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In June, 1966 I was due to set sail for Australia from Southampton on the P&O liner "Canberra" but because
of a strike I was transferred onto the Sitmar liner "Fairsea".
THE 'FAIRSEA'.
The 'Fairsea', launched on 1st March, 1941, commenced her life as the American freighter 'Rio de Plata'.
After war service as the escort carrier 'Charger' for the United States Navy she was later converted to an emigrant ship and
renamed 'Fairsea' making her first voyage from Bremerhaven to Melbourne and Sydney in 1950 and in 1955 was transferred to
the run from Southampton, Melbourne and Sydney.
After an extensive refit at Trieste in 1958 she was transferred to the Sitmar Line continuing its regular
voyages between England and Australia.
BOARDING THE 'FAIRSEA'.
THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR.
THE SUEZ CANAL.
PORT SAID, EGYPT.
BUS TO CAIRO.
CAIRO, EYGPT.
OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM OF EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES IN CAIRO.
TUTANKHAMUN, MOST FAMOUS OF ALL THE PHARAOHS OF ANCIENT EGYPT IN THE MUSEUM OF EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES IN CAIRO.
In November, 1922 Archeologist Howard Carter and his patron the 5th Earl of Carnarvon discovered the tomb
of the boy King and 5,400 artifacts, many in solid gold, whilst digging in the Valley of the Kings near Cairo.
SPHINX IN THE DESERT.
One of the strangest icons on Earth, the Sphinx, with the head of a Pharaoh and the body of a lion is 60
feet high and 240 feet in length remaining the largest single stone in the world. The Sphinx stands beside the greatest
pyramids ever built making this site the greatest landmark in Egypt.
A PYRAMID IN THE DESERT.
READY FOR TAKE OFF!
ON BOARD A "SHIP OF THE DESERT".
RETURNING TO THE "FAIRSEA".
IN THE SHIP'S DINING ROOM.
RECEIVING THE WINNER'S PRIZE FROM THE CAPTAIN FOR THE DRAUGHTS BOARD GAMES COMPETITION. I WAS
ALSO THE RUNNER-UP IN THE CHESS COMPETITION.
ARRIVING AT FREEMANTLE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
PORT ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
MY AUNT, CLARA LARSSON (nee WEST) AND DAUGHTERS MARJORY TWELVES AND GRETA TODD WITH TWO (2) OF HER CHILDREN.
ARRIVED AT PORT MELBOURNE IN VICTORIA AND THE RAAF BASE AT LAVERTON, HEADQUARTERS OF THE CENTRAL BAND ON
22ND JULY, 1966.
WITH FAMILY FRIEND MARION ROELISH IN MELBOURNE.
RAAF BASE PEARCE, PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
RAAF BASE PEARCE, PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA.
CENTRAL BAND OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE, DIRECTOR OF MUSIC SQUADRON LEADER L.H. HICKS OBE LRAM ARCM
psm PERFORMING AT THE 1967 EXPOSITION IN MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.
OPENING OF CASTERTON VICE REGAL BAND CENTRE.
On the 9th February, 1969 the Central Band of the Royal Australian Air Force lead several local Brass Bands
down Henty Street, Casterton, Victoria to Island Park for a concert and the official opening of the Band Centre.
Under the baton of the Director of Music Squadron Leader R.A.Y. Mitchell MBE, LRAM, ARCM.
CENTRAL BAND OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE RAAF LAVERTON PARADE GROUND.
THE SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh officially opened
the Sydney Opera House at Bennelong Point on Sydney Harbour on 20th October, 1973. The Opera House was designed by the
Danish Architect Joern Utzon who had previously won the International Competition to design it.
The Central Band of the Royal Australian Air Force under the direction of Director of Music Squadron Leader
R.A.Y. Mitchell MBE LRAM ARCM played at the opening.
The opening of the Sydney Opera House was to be one of the last engagements I had in the Central Band before
leaving the Royal Australian Air Force to take up a new career as a brass instrumental music teacher in the Technical Division
of the Victorian Education Department. After graduation from the State College of Victoria in Hawthorn my family and
I moved to Wonthaggi in the South West Gippsland region of Victoria in 1976.
VICE REGAL VISIT TO WONTHAGGI
His Excellency Sir Henry Winneke AC KCMG KCVO OBE KStJ KC Governor of
Victoria visited Wonthaggi where he was welcomed by the Mayor and other dignitaries. Appropriate music for the occasion
was performed by the Wonthaggi Technical School Band which assembled on Wishart's Reserve.
WONTHAGGI TECHNICAL SCHOOL BRASS ENSEMBLE REHEARSING IN THE WONTHAGGI TOWN HALL.
WONTHAGGI CITIZENS BAND
In 1982 the Wonthaggi Citizens Band conducted by Douglas Morrison presented a concert which included guest
Trumpet Soloist Professor Frank Scimonello from the U.S.A. at the Miners Rest Motel in Wonthaggi.
Wonthaggi Trombone Quartet First Prize at Korumburra - Leongatha Eisteddfod, 1984.
In 1985 I retired from teaching and moved to Casterton in far Western Victoria.
CASTERTON VICE REGAL BAND
Leading the Band with Drum Major Mr. Jack Stainsby on Anzac Day, 25th April, 1985.
CASTERTON VICE REGAL BAND.
In January, 1869 a committee had been formed to start a Brass Band.
One of the district's early settlers, Mr. George Robertson of 'Warrock' made a number of generous donations
to the Casterton community also giving generously to the Brass Band for the purchase of instruments.
Mr. Robert Jeffreys was Bandmaster and with much enthusiasm and effort practiced to achieve a standard suitable
to enable them to play out at functions.
During the 1870s the Casterton Brass Band practiced every Wednesday and Friday nights at the Temperance
Hall.
In 1875 John Holmes came to the hamlet of Sandford near Casterton to manage the flour mill. Later
joined by his brothers George and Will they later bought the Sandford Mill. This musically talented family moving into
the Casterton area had a great influence on the district.
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