How it continued ...
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 saw what happened and used this opportunity to pries Marion and myself apart for good. His lies and deceit and my stubbornness finished of the relationship that Marion and myself had nurtured. I did experience more romance on board the ship with another young woman called Jade, 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.
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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 Jade and 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 ...
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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 said goodbye to Jade, as she and her family were traveling to Adelaide in South Australia as the ship did not dock there. I then crossed over to another platform where I caught a train to Glenroy, a northern suburb of Melbourne. As I sat in the train and pondered, I realized that I was now alone. The voyage was over! That wonderful lifestyle on the ship had come to a close. Later 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 "Australis" 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.
Passenger details of those who arrived in Australia are available from the National Archives of Australia. The Australian online White pages are a good way to find people. Another avenue is, the Centrelink Intouch Program that apparently, is only available personally over the counter with terms and conditions. Centrelink is the Government Social Security Organization of all Australia.
I have the complete Passenger List for the southbound voyage 23, February/March 1970 in all there were 1852 passengers. Passengers from that voyage are invited to contact me at wolfram_dallwitz@hotmail.com Any passenger of any voyage may send me mail.
Looking for an SS Australis passenger? www.naa.gov.au; Australian National White Pages.
Some names and details have been altered due to a privacy issue.
A footnote,
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.
Eventually, I moved from the suburb of Glenroy to Frankston in Janruary 1971, then moved to Adelaide in South Australia in June 1972. I married Jade in middle December 1972 and remarried January 1991. I currently reside in a southern suburb of Adelaide called Seaford, at the beach.
© 2007 Wolfram Dallwitz
1. Appendix, June 2007: Once again the "Mezzanine" ...
Wolfram mailed us that he would like to go on board and once again, stand on the decks of the former SS Australis. So he read the article about Rust and Danger and saw Dirk Evers aboard of the American Star in the year 2003.
In the story above Wolfram had mentioned the mezzanine in
the main lounge where he could relax and where the sofas were really
comfortable - and there he saw Dirk sitting on his sofa
...
... that is the "Main Lounge" and on the left and right above the Mezzanine. At the door on the left side there was "my" sofa ...
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2. Appendix, December 2013: The Chandris Lines stories continue ...
