December 1940 School Magazine

Brisbano Girls' Gramm= School Magazine

December, 1940

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine

De cemBer, i940

EXTRACT FROM LETTER FROM VERA HARLAND (STAFF NURSE V. M. HAR· LAND, QX 6108, 3rd AUSTRALIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL, A .I.F. ABROAD). "We have had a lovely summer here but now the cold weather is ap· preaching I am not going to fancy early rising in the mornings; work begins af 6.30 a.m.; we are not busy here, this war as yet is so different from the last, there are not hundreds of casualtie s pouring into the hospital. On the ship coming over we iound p lenty of work; our wards were always full but it was a very enjoyable trip, perfect weather and no rough seas. I was on the best and b iggest ship of the convoy, three of my friends and myself shared a very beautiful stateroom. On the wall there was a huge panel done in polished woods and coloured, depicting four wild duck; it took up half the wall, everyone came to admire it. At night we didn't have to scramble up into bunks, we had four low couches side by side with beautiful linen sheets; we are lucky people-thew was a very good menu and plenty of ente-rtainment. I had several of my friends on board so the six weeks were very enjoyable . I managed to develop mumps at Capetown and stayed in the cabin for 10 days, which was an effort. I spent the time leaning my fat lace out of the large portho le . I have managed to see much of England since we have been here. We came from Scotland to Bournemouth after we disembarked; it was quite a long trip but a v ery pretty one. England is really lovely; I expected the towns to be larger and less cultivation. The farms are so neatly laid out with their hayricks and thatched roofs on the farmhous e·s, and hedges in place of our barbed wire . After Bournemouth we went to Shaftesbury and holidayed there. Until cur hospital was established- 7 weeks-we tripped about, up to London and other p laces of interest-typical tourists with our cameras and guide books . Almost everyone here rides a bike; taxis are scarce and you must have some means "at transport. I thought I would never learn but surprised myself by managing a fter trying one whole day. I was nearly in despair at one stage; we all had several busters but sail up and down the many h ills now; the lanes around he re are very beautiful and there are a few lakes with greedy swans on them; they remind me of turkey gobblers. Last week I had six days leave which I spent mostly in Wbles. I wanted io stay in Oxford but the hotels were booked out. I managed to see many of the Colieges; I liked Christ Church and Magdalen best- there· is a lovely walk along the river at Magdalen and we saw the room where the Duke of Windsor used to sleep. · In Wales w e stayed near Carnarvon Castle and trekked around the country over to Holyhead and up Snowdon. I nearly froze there-the higher fhe little train climbed the colde·r I felt. I went prepared for cold weather but did not expect such intense cold; my hands and feet nearly dropped -off. Most people took rugs with them. I shall know next time how to go about things . We werrii above the clouds before the summii was reached so the view was ruined; but going up we had a good view of Lake Llanberis and the slate· quarries beside it; there are several lakes there and many streams finding their way do.wn the mountain sides, alsQ a few waterfalls just like those at home. Bangor University is a very fine building on the top of the hill overlooking ihe town. . The_students had not returned from their summe·r holidays-! thirik they Te-open this week-so the town was moderately quiet. While we were fu !ngleburn·we used to make songs to many tunes, "Riding down from Bangor " was one of th;,m, so we had to go and have a look at the place while we were up in the nor th of Wales. 40 G~

We returned home along the coast to Chester and down through Bristol. The Irish Sea is seldom out of sight until you reach Chester and you pass Conway Castle; it is between the sea and the railway line- a very pleasaht journey. We reached Bristol a couple of hours late and missed our connection there so had to stay the night. It was midnight and drizzling rain when we arrived-you couldn't see a thing in the blackout. I had passed through there once before , b ut we were hopelessly muddled in the dark. There were no taxis so we plodded along with our luggage out into the streets peering up at build: ings trying to decide whether they w e·re banks, theatres or hotels , it was so mad we were nearly in fits of laughter. After trying seve·ral hotels we were successful and were greatly relieved when we crawled into bed, as the train left a t 6 a.m. in the morning .

We arrived back last Sunday wishi!}g the six: days wquld last a little long_er-only the money wouldn't. W 1 , e can a wqys manage on our p ay; when you haven t your people to borrow from, you just manage .

We are very comfortable in this hospital, we live two in a cubicle and quite .enjoy ourse-lves . I miss the sugar; I used to eat miles of it (do me good to cut it down) otherwise there is plenty of everything. This climate. gives one a terrific appetite. I have neve·r fel t so well and am putting on a few pounds everytime I touch the scales . The long evenings are fast disappearing, it is dark now around seven o'clock. When we landed in Sco tland it seemed to be light almost a ll night, you felt cheated of your sleep, there was so little night. I must close· now and go and do a li•tle work; remember me to all the people I know at School."

UNIVERSITY LETTER.

Dear Editor- Once again this year, there has been a large percentage of Old .Girls among the members of the Women's Club, and they have taken a prominent part in University Life. At the begir.ning of the year, a good ~umber of Old Gir.Js entered the University as :'Freshers" to replace those who had graduated. .The Elections "tor. 194( h av;, added seve·ral Old Gi~ls to .ihe v.arious C~m· · mittees. Kathleen Callaghan is Treasurer of the Science Student's Association, .Joyce Jackson. is Common Room Librarian, and Dorothy Arthur and Betty Bake~ 41