ship. It was
the end of a love affair with this vessel, the end of a lifestyle, which I had
become accustomed to, but I would never ever forget her and I never have. I found my way to Flinders
Street railway station in the city of Melbourne where I caught a train to
Glenroy, a northern suburb of Melbourne where I joined my parents at my uncle’s
house. The Australis sailed to
Sydney that night where 573 passengers disembarked, to start a new life in
Australia. In summary, an ocean voyage
on a large cruise liner is a top way to travel, I really enjoyed myself on the
Australis. It is such a damn shame to see her wasting away now, grounded on a
beach in the Canary Islands in 1994. All those lovely lounges with those
fantastic decorations and the artwork on the walls and ceilings throughout the
ship, are now mostly just memories. My dream would be to visit the SS Australis
and once more stand on her decks at the Island of Fuerteventura where she
stands. It would be a treat to see her before the ship breaks up completely. I would like to sincerely
thank Ken Ironside in the UK, a former employee on the Australis, for without
him this story would not be possible. I had no contact with Marion for 33 years
until Ken’s information helped me to find her, along with a few friends from
that voyage in 1970. A special thank you to Ken
for keeping the memory of the SS Australis alive. I am sure Ken’s fantastic
Website has jogged many a fond memory. Thank you to all passengers
and employees of the Australis who have contributed to the memory of this great
ship. When I browse through the stories and photos, they often trigger memories
that I wouldn’t have normally remembered. Looking for an SS Australis
passenger? www.naa.gov.au Australian National White
Pages www.whitepages.com.au Home.
| History. | Maritime Links.
| Tv Documentary. | Chandris.
| Memorabilia. Mr.
Kaparis. | Bill Miller. | The
Picture Gallery. | Alferdoss. | Where
are they now.
There is one ironical detail that I will add to the story here. As
you will realize, I lost contact with Marion while still on the ship.
I forgot where she was to settle in Australia. Since having found her
in March 2003, it was revealed to me, that Melbourne was her destination.
When she disembarked from the ship, Marion and her family stayed at an Immigration
Hostel in a Northern suburb of Melbourne called Broadmeadows. I was residing
in the neighbouring suburb of Glenroy at my uncle’s house. Marion and myself
were neighbours for around nine months, living only 800 meters apart. (1/2 a mile)
I was employed as a trainee Telephone Technician at LM Ericssons in that same suburb
of Broadmeadows. Like ships in the night we always passed each other by without
knowing it. She went on to become a fashion model and I eventually qualified as a
Telephone Technician.